Carson-Iceberg Wilderness
Yes, a permit is required to visit Carson-Iceberg Wilderness. Carson-Iceberg Wilderness is a 158,147-acre wilderness area in Alpine County, California. It rises from about 4,735 to 11,444 ft. The nearest town is Bear Valley, 2.3 miles away in a straight line.
Carson-Iceberg Wilderness map
Carson-Iceberg 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
- Yes, a permit is required to visit Carson-Iceberg Wilderness.
- The maximum group size at Carson-Iceberg Wilderness is 15, or 25 people and stock combined.
- Bear Valley, CA is the nearest town, 2.3 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Carson-Iceberg Wilderness is about 11,444 ft, and its lowest about 4,735 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Stanislaus Peak, about 11,213 ft.
Who manages Carson-Iceberg Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 158,147 | permit required for overnight stays in season. | 15 (25 with stock) | Not on record | Calaveras Ranger District, 209-795-1381 |
Getting to Carson-Iceberg Wilderness
- Bear Valley, CA is the nearest town, 2.3 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)
Trailheads at Carson-Iceberg Wilderness
- Wolf Creek Trailhead (inside the boundary, 6,568 ft), at 38.5719, -119.6946
- Clark Fork Trailhead (0.04 mi outside the boundary, 6,471 ft), at 38.4170, -119.7474
- Tryon Meadow Trailhead (0.04 mi outside the boundary, 8,405 ft), at 38.5066, -119.8010
- Stanislaus Meadow Trailhead (0.07 mi outside the boundary, 7,909 ft), at 38.5064, -119.9430
- Disaster Creek Trailhead (0.08 mi outside the boundary, 6,495 ft), at 38.4186, -119.7519
- Highland Creek Trailhead (0.08 mi outside the boundary, 8,617 ft), at 38.4853, -119.8090
- Wheats Meadow Trailhead (0.09 mi outside the boundary, 6,349 ft), at 38.3641, -119.9238
- Slick Rock Jeep Trail (0.1 mi outside the boundary, 6,795 ft), at 38.4407, -120.0078
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-29. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Carson-Iceberg Wilderness
- Stanislaus Peak summit
- Highland Peak summit
- Whitecliff Peak summit
- Bull Canyon canyon
- Champion Canyon canyon
- Asa Lake lake
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.
Fishing and water
- Donnell Lake water level (right at the boundary): its dam and reservoir record on reservoirfinder.com.
- Lake Alpine fishing (0.2 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
- Stanislaus River Clarks Fork fishing (0.4 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
- Mosquito Lake, Upper fishing (0.8 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
- Mosquito Lake, Lower fishing (0.8 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
Public lands next to Carson-Iceberg Wilderness
- National forest Most of Carson-Iceberg Wilderness lies inside Stanislaus National Forest.
- National forestCarson-Iceberg Wilderness borders Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
- Wilderness areaMokelumne Wilderness is 0.1 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- Wilderness areaEmigrant Wilderness is 1.6 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- National forestEldorado National Forest is 2.5 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=102 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n39w121/USGS_1_n39w121.tif (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n39w120/USGS_1_n39w120.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)
- https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_InfraRecreationSites_01/MapServer/0 (accessed 2026-09-29)