Rocks and Islands Wilderness
The California coastal Rocks and Islands Wilderness protects critical components of a unique area of California coastline. Although one of the smallest wildernesses in the system, it encompasses 584 rocks, islands, exposed reefs, and pinnacles spread out over miles along a section of California's northern coast, now protected as the King Range Wilderness. The largest rock is.58 acres while the smallest rocks are less than 1 sq. ft. in size. These various rocks and islands are home to a diverse ecosystem of birds and sea mammals. The coastal rocks and islands comprise a narrow flight lane in the Pacific flyway, providing protected nest sites as well as feeding and perching areas for millions of seabirds.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 6 acres |
| Designated | 2006, by Congress |
| Center point | 40.03° N, 124.08° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 7) |
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.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 12.5 miBenbow Inn ↗Garberville, 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 Rocks and Islands Wilderness?
6 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Rocks and Islands Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Rocks and Islands Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Rocks and Islands Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2006.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Rocks and Islands 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 Rocks and Islands Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 40.028° N, 124.078° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Rocks and Islands Wilderness?
The National Register has 1 listing within 15 miles, including Benbow Inn.
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.