Granite Chief Wilderness
Located at the headwaters of the American River, the Granite Chief Wilderness is known for its dramatic granite cliffs, glacier-carved valleys, and forested slopes. Elevations range from 5,000 to 9,000 feet, with red fir and lodgepole pine at higher elevations and mixed woodlands below. Meadows, streams, and rocky outcrops create a diverse and scenic mountain landscape. Hikers and horseback riders enjoy the area’s trail network, especially along the Lake Tahoe side, where access is easiest. The Pacific Crest Trail runs for 21 miles along the eastern edge, passing through Five Lakes Basin—an alpine destination where camping is restricted to protect the environment.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 28,374 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 39.14° N, 120.30° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 13) |
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 24 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
12 more within ten miles are not listed here.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 backpacking. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 3 miGranite Chief Wilderness ↗Backpacking
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
17 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 299 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Tahoe Rim Trail ↗ | 115.4 | |
| Western States ↗ | 68.1 | |
| Pacific Crest Trail ↗ | 54.8 | |
| Tevis Cup ↗ | 19.9 | |
| Hellhole ↗ | 7.5 | |
| Shanks Cove ↗ | 4.9 | |
| Five Lakes Creek ↗ | 4.5 | |
| Hellhole | 4.2 | |
| Buckskin | 4 | |
| Powderhorn | 3.9 |
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
- PrescribedMadrone Springs Underburn Rx
35 mi from the center point
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
- 3.9 miWestphal, Laura Russ, House ↗Homewood, CA
- 5.3 miLake Tahoe Dam ↗Tahoe City, CA
- 5.4 miOutlet Gates and Gatekeeper's Cabin ↗Tahoe City, CA
- 5.4 miChapel of the Transfiguration ↗Tahoe City, CA
- 5.5 miWatson Log Cabin ↗Tahoe City, CA
- 10.5 miKruger House ↗Truckee, CA
- 10.6 miTruckee Veterans Memorial Building ↗Truckee, CA
- 13.2 miCal-Vada Lodge Hotel ↗Crystal Bay, NV
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 Granite Chief Wilderness?
28,374 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Granite Chief Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Granite Chief Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Granite Chief Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Granite Chief 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 Granite Chief Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 39.144° N, 120.303° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Granite Chief Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Madrone Springs Underburn Rx at 35 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Granite Chief Wilderness?
The National Register has 9 listings within 15 miles, including Westphal, Laura Russ, House and Lake Tahoe Dam.
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.