Snow Mountain Wilderness
Snow Mountain is the southernmost peak in the North Coast Range. In Snow Mountain Wilderness, you'll find the transition zone between the Coast Range and the lower valley foothills. Higher elevations are relatively flat and eroded, with some stands of red fir and large expanses of bare ground with trails that provide vast overlooks. Mid-elevations are covered in red, white, and Douglas fir and ponderosa pine growing on steep to very steep slopes dissected by stream-cut ravines. Chaparral brushlands and oak woodlands dominate the lowest elevations with many opportunities for relatively easy cross-country travel. The Middle Fork of Stony Creek forms the primary drainage, shadowed in many places by rocky bluffs.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 60,222 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 39.41° N, 122.78° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 15) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
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 11 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.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 3 recreation sites inside this wilderness, among them 3 trailheads. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 1 miWest Crockett Trailhead ↗Trailhead · May
- 4 miWindy Point Trailhead ↗Trailhead · May
- 6 miBear Wallow Trailhead ↗Trailhead · May
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
19 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 55 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Wallow ↗ | 6.5 | |
| Cold Creek ↗ | 6.5 | |
| Crooked Tree Trail ↗ | 6.2 | |
| Milk Ranch Loop ↗ | 5.4 | |
| Deafy Glade | 4.1 | |
| Bathhouse | 4 | |
| Northridge Trail | 4 | |
| Lower Nye | 3 | |
| Overlook Trail | 2.7 | |
| East Peak Trail | 2.5 |
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
- PrescribedAlder Springs Underburn Rx
17 mi from the center point
- PrescribedHoward Forest Rx Fire
29 mi from the center point · 69 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
- 12.6 miSpotswood House ↗Potter Valley, 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 Snow Mountain Wilderness?
60,222 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Snow Mountain Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Snow Mountain Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Snow Mountain Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Snow 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 Snow Mountain Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 39.414° N, 122.782° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Snow Mountain Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Alder Springs Underburn Rx at 17 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Snow Mountain Wilderness?
The National Register has 1 listing within 15 miles, including Spotswood House.
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.