King Range Wilderness
King Range Wilderness is a 42,695-acre wilderness area in Humboldt County, California. It rises from about -3 to 4,070 ft. The nearest town is Shelter Cove, 1 mile away in a straight line.
King Range Wilderness map
King Range 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
- Shelter Cove, CA is the nearest town, 1 mile in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). The wilderness.net page for this area places it about 230 miles north of San Francisco.
- The highest ground in King Range Wilderness is about 4,070 ft, and its lowest about -3 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is King Peak, about 4,070 ft.
Who manages King Range Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLM | 42,695 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Arcata Field Office, 707-825-2300 |
Getting to King Range Wilderness
- Shelter Cove, CA is the nearest town, 1 mile in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)
- The wilderness.net page for this area places it about 230 miles north of San Francisco.
- Access roads named on the area's wilderness.net page: US Highway 101, Lighthouse Road, Etter Road.
Position, roads and vehicle notes: wilderness.net page for King Range Wilderness, accessed 2026-09-29. Roads and conditions change; check with the managing office before driving in.
Trailheads at King Range Wilderness
- Lightning Trailhead (inside the boundary, 2,236 ft), at 40.1725, -124.1120
- North Slide Peak Trailhead (0.01 mi outside the boundary, 3,265 ft), at 40.1854, -124.1761
- Spanish Ridge Trailhead (0.01 mi outside the boundary, 2,189 ft), at 40.2092, -124.2173
- Hidden Valley Trailhead (0.02 mi outside the boundary, 1,710 ft), at 40.0329, -124.0246
- Kinsey Ridge Trailhead (0.02 mi outside the boundary, 2,337 ft), at 40.1887, -124.2056
- Horse Mountain Creek Trailhead (0.03 mi outside the boundary, 1,516 ft), at 40.0946, -124.0634
- Paradise Royale Mountain Bike Trailhead (0.03 mi outside the boundary, 1,769 ft), at 40.0661, -124.0537
- Saddle Mtn Trailhead (0.04 mi outside the boundary, 2,871 ft), at 40.1325, -124.0905
Trailhead locations: BLM recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-29. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in King Range Wilderness
- King Peak summit
- Brushy Mountain summit
- North Slide Peak summit
- Pinnacle 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 King Range Wilderness
- BLM unit Most of King Range National Conservation Area lies inside King Range Wilderness.
- BLM unitKing Range Wilderness borders California Coastal National Monument.
- Wilderness areaKing Range Wilderness borders Rocks and Islands Wilderness.
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=687 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n40w125/USGS_1_n40w125.tif (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n40w124/USGS_1_n40w124.tif (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n41w125/USGS_1_n41w125.tif (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n41w124/USGS_1_n41w124.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://gis.blm.gov/arcgis/rest/services/recreation/BLM_Natl_Recs_pts/MapServer/14 (accessed 2026-09-29)