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. You'll find 22 named...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 12,521 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 41.3099, -122.9551 |
| 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.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 5 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedWhite Rock Rx
31 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.
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?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Idlewild Campground, 3.3 miles out. 5 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 Russian Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 41.310, -122.955. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Russian Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest White Rock Rx at 31 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Russian Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 12 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 Russian Wilderness?
2 National Register 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.
- 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.