Pine Creek Wilderness
Gently sloping from about 2,000 feet elevation in the south to 4,000 feet in the north, Pine Creek and its numerous tributaries drain this Wilderness in a north-south direction. With the exception of the creek itself, home to rainbow trout and bass, most of the streams dry up part of the year. Chaparral and scrub oak entirely dominate the vegetation, with some riparian and oak woodlands emerging from the stream bottoms. You may see deer, coyotes, mountain lions, gray foxes, hawks, owls, and several species of reptiles. You might also encounter small herds of private livestock grazing because their owners were issued permits prior to designation. Several trails provide access and receive only light human use.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 13,260 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 32.77° N, 116.62° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 17) |
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 9 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.
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Trails
2 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 21 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Secret Canyon ↗ | 13.9 | |
| Espinosa Trail (TH to 10,628' ↗ | 7.2 |
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
- PrescribedOak Woodlands Wcsl Rx
3 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
- 9.5 miUs Inspection Station--Tecate ↗Tecate, 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 Pine Creek Wilderness?
13,260 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Pine Creek Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Pine Creek Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Pine Creek Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Pine Creek 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 Pine Creek Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 32.772° N, 116.618° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Pine Creek Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Oak Woodlands Wcsl Rx at 3 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Pine Creek Wilderness?
The National Register has 1 listing within 15 miles, including Us Inspection Station--Tecate.
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.