Dinkey Lakes Wilderness
Here on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, timbered, rolling terrain dominates most of Dinkey Lakes Wilderness. Almost all of the area lies above 8,000 feet, with Three Sisters Peak soaring to 10,619 feet near the 16 lakes clustered in the west-central region. Just to the east and north lies the John Muir Wilderness. Stands of white fir, red fir, and Jeffrey pine are scattered throughout, especially around large mountain meadows in the north-central region and along Helms Creek. Rocky outcroppings often break the skyline, and snow covers much of the area from November until June.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 30,863 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 37.17° N, 119.04° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 17) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
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 25 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.
Show 4 moreHide
13 more within ten miles are not listed here.
Trails
19 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 111 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| California Riding and Hiking ↗ | 49.4 | |
| Coyote Lake ↗ | 17 | |
| Dinkey Lakes ↗ | 10.3 | |
| Helms Meadow ↗ | 7 | |
| Red Mountain ↗ | 4.9 | |
| Frazier | 4.1 | |
| Nelson Lake | 3.6 | |
| Ershim Lake | 2.4 | |
| Mystery Lake | 2.3 | |
| Bullfrog Lake | 2 |
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.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx White Deer
28 mi from the center point · 35 acres
- PrescribedGrant Grove Fall Rx
29 mi from the center point · 466 acres
- PrescribedCrooks Rx
42 mi from the center point · 15 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 6.4 miDinkey Creek Bridge ↗Dinkey Creek, CA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Dinkey Lakes Wilderness?
30,863 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Dinkey Lakes Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Dinkey Lakes Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Dinkey Lakes Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Dinkey Lakes 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 Dinkey Lakes Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 37.171° N, 119.036° W. Devils Postpile National Monument is 24 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Dinkey Lakes Wilderness right now?
3 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Rx White Deer at 28 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Dinkey Lakes Wilderness?
Devils Postpile National Monument (24 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Dinkey Lakes Wilderness?
The National Register has 1 listing within 15 miles, including Dinkey Creek Bridge.
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.