Russian Wilderness
Russian Wilderness sits astride a major ridge dividing the Scott River and Salmon River drainages with steep slopes and broad, U-shaped glacial valleys surrounded by granite peaks. Elevations range from 4,800 feet to Russian Peak's 8,200 feet. You'll find 22 named lakes, most of them set like jewels in cirques high in the valleys and drained by streams. A diverse array of plants can be found here, including 17 species of conifers–probably more than anywhere else in the world. The forests are laced with meadows, and rocky pinnacles and bluffs rise in numerous locations. Wildlife species include bountiful populations of deer and bears. An extensive trail system generally crosses steep and rocky ground, difficult going for stock animals.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 12,521 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 41.31° N, 122.96° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 12) |
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 5 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
14 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 141 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Crest Trail ↗ | 114.7 | |
| South Russian Creek ↗ | 6 | |
| Duck Lake | 3.9 | |
| Hogan Lake | 3.4 | |
| Sugar Lake | 2.6 | |
| Horse Range Creek | 2.4 | |
| Paynes Lake | 2.2 | |
| Horseshoe | 1.5 | |
| Eaton Lake | 1.2 | |
| Little Duck Lake | 0.8 |
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
- PrescribedSrf 2026 Rx Implementation
30 mi from the center point · 500 acres
- PrescribedFive-6 Understory Rx
38 mi from the center point
- PrescribedEw 10 Rx
38 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
- 4 miWhite's Gulch Arrastra ↗Sawyers Bar, CA
- 7.4 miSawyers Bar Catholic Church ↗Sawyers Bar, CA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Russian Wilderness and California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Trinity Alps and Vicinity: Including Whiskeytown, Russian Wilderness, and Castle Crags AreasMike White, 2018Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Russian Wilderness?
12,521 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Russian Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Russian Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Russian Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Russian 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 Russian Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 41.310° N, 122.955° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Russian Wilderness right now?
3 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Srf 2026 Rx Implementation at 30 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Russian Wilderness?
The National Register has 2 listings within 15 miles, including White's Gulch Arrastra and Sawyers Bar Catholic Church.
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.