Yuki Wilderness
The ancient forests of the Yuki Wilderness consist of ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, Shasta red fir, white fir, and incense cedar. The region also hosts seven species of oak, an unusually high number for any one place to have. Populations of many rare plants have been identified in the area, including serpentine species. The region's Sargent cypress grove is the largest known in the world for this unusual species. Wildflower displays are truly spectacular. Several rare animals also live in the Yuki Wilderness, including marten, goshawk, northern spotted owl, and prairie falcon. Elk, Thatcher and Deep Hole creeks and the Wild and Scenic Middle Fork Eel River host populations of chinook salmon and steelhead trout.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service |
| State | California |
| Size | 56,239 acres |
| Designated | 2006, by Congress |
| Center point | 39.63° N, 123.04° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 12) |
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 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.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 backpacking. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 2 miYuki Wilderness ↗Backpacking · January
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
1 named Forest Service trail enters this wilderness, 8 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Windy Point ↗ | 8.4 |
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
24 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
- 6.4 miRound Valley Flour Mills ↗Covelo, CA
- 14.3 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 Yuki Wilderness?
56,239 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Yuki Wilderness?
Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service share management. The Bureau of Land Management portion is the largest in the wilderness record.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Yuki Wilderness in?
California.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Yuki Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2006.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Yuki 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 Yuki Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 39.628° N, 123.043° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Yuki 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 Yuki Wilderness?
The National Register has 2 listings within 15 miles, including Round Valley Flour Mills and 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.