Wilderness area

South Fork Eel River Wilderness

South Fork Eel River Wilderness is a 12,868-acre wilderness area in Mendocino County, California. It rises from about 1,107 to 4,181 ft. The nearest town is Leggett, 1.3 miles away in a straight line.

South Fork Eel River Wilderness
Photo: Mkauffmann, CC BY 3.0

South Fork Eel River Wilderness map

South Fork Eel River Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.

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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

Campfires are allowed: Not during regional fire restrictions.
Leggett, CA is the nearest town, 1.3 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). The wilderness.net page for this area places it about 75 miles south of Eureka.
The highest ground in South Fork Eel River Wilderness is about 4,181 ft, and its lowest about 1,107 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Signal Peak, about 4,101 ft.

Who manages South Fork Eel River Wilderness

Agency Acres Permit Group size Stay limit Office
BLM 12,868 Not on record Not on record Not on record Arcata Field Office, 707-825-2300

Getting to South Fork Eel River Wilderness

  • Leggett, CA is the nearest town, 1.3 miles 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 75 miles south of Eureka.
  • Access roads named on the area's wilderness.net page: US Highway 101, Red Mountain Access Road, Branscomb Road, Cahto Peak Road.

Position, roads and vehicle notes: wilderness.net page for South Fork Eel River Wilderness, accessed 2026-09-29. Roads and conditions change; check with the managing office before driving in.

Named summits, canyons, and springs in South Fork Eel River Wilderness

  • Signal Peak summit about 4,101 ft
  • Red Mountain summit about 4,093 ft
  • Black Oak Mountain summit about 3,695 ft

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 South Fork Eel River Wilderness

Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.

Other wilderness areas in California

California wilderness areas