Hain Wilderness
Eons of wind and water, heat and frost produced the starkly angular crags and spires of today's Hain Wilderness. Situated within Pinnacles National Park, Hain Wilderness, previously called the Pinnacles Wilderness, was renamed in January, 2013 in honor of Schuyler Hain. Hain was a homesteader who led tours to Bear Valley and through the caves, advocating for preservation of the region. Hain's efforts moved Theodore Roosevelt to establish Pinnacles National Monument in 1908, which formally became a national park the same year the Wilderness was renamed. About 23 million years ago, molten lava poured through the rift where the Pacific and North American tectonic plates collide, giving birth to a vast volcanic field.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 15,985 acres |
| Designated | 1976, by Congress |
| Center point | 36.49° N, 121.19° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 20) |
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
1 federal campground sits inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- WildfireTimber
35 mi from the center point · 25,350 acres · 97% contained
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
- 0.7 miBear Valley School ↗Paicines, CA
- 6.4 miLos Coches Rancho ↗Soledad, CA
- 11.4 miCommunity Church of Gonzales ↗Gonzales, CA
- 11.5 mi
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 Hain Wilderness?
15,985 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Hain Wilderness?
The National Park Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Hain Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Hain Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1976.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Hain 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 Hain Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 36.493° N, 121.191° W. Pinnacles National Park is adjacent. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Hain Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Timber at 35 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Hain Wilderness?
Pinnacles National Park (adjacent). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Hain Wilderness?
The National Register has 4 listings within 15 miles, including Bear Valley School and Los Coches Rancho.
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.
- 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.