Snow Mountain Wilderness

oversight information

• This area is overseen by the US Forest Service (USFS) - Mendocino National Forest. Forty miles of trail are located in the wilderness. Special restrictions apply to "wilderness" areas.
• No wheeled conveyances are allowed in wilderness areas.
• Pack out everything you pack in.
• Camping is allowed in designated areas along the trails.
• Campfires require a valid fire permit from the USFS.

For the most current information on the trail conditions, closures, erosion, flooding and fire restrictions contact the USFS.

How to Get There

Because the area is so large and is overseen by several different ranger stations it’s best to go to the Mendocino National Forest website, check out what areas you’d like to explore, and contact the associated rangers’ station.

Overview

The Snow Mountain Wilderness area is a 37,000+ acre wilderness area in the Mendocino National Forest.  There are over 40 miles of trails and over 120 different species of wildlife that inhabit the area including deer, bear, mountain lions, the endangered Spotted Owls, along with hawks and eagles.  The nearest town is Stoneyford in Colusa County.

According to the Mendocino National Forest website: “The best time to visit Snow Mountain Wilderness is from early spring to late summer. Snow usually lingers on the high crest-zone until late June. Bathhouse, Deafy Glade and Bear Wallow Trails can offer exhilarating, snow-free winter hikes. Always be prepared for bad weather… The central feature of this wilderness is the large broad topped Snow Mountain, which drains water toward the Sacramento River on the east and the Eel River Basin on the west. Elevations range from 1,800 feet in the gorge of the Middle Fork of Stony Creek to 7,056 feet on the summit of East Snow Mountain Peak. The deep canyons skirting the Wilderness compress ecological life zones creating a unique biological sky-island.”