Santa Lucia Wilderness
Santa Lucia Wilderness is a 20,241-acre wilderness area in San Luis Obispo County, California. It rises from about 584 to 3,160 ft. The nearest town is Santa Margarita, 2 miles away in a straight line.
Santa Lucia Wilderness map
Santa Lucia 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
- Santa Margarita, CA is the nearest town, 2 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Santa Lucia Wilderness is about 3,160 ft, and its lowest about 584 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Lopez Mountain, about 2,858 ft.
Who manages Santa Lucia Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLM | 1,807 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Bakersfield Field Office, 661-391-6000 |
| Forest Service | 18,434 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Los Padres National Forest, 805-448-6487 |
Getting to Santa Lucia Wilderness
- Santa Margarita, CA is the nearest town, 2 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)
Trailheads at Santa Lucia Wilderness
- Big Falls Trailhead (inside the boundary, 2,004 ft), at 35.2802, -120.4991
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-29. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Santa Lucia Wilderness
- Lopez Mountain summit
- Gay Mountain summit
- Black Butte summit
- Hi Mountain Spring spring
- Sulphur Pots 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 Santa Lucia Wilderness
- National forestSanta Lucia Wilderness lies inside Los Padres National Forest.
- Wilderness areaGarcia 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=530 (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)
- https://apps.fs.usda.gov/arcx/rest/services/EDW/EDW_InfraRecreationSites_01/MapServer/0 (accessed 2026-09-29)