Siskiyou Wilderness
Siskiyou Wilderness is a 179,847-acre wilderness area in Siskiyou County, California. It rises from about 426 to 7,269 ft. The nearest town is Wautec, 4.6 miles away in a straight line.
Siskiyou Wilderness map
Siskiyou 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
- Wautec, CA is the nearest town, 4.6 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Siskiyou Wilderness is about 7,269 ft, and its lowest about 426 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Preston Peak, about 7,269 ft.
Who manages Siskiyou Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 179,847 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Gasquet Ranger District, 707-457-3131 |
Getting to Siskiyou Wilderness
- Wautec, CA is the nearest town, 4.6 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)
Trailheads at Siskiyou Wilderness
- Doe Flat (inside the boundary, 4,447 ft), at 41.8144, -123.7067
- Sanger Creek Trailhead (inside the boundary, 4,725 ft), at 41.9230, -123.6420
- Kelly Lake Trailhead (0.02 mi outside the boundary, 4,352 ft), at 41.9133, -123.5111
- Black Butte Trailhead (0.04 mi outside the boundary, 4,752 ft), at 41.9280, -123.6060
- Clear Creek Trailhead (0.15 mi outside the boundary, 1,414 ft), at 41.7292, -123.5331
- Poker Flat Trailhead (0.17 mi outside the boundary, 5,008 ft), at 41.9302, -123.5445
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-29. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Siskiyou Wilderness
- Preston Peak summit
- El Capitan summit
- Little Preston summit
- Sanger Canyon canyon
- Bear 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.
Public lands next to Siskiyou Wilderness
- National forest Most of Siskiyou Wilderness lies inside Six Rivers National Forest.
- National forestSiskiyou Wilderness borders Klamath National Forest.
- National forestSiskiyou Wilderness borders Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests.
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=557 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n42w124/USGS_1_n42w124.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)