South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness
South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness is a 20,158-acre wilderness area in Riverside County, California. It rises from about 2,022 to 5,451 ft. The nearest town is Mountain Center, 1.5 miles away in a straight line.
South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness map
South Fork San Jacinto 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
- The maximum group size at South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness is 12.
- Campfires are prohibited.
- Mountain Center, CA is the nearest town, 1.5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness is about 5,451 ft, and its lowest about 2,022 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model).
Who manages South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 20,158 | Not on record | 12 | Not on record | San Jacinto Ranger District, 909-382-2921 |
Getting to South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness
- Mountain Center, CA is the nearest town, 1.5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-29)
Named summits, canyons, and springs in South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness
- Lion Canyon canyon
- Pine Tree Spring spring
Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-29.
Fishing and water
Lake Hemet fishing (0.9 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
Public lands next to South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness
- National forestSouth Fork San Jacinto Wilderness lies inside San Bernardino National Forest.
- Wilderness areaCahuilla Mountain Wilderness is 1.7 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- Wilderness areaSan Jacinto Wilderness is 2.8 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=749 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com/StagedProducts/Elevation/1/TIFF/current/n34w117/USGS_1_n34w117.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)