Chumash Wilderness
The terrain of Chumash Wilderness drops toward the southwest from Mt Pinos, 8831 elevation, (the highest peak on the Los Padres NF). Conifers populate the higher elevations of the Wilderness and lead down to fire prone chaparral which dominates the lower elevations of the southern California mountain ranges. Barren, knifelike ridges stand between steep-walled drainages, and you'll find some of the highest and most rugged terrain in all of southern California in the Chumash Wilderness of the Los Padres National Forest.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 37,793 acres |
| Designated | 1992, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.80° N, 119.22° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 21) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 11 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 dispersed camping. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 3 miDome Springs Campground ↗Dispersed camping
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
5 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 30 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Toad Springs OHV #105 ↗ | 7.1 | |
| North Fork ↗ | 6.5 | |
| East Dry Cyn Corridor OHV #109 ↗ | 5.9 | |
| Mesa Springs ↗ | 5.8 | |
| Tumamait ↗ | 4.6 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 14.6 miMadulce Guard Station and Site ↗Santa Barbara, CA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Chumash Wilderness?
37,793 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Chumash Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Chumash Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Chumash Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1992.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Chumash Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Chumash Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.802° N, 119.217° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Chumash Wilderness?
The National Register has 1 listing within 15 miles, including Madulce Guard Station and Site.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.