Kaiser Wilderness
Kaiser Ridge divides this Wilderness into two distinctly different areas. The southern portion rises gradually from near the crowded north shore of Huntington Lake under stands of Jeffrey pine and red fir until it reaches the alpine zone on the ridge. The northern half is much more open, with a steep descent from the ridgeline to 18 small lakes, most of which require cross-country travel to reach. The northern portion receives heavy human use, but you'll leave the crowds behind if you strike out for the steep, rugged northwest section. Most of Kaiser Ridge is comprised of Kaiser Peak, which lifts to 10,320 feet and provides an excellent view of the central Sierra Nevada from its summit.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 21,986 acres |
| Designated | 1976, by Congress |
| Center point | 37.29° N, 119.20° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 15) |
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 27 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
15 more within ten miles are not listed here.
Trails
15 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 95 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| California Riding and Hiking ↗ | 49.4 | |
| Kaiser Loop ↗ | 15.5 | |
| Deer Creek ↗ | 7.1 | |
| Coarsegrass Meadow | 4.2 | |
| Gloria Meadow | 4.2 | |
| Potter Creek | 3.3 | |
| Idaho Lake | 2.4 | |
| Marys Meadow | 1.7 | |
| Kaiser Creek | 1.4 | |
| Twin Lakes Loop | 1.3 |
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
- PrescribedCrooks Rx
31 mi from the center point · 15 acres
- PrescribedRx White Deer
34 mi from the center point · 35 acres
- PrescribedGrant Grove Fall Rx
39 mi from the center point · 466 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
- 12.6 miDinkey Creek Bridge ↗Dinkey Creek, CA
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 Kaiser Wilderness?
21,986 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Kaiser Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Kaiser Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Kaiser Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1976.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Kaiser 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 Kaiser Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 37.286° N, 119.201° W. Devils Postpile National Monument is 20 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Kaiser Wilderness right now?
3 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Crooks Rx at 31 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Kaiser Wilderness?
Devils Postpile National Monument (20 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Kaiser 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.