Magic Mountain Wilderness
The Magic Mountain Wilderness' chaparral-covered hillsides and oak-studded canyons provide scenic vistas and recreational opportunities for the rapidly urbanizing Santa Clarita Valley. It also provides suitable habitat for the California condor. The Magic Mountain Wilderness lies within the newly designated San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. The 3314W04 Iron Canyon Trail is the only official trail here. Unfortunately, it is currently inaccessible due to post-wildfire damage and severe erosion.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 12,178 acres |
| Designated | 2009, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.40° N, 118.34° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 30) |
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 4 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.
Trails
1 named Forest Service trail enters this wilderness, 6 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Iron Canyon Trail ↗ | 6.1 |
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
- PrescribedAnf/Rx Burn
36 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
- 6.4 miLopez Adobe ↗San Fernando, CA
- 6.9 miPioneer Oil Refinery ↗Santa Clarita, CA
- 7.5 miMission San Fernando Rey de Convento Building ↗Los Angeles, CA
- 7.9 miPico, Romulo, Adobe ↗Mission Hills, CA
- 8.8 miBolton Hall ↗Tujunga, CA
- 11.7 miPortal of the Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation and Museum ↗North Hollywood, CA
- 12.4 miSchaffer, J.w. House ↗Glendale, CA
- 12.7 miGreat Wall of Los Angeles, The ↗Los Angeles, 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 Magic Mountain Wilderness?
12,178 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Magic Mountain Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Magic Mountain Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Magic Mountain Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2009.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Magic Mountain 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 Magic Mountain Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.401° N, 118.338° W. Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is 28 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Magic Mountain Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Anf/Rx Burn at 36 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Magic Mountain Wilderness?
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (28 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Magic Mountain Wilderness?
The National Register has 21 listings within 15 miles, including Lopez Adobe and Pioneer Oil Refinery.
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.