South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness
The South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness contains lush groves of big-cone Douglas fir, willow, and cottonwood. The rich streamside woodlands are a popular hiking destination, and home to mountain lion, mule deer, mountain quail, southern spotted owl, and bald eagle.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 20,158 acres |
| Designated | 2009, by Congress |
| Center point | 33.67° N, 116.77° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 20) |
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 5 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
1 named Forest Service trail enters this wilderness, 10 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork ↗ | 9.9 |
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
- WildfireGreen
33 mi from the center point · 55 acres
- PrescribedGreater El Cariso Rx
34 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
- 8.2 miEstudillo Mansion ↗National Historic Landmark
- 2.2 miPearlman Mountain Cabin ↗Idyllwild, CA
- 3.9 miDonaldson Futuro ↗Idyllwild, CA
- 8.2 miEstudillo Mansion ↗San Jacinto, CA
- 10 miPalm Springs Aerial Tramway Mountain Station ↗Idyllwild, CA
- 13.6 miKrisel Tract Home, 1882 S. Caliente Road (apn 511032005-9) ↗Palm Springs, Agua Caliente Indian Reservation, CA
- 13.9 miFirst Church of Christ, Scientist ↗Palm Springs, CA
- 14.1 miKoerner House ↗Palm Springs, 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 South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness?
20,158 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2009.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at South Fork San Jacinto 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 South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 33.667° N, 116.773° W. Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail is 24 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Green at 33 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness?
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (24 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness?
The National Register has 20 listings within 15 miles, including Estudillo Mansion and Pearlman Mountain Cabin.
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.