Matilija Wilderness
Matilija Wilderness is a 29,207-acre wilderness area in Ventura County, California. It rises from about 1,485 to 5,903 ft. The nearest town is Meiners Oaks, 5.2 miles away in a straight line.
Matilija Wilderness map
Matilija 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
- Meiners Oaks, CA is the nearest town, 5.2 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Matilija Wilderness is about 5,903 ft, and its lowest about 1,485 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Old Man Mountain, about 5,513 ft.
Who manages Matilija Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 29,207 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Ojai Ranger District, 805-646-4348 |
Getting to Matilija Wilderness
- Meiners Oaks, CA is the nearest town, 5.2 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)
Trailheads at Matilija Wilderness
- Matilija / Murietta Trailhead (0.1 mi outside the boundary, 1,522 ft), at 34.5051, -119.3753
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-29. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Matilija Wilderness
- Old Man Mountain summit
- Old Man Canyon canyon
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 Matilija Wilderness
- National forestMatilija Wilderness lies inside Los Padres National Forest.
- Wilderness areaDick Smith Wilderness is 0.4 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=345 (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)
- https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_InfraRecreationSites_01/MapServer/0 (accessed 2026-09-29)