Mokelumne Wilderness
Yes, a permit is required to visit Mokelumne Wilderness. Mokelumne Wilderness is a 104,048-acre wilderness area in Alpine County, California. It rises from about 3,938 to 10,349 ft.
Mokelumne Wilderness map
Mokelumne 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
- Yes, a permit is required to visit Mokelumne Wilderness.
- The maximum group size at Mokelumne Wilderness is 12.
- Campfires are prohibited.
- Kirkwood, CA is the nearest town, and its Census point is inside the boundary.
- The highest ground in Mokelumne Wilderness is about 10,349 ft, and its lowest about 3,938 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Round Top, about 10,347 ft.
Who manages Mokelumne Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 104,048 | permit required for overnight stays. | 12 | Not on record | Amador Ranger District, 209-295-4251 |
Getting to Mokelumne Wilderness
- Kirkwood, CA is the nearest town, and its Census point is inside the boundary. (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)
Trailheads at Mokelumne Wilderness
- Lake Valley Trailhead (0.01 mi outside the boundary, 8,832 ft), at 38.5090, -120.0167
- Underwood Valley Trailhead (0.01 mi outside the boundary, 8,637 ft), at 38.5069, -120.0107
- Caples Dam Trailhead (0.04 mi outside the boundary, 7,785 ft), at 38.7031, -120.0653
- Woodchuck Basin Trailhead (0.2 mi outside the boundary, 7,836 ft), at 38.4946, -119.9800
- Stanislaus Meadow Trailhead (0.22 mi outside the boundary, 7,909 ft), at 38.5064, -119.9430
- Lake Margaret Trailhead (0.25 mi outside the boundary, 7,727 ft), at 38.7042, -120.0697
- Deer Valley Trailhead (0.26 mi outside the boundary, 7,074 ft), at 38.5379, -119.8996
- Carson Pass Trailhead (0.29 mi outside the boundary, 8,577 ft), at 38.6947, -119.9893
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-29. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Mokelumne Wilderness
- Round Top summit
- The Sisters summit
- Raymond Peak summit
- Bellfout Canyon canyon
- Deadwood Canyon canyon
- Horse Thief Spring spring
- Beebe Lake lake
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.
Fishing and water
- Caples Lake fishing (0.2 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
- Blue Lake Upper fishing (0.5 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
- Red Lake fishing (0.6 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
- Blue Lake Lower fishing (0.9 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
- Mosquito Lake, Lower fishing (0.9 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
Public lands next to Mokelumne Wilderness
- National forest Most of Mokelumne Wilderness lies inside Eldorado National Forest.
- State parkMokelumne Wilderness borders Grover Hot Springs State Park.
- National forestMokelumne Wilderness borders Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
- National forestMokelumne Wilderness borders Stanislaus National Forest.
- Wilderness areaCarson-Iceberg Wilderness is 0.1 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- National forestLake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, a national forest, 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=363 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n39w121/USGS_1_n39w121.tif (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n39w120/USGS_1_n39w120.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)