Matilija Wilderness
Steep and brushy, overgrown with alder and maple in the canyons with a few stands of conifers in the higher country, the Matilija Wilderness includes the scenic canyons of Matilija Creek, as well as its...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 29,207 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1992, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.5554, -119.4044 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 16) |
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.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 8 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 5.6 miPratt, Charles M., House ↗Ojai, CA
- 6.5 miSt. Thomas Aquinas Chapel ↗Ojai, CA
- 9.2 miMadulce Guard Station and Site ↗Santa Barbara, CA
- 11.4 miSan Buenaventura Mission Aqueduct ↗Ventura, CA
- 11.8 miAcacia Lodge ↗Santa Barbara, CA
- 12.2 miVal Verde ↗Santa Barbara, CA
- 14.3 miRattlesnake Canyon Bridge ↗Santa Barbara, CA
- 14.8 miHerschell, Allan, 3-Abreast Carousel ↗Santa Barbara, CA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Matilija Wilderness?
29,207 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Matilija Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Matilija Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Matilija Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1992.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Matilija Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Pine Mountain Campground, 3.1 miles out. 8 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 Matilija Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.555, -119.404. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How dark is the night sky at Matilija Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 16 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Matilija Wilderness?
8 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Pratt, Charles M., House and St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel.
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.