Bright Star Wilderness
Bright Star Wilderness is an 8,191-acre wilderness area in Kern County, California. It rises from about 3,682 to 6,102 ft. The nearest town is Weldon, 6.5 miles away in a straight line.
Bright Star Wilderness map
Bright Star 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
- Camping in Bright Star Wilderness is limited to 14 days.
- Campfires are allowed: Campfire permit required.
- Weldon, CA is the nearest town, 6.5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Bright Star Wilderness is about 6,102 ft, and its lowest about 3,682 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Kelso Peak, about 5,077 ft.
Who manages Bright Star Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLM | 8,191 | Not on record | Not on record | 14 days | Ridgecrest Field Office, 760-384-5400 |
Getting to Bright Star Wilderness
- Weldon, CA is the nearest town, 6.5 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 Bright Star Wilderness
- Kelso Peak summit
- Bright Star Canyon canyon
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 Bright Star Wilderness
- National forestBright Star Wilderness borders Sequoia National Forest.
- State parkEastern Kern County Onyx Ranch State Vehicular Recreation Area, a state park, is 1.1 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- Wilderness areaKiavah Wilderness is 1.3 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=80 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n36w119/USGS_1_n36w119.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)