South Fork Eel River Wilderness
The South Fork Eel River is a principal tributary of the Eel River. The South Fork Eel River Wilderness is comprised of sections of the BLM's Red Mountain and Cahto Peak units. The Red Mountain unit is dominated by Red Mountain and the Cedar Creek drainage. Elevations range from 1,100 feet at the southwest end along Cedar Creek to 4,083 feet, less than three miles away at the top Red Mountain. Terrain is generally steep, consisting of rugged drainages dropping abruptly into Cedar Creek canyon. A small area of fairly gentle slopes is found near the summit. A zone of reddish soil occupies the central part of the area and contrasts sharply with the surrounding landscape.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | California |
| Size | 12,868 acres |
| Designated | 2006, by Congress |
| Center point | 39.89° N, 123.66° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 12) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
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
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedHoward Forest Rx Fire
42 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
- 0.8 miLovejoy Homestead ↗Branscomb, CA
- 11.1 miBenbow Inn ↗Garberville, CA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is South Fork Eel River Wilderness?
12,868 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages South Fork Eel River Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is South Fork Eel River Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was South Fork Eel River Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2006.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to South Fork Eel River Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 39.894° N, 123.662° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near South Fork Eel River Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Howard Forest Rx Fire at 42 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near South Fork Eel River Wilderness?
The National Register has 2 listings within 15 miles, including Lovejoy Homestead and Benbow Inn.
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.