Garcia Wilderness
Garcia Wilderness is a 13,987-acre wilderness area in San Luis Obispo County, California. It rises from about 1,134 to 3,191 ft. The nearest town is Edna, 12.6 miles away in a straight line.
Garcia Wilderness map
Garcia 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
- Edna, CA is the nearest town, 12.6 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Garcia Wilderness is about 3,191 ft, and its lowest about 1,134 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Caldwell Mesa, about 2,490 ft.
Who manages Garcia Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 13,987 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Los Padres National Forest, 805-448-6487 |
Getting to Garcia Wilderness
- Edna, CA is the nearest town, 12.6 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 Garcia Wilderness
- Caldwell Mesa summit
- Big 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 Garcia Wilderness
- National forestGarcia Wilderness lies inside Los Padres National Forest.
- Wilderness areaMachesna Mountain Wilderness is 0.5 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- Wilderness areaSanta Lucia Wilderness is 1 mile 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=197 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n36w121/USGS_1_n36w121.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)