Sheep Mountain Wilderness
The Sheep Mountain Wilderness elevations range from 2,400 feet to the 10,064-foot Mt. San Antonio (also known as Old Mt. Baldy), the highest point in the San Gabriel Mountains. Chaparral in the lower elevations change to a mountain forest of mixed Southern California evergreens in the higher realms. The East Fork of the San Gabriel River, Prairie Fork, and Lytle Creek drain the area. Whether you're new to hiking, a seasoned backpacker, an angler, or just hoping to spend time outdoors, this Wilderness provides a range of opportunities for visitors. A small sampling of trails here include the 237W02 Baldy Bowl Trail, the 237W12 Mt. Baldy Trail, the 338W03 Mine Gulch Trail, the 238W13 East Fork Trail, and the 238W16 Heaton Flats Trail.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 43,182 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.30° N, 117.72° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 18) |
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 20 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.
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8 more within ten miles are not listed here.
Trails
19 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 97 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| PCT Dawson Saddle ↗ | 30.3 | |
| PCT Section 2 ↗ | 6.6 | |
| PCT Baden-Powell ↗ | 6.2 | |
| Bichota Canyon Trail ↗ | 5.6 | |
| Mt. Baldy Trail ↗ | 5.6 | |
| Heaton Flats Trail ↗ | 5.3 | |
| Fish Fork ↗ | 4.8 | |
| East Fork Trail ↗ | 4.5 | |
| Dawson Peak | 4.3 | |
| Mine Gulch | 4.2 |
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
7 mi from the center point
- WildfireGreen
42 mi from the center point · 55 acres
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
- 5.3 mi
- 5.4 miPadua Hills Theatre ↗Claremont, CA
- 5.7 miEuclid Avenue ↗Upland, CA
- 5.7 miDeWenter Mansion, Guest House and Grounds ↗La Verne, CA
- 6 miMaloof, Sam and Alfreda, Compound ↗Alta Loma, CA
- 7.5 miPitzer House ↗Claremont, CA
- 8.2 miStraight, Charles E., House ↗La Verne, CA
- 8.2 miDrucker, Peter, House ↗Claremont, 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 Sheep Mountain Wilderness?
43,182 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Sheep Mountain Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Sheep Mountain Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Sheep Mountain Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Sheep Mountain 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 Sheep Mountain Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.304° N, 117.721° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Sheep Mountain Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Anf/Rx Burn at 7 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Sheep Mountain Wilderness?
The National Register has 38 listings within 15 miles, including Ontario and San Antonio Heights Waiting Station and Padua Hills Theatre.
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.