Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness
The Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness is known for its majestic peaks and spectacular views of the San Gabriels and where the mountains slope north to meet the Mojave Desert. It is located within the newly designated San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. Popular trails such as the 1310W02 High Desert National Recreation Trail (Burkhart), the 339W02 High Desert National Recreation Trail (South Fork), and the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail pass through this Wilderness.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 26,839 acres |
| Designated | 2009, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.38° N, 117.90° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 21) |
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
4 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 52 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| PCT Dawson Saddle ↗ | 30.3 | |
| High Desert NRT (Burkhart) ↗ | 8.7 | |
| High Desert NRT (Devils Pbowl) ↗ | 7.9 | |
| High Desert NRT (South Fork) ↗ | 5 |
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
15 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
- 10.6 miFox Fullerton Theatre Complex ↗Fullerton, CA
- 12.7 miValentine, Walter D., Cottage B ↗Altadena, CA
- 12.7 miFarnsworth, Gen. Charles S., County Park ↗Altadena, CA
- 13.1 miPegler, John Carlton, House ↗Sierra Madre, CA
- 13.1 miEpiscopal Church of the Ascension ↗Sierra Madre, CA
- 13.3 miOaks, The ↗Monrovia, CA
- 13.3 miWoodbury--Story House ↗Altadena, CA
- 13.4 miMcNally, Andrew, House ↗Altadena, 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 Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness?
26,839 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2009.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Pleasant View Ridge 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 Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.383° N, 117.903° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Anf/Rx Burn at 15 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness?
The National Register has 34 listings within 15 miles, including Fox Fullerton Theatre Complex and Valentine, Walter D., Cottage B.
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.