Silver Peak Wilderness
Encompassing the drainages of Willow Creek and Salmon Creek, Silver Peak Wilderness rises sharply from near the shore of the Pacific Ocean, an area of steep terrain that's part of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Silver Peak lifts to 3,590 feet in the northwestern section. Lush vegetation along the creeks, fern-covered canyons, grass and oak-dotted meadows, and heavy timber are some of the area's features. The Wilderness hides the world's southernmost stand of redwoods, an isolated grove of coastal redwoods. Also hidden here is a grove of rare Sargent cypress, gray pines, and Santa Lucia fir. Waterfalls brighten some of the streams in spring. You may spot deer and squirrels, rabbits and raccoons, and perhaps hear a gobble from a wild turkey.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 31,415 acres |
| Designated | 1992, by Congress |
| Center point | 35.85° N, 121.34° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 13) |
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.
Trails
8 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 41 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Buckeye ↗ | 8.6 | |
| Lottie Potrero ↗ | 7.1 | |
| Willow Creek ↗ | 6.3 | |
| Cruickshank ↗ | 6.2 | |
| Salmon Creek ↗ | 5.4 | |
| Spruce Creek ↗ | 5 | |
| Dutra | 2.7 | |
| Villa Creek Camp | under 0.1 |
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
- WildfireTimber
33 mi from the center point · 25,350 acres · 97% contained
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
- 9 miGil, Jose Mario, Adobe ↗Jolon, CA
- 9.4 miMilpitas Ranchhouse ↗King City, CA
- 10 miTidball Store ↗Jolon, CA
- 10.1 miDutton Hotel, Stagecoach Station ↗Jolon, 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 Silver Peak Wilderness?
31,415 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Silver Peak Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Silver Peak Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Silver Peak Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1992.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Silver Peak 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 Silver Peak Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 35.854° N, 121.341° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Silver Peak Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Timber at 33 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Silver Peak Wilderness?
The National Register has 4 listings within 15 miles, including Gil, Jose Mario, Adobe and Milpitas Ranchhouse.
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.