Wilderness area

Kiavah Wilderness

Kiavah Wilderness is an 86,245-acre wilderness area in Kern County, California. It rises from about 2,751 to 7,267 ft.

Kiavah Wilderness
Photo: CA BLM, Public domain

Kiavah Wilderness map

Kiavah Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.

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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 Kiavah Wilderness is 15.
Onyx, CA is the nearest town, and its Census point is inside the boundary.
The highest ground in Kiavah Wilderness is about 7,267 ft, and its lowest about 2,751 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Skinner Peak, about 7,119 ft.

Who manages Kiavah Wilderness

Agency Acres Permit Group size Stay limit Office
BLM 41,000 Not on record 15 Not on record Not on record
Forest Service 45,245 Not on record 15 Not on record Kern River Ranger District, 760-376-3781

Getting to Kiavah Wilderness

  • Onyx, CA is the nearest town, and its Census point is inside the boundary. (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)

Named summits, canyons, and springs in Kiavah Wilderness

  • Skinner Peak summit about 7,119 ft
  • Pinyon Peak summit about 6,787 ft
  • Onyx Peak summit about 5,207 ft
  • Big Spring spring
  • Boulder 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 Kiavah Wilderness

Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.

Other wilderness areas in California

California wilderness areas