USFS · Wilderness area · California

Hoover Wilderness

First established as a Primitive area in 1931, then a Wild area in 1957, the Hoover Wilderness was one of the original members of the NWPS. Here is an extremely rugged and magnificently scenic area in...

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.

Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Hoover Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net
DesignationWilderness
Managed byU.S. Forest Service
StateCalifornia
Size128,044 acres (Wilderness Connect)
Designated1964, by Congress
Center point38.1420, -119.4128
Night skyVery dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 22)

Boundary map

1 outline

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.

Where to camp

Campsite Atlas →

No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 27 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.

Show 4 more

15 more within ten miles are not listed here.

Fire nearby

Within 50 miles · as of 2026-09-17
  • Wildfire
    Dome

    41 mi from the center point · 1,177 acres · 0% 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

National Register listings within 15 miles · 13 in all · Register Atlas

Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Hoover Wilderness?

128,044 acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Hoover Wilderness?

The U.S. Forest Service.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Hoover Wilderness in?

California.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Hoover Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 1964.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Can I camp at Hoover Wilderness?

No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Junction Campground, 0 miles out. 27 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.

Source: Where to camp

How do I get to Hoover Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 38.142, -119.413. Yosemite National Park is 15 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Is there a fire near Hoover Wilderness right now?

1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Dome at 41 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.

Source: Fire nearby

How dark is the night sky at Hoover Wilderness?

NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 22 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.

Source: NASA Black Marble

Which national parks are near Hoover Wilderness?

Yosemite National Park (15 mi) and Devils Postpile National Monument (22 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.

Source: Nearby on the other atlases

Are there historic places near Hoover Wilderness?

13 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Great Sierra Mine Historic Site and Tioga Pass Entrance Station.

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.