Farallon Wilderness
Some of these "little pointed islets in the sea," as they were once fittingly described, were established as the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge in 1909, but the Southeast Farallons were not added until 1969. The Farallons are the smallest California Wilderness, and because of their delicate ecological structure, they remain off-limits to most visitors. Southeast Farallon is a main island of about 70 acres (including the only major flat spot on the refuge) and numerous small rocks. Two miles northwest lies Middle Farallon, a single rock 50 yards in diameter. The North Farallons sit four miles farther north, two clusters of precipitous islets and rocks pierced by strong winds and dense fog.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 141 acres |
| Designated | 1974, by Congress |
| Center point | 37.70° N, 123.01° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 6) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
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
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
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 Farallon Wilderness?
141 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Farallon Wilderness?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Farallon Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Farallon Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1974.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Farallon Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 37.697° N, 123.012° W. Point Reyes National Seashore is 23 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Farallon Wilderness?
Point Reyes National Seashore (23 mi), Golden Gate National Recreation Area (24 mi) and Muir Woods National Monument (27 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
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.
- 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.