Mokelumne Wilderness

This Wilderness is managed by:

The Stanislaus National Forest,
The Humboldt-Toyabe National Forest, and
The El Dorado National Forest

Additional information can be found on:

The Stanislaus National Forest Wilderness Pages
The Humboldt-Toyabe National Forest Wilderness Pages
The Eldorado National Forest Wilderness Pages

First protected under the Wilderness Act of 1964, the Mokelumne’s (pronounced moo-ka-la-mi) borders were expanded under the California Wilderness Act of 1984. The wilderness takes its name from the Mokelumne River, which was named after a Mi-wok Indian village located on the banks of the river in the Central Valley. The Mokelumne Wilderness spans 105,165 acres that straddles parts of the El Dorado, Stanislaus, and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests. Its rugged terrain is known for its volcanic peaks and weathered granite as well as the diversity of its flora.

Visitors to the Mokelumne will immediately notice the wide variety of rock comprising its mountains and canyons. An important example of crest zone geology, the metamorphic rock capping 9,334 foot Mokelumne Peak once covered most of the Sierra’s granite. This layer of volcanic rock, sand, and mud can be found here alongside weathered granite as old as the dinosaurs.

The Mokelumne, located at the junction of northern, southern and eastern Sierra botanic provinces, is also renowned for its incredible plant diversity. Elevations range from 4,000 feet near Salt Springs reservoir to over 10,380 ft at Round Top Peak in the north.

Enjoying the Mokelumne Wilderness

Maximum Group Size

12 people for day trips, 8 people for overnight trips with the exception of specially permitted groups traveling the Pacific Crest Trail. Why?

Wilderness Permits

Permits are required year-round for all overnight trips. Why? One permit is required per trip per group. If you have a larger group than is permitted, reduce the number of people, split the group to visit different areas, or visit an area which permits larger numbers. You are not permitted to camp or travel within one mile of a related group.

Permits for the Mokelumne Wilderness in general can be obtained from Amador Ranger Station in Pioneer and the Carson Pass Information Station.

Carson Pass
Permits for the Carson Pass Area can only be obtained from the Carson Pass Information Station during the summer. They can be obtained from the Amador Ranger District office the rest of the year. Permits are on a first come first served basis for the Carson Pass Area. The station will be open 7 days a week 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM from Memorial weekend through September.

• Call the Amador Ranger Station for more information at 209-295-4251.

Eastern Section
The eastern portion of the Mokelumne Wilderness is managed by the Carson Ranger District, of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Permits are available at trailheads on the Carson Ranger District: Ebbetts Pass, Wet Meadows, and Thornburg Canyon. Permits are also available at Carson Rangers District in Carson City, NV and at the Information Center in Markeeville, CA. These permits are not valid for the Carson Pass Management Area.

Stanislaus National Forest
If you are leaving from a trailhead on the Stanislaus National Forest (off of the Highway 4 corridor), you can access a permit application on line.

Bears

Black bears are increasingly common, with individuals being displaced from the lower elevation western slopes into the higher country. Store food properly. Bear resistant food canisters are recommended. Why?

Campfires

Campfires are generally allowed within the Mokelumne Wilderness in areas below 8000 feet in elevation. In places where fires are allowed, please make sure that you use an established fire ring and only used dead and down wood. Construction of new fire rings is prohibited. Why?

• Campfires are prohibited: In the area from Carson Pass to Kirkwood Ski Area including Frog, Winnemucca, Round Top, Fourth of July, and Emigrant Lakes.

Pets

Domestic pets are allowed in the Mokelumne Wilderness at this time. You are responsible for their actions as well as their welfare. In the Carson Pass Management Area pets should be leashed or physically restrained at all times. Elsewhere within the Wilderness, dogs should be either leashed or under direct voice control. Dogs can disturb other campers, get in fights with other dogs along the trail, and scare wildlife away. The Amador and Alpine County leash laws will be enforced inside the Wilderness boundary where dogs off leash are an impediment or hazard to the safety of any person, or where dogs are harassing or molesting wildlife.

Other Considerations

• Camping is not permitted at Frog Lake to protect and promote the restoration of the shoreline.
• Winter camping is allowed once the snow pack is twelve inches deep.
• Camping within 300 feet of Emigrant Lake is not permitted in order to protect and promote the restoration of the shoreline.

Carson Pass Management Area:

• Camping in the Carson Pass area is allowed only in designated sites at Winnemucca (three sites), Round Top (six sites), and Fourth of July Lakes (six sites).
• Permits for these sites will only be issued at the Carson Pass Information Station in the summer and the Amador Ranger Station at other times.
• Snow camping is allowed if there is at least one foot of snow.
• From the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend, an overnight stay limit of two nights for Round Top and Winnemucca Lakes and three nights for Fourth of July Lakes will be in effect.
• Campfires are not allowed.
• During the summer a $5.00 day use fee is charged at the Carson Pass, Carson Pass overflow, Woods Lake and Meiss trailheads. These passes can be purchased on site. Other types of annual passes accepted during the summer include the Eldorado National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Parking Pass, the Interagency Pass, the Interagency Senior Pass, and the Interagency Access Pass.
• During the winter, a Snow Park permit is required, which costs $5.00. Check with the Amador District Office for information on obtaining these passes.

Contact

Eldorado National Forest
Amador Ranger District
26820 Silver Drive
Pioneer, CA 95666
Phone: (209) 295-4251 TTY (209) 295-5996

Stanislaus National Forest
Calaveras Ranger District
PO Box 500
Hathaway Pines, CA 95233
(209) 795-1381

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Bridgeport Ranger District
HCR 1 Box 1000
Bridgeport, CA 93517
(760) 932-7070