Sawtooth Mountains Wilderness
Ridges extend like fingers from the Laguna Mountains east to become Sawtooth Mountains Wilderness, with elevations from 5,600 feet down to 1,400 feet. Valleys between the ridges unfold to become the desert alluvial fans of Vallecito Valley, Inner Pasture, and Canebrake Canyon. Vegetation transforms from dense chaparral at the higher elevations of the Lagunas to low desert creosote brush. More than 200 plant species have been identified here, many of them under consideration for threatened or endangered status. Although peninsular bighorn sheep once lived here, they are now transient visitors. You may see San Diego horned lizards, spotted bats, and willow flycatchers.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 33,772 acres |
| Designated | 1994, by Congress |
| Center point | 32.90° N, 116.35° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 28) |
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 7 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.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedOak Woodlands Wcsl Rx
16 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
- 13.4 miRobinson Hotel ↗Julian, 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 Sawtooth Mountains Wilderness?
33,772 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Sawtooth Mountains Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Sawtooth Mountains Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Sawtooth Mountains Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1994.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Sawtooth Mountains 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 Sawtooth Mountains Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 32.903° N, 116.354° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Sawtooth Mountains Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Oak Woodlands Wcsl Rx at 16 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Sawtooth Mountains Wilderness?
The National Register has 1 listing within 15 miles, including Robinson Hotel.
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.