Bighorn Mountain Wilderness
Bighorn Mountain Wilderness is a 38,599-acre wilderness area in San Bernardino County, California. It rises from about 3,575 to 7,551 ft. The nearest town is Big Bear City, 3 miles away in a straight line.
Bighorn Mountain Wilderness map
Bighorn Mountain Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
Fire restriction orders for this unit are not tracked here yet. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders before any campfire, stove or target shooting.
Common questions
- The maximum group size at Bighorn Mountain Wilderness is 12.
- Campfires are prohibited.
- Big Bear City, CA is the nearest town, 3 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Bighorn Mountain Wilderness is about 7,551 ft, and its lowest about 3,575 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Granite Peaks, about 7,508 ft.
Who manages Bighorn Mountain Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 12,056 | Not on record | 12 | Not on record | Big Bear Discovery Center, 909-382-2790 |
| BLM | 26,543 | Not on record | 12 | Not on record | Not on record |
Getting to Bighorn Mountain Wilderness
- Big Bear City, CA is the nearest town, 3 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Bighorn Mountain Wilderness
- Granite Peaks summit
- Mineral Mountain summit
- Black Mountain summit
- Saddlerock Spring spring
- Viscera Spring spring
Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-29. Summit elevations measured on the USGS 3DEP elevation model, which can read a few feet under a surveyed summit height.
Public lands next to Bighorn Mountain Wilderness
- National forestBighorn Mountain Wilderness borders San Bernardino National Forest.
- BLM unitSand To Snow National Monument is 2 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
Other wilderness areas in California
- https://wilderness.net/visit-wilderness/?ID=47 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n35w117/USGS_1_n35w117.tif (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/GeographicNames/DomesticNames/DomesticNames_CA_Text.zip (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2025_Gazetteer/2025_gaz_place_06.txt (accessed 2026-09-29)