Dick Smith Wilderness
Dick Smith Wilderness is a 71,275-acre wilderness area in Santa Barbara County, California. It rises from about 1,904 to 6,819 ft. The nearest town is Mission Canyon, 8.8 miles away in a straight line.
Dick Smith Wilderness map
Dick Smith 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
- Mission Canyon, CA is the nearest town, 8.8 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Dick Smith Wilderness is about 6,819 ft, and its lowest about 1,904 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Big Pine Mountain, about 6,818 ft.
Who manages Dick Smith Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 71,275 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Los Padres Forest Association, 805-640-9060 |
Getting to Dick Smith Wilderness
- Mission Canyon, CA is the nearest town, 8.8 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 Dick Smith Wilderness
- Big Pine Mountain summit
- Madulce Peak summit
- Lizard Head summit
- Chokecherry Canyon canyon
- Deal Canyon canyon
- Choke Cherry Spring spring
- La Jolla 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 Dick Smith Wilderness
- National forestDick Smith Wilderness lies inside Los Padres National Forest.
- Wilderness areaDick Smith Wilderness borders San Rafael Wilderness.
- Wilderness areaMatilija Wilderness is 0.4 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- Wilderness areaSespe Wilderness is 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=158 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n35w120/USGS_1_n35w120.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)