| Chumash Wilderness | |
|---|---|
 Trailhead into the Chumash Wilderness, immediately west of the summit ofMount Pinos | |
  Location in California Show map of California Location in United States Show map of the United States | |
| Location | Ventura /Kern counties,California,United States |
| Nearest city | Bakersfield, California |
| Coordinates | 34°49′0″N119°10′0″W / 34.81667°N 119.16667°W /34.81667; -119.16667 |
| Area | 38,150 acres (154.4 km2) |
| Established | 1992 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
TheChumash Wilderness is a 38,150 acres (15,440 ha)wilderness area within the southernLos Padres National Forest. It is located in theTransverse Ranges, in northernVentura County and southwesternKern County inCalifornia.
The wilderness was created by the U.S. Congress as part of theLos Padres Condor Range and River Protection Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–301). The same legislation also established theGarcia, Machesna Mountain,Matilija,Sespe, andSilver Peak Wilderness areas.[2][3]
The Chumash Wilderness includes most of the highest terrain in Ventura County. The nearest towns are in theMountain Communities of the Tejon Pass region, including the unincorporated communities ofFrazier Park to the east,Lockwood Valley andCuddy Valley to the south,Pine Mountain Club to the north. TheCuyama Valley region is to the west
The wilderness area extends from just west of the summit ofMount Pinos (8,831 ft; 2,692 m) toCerro Noroeste (Mount Abel) to the west, and south into the badlands north of Lockwood Valley Road. Since Mount Pinos, Cerro Noroeste, and thePine Mountain Club are developed with paved roads, they did not qualify for inclusion in the wilderness, which wraps partially around them. The highest point in the Chumash Wilderness isSawmill Mountain, at 8,818 ft (2,688 m).
Major trailheads into the wilderness can be found at Mount Pinos as well as Cerro Noroeste/Mount Abel. From the Mount Pinos parking area, the wilderness trailhead is approximately 2 miles (3 km) along a dirt road with a locked gate.
Vegetation within the wilderness includeschaparral at lower elevations, and conifers at higher elevations. Some of the badlands near the southern edge of the wilderness are almost barren of vegetation, and include steep slopes with knife-edge ridges. Snow is frequent from fall until late spring at the highest elevations. Rain is rare in the summer, and wildfires are natural in thefire ecology basedhabitats.
Characteristic fauna of the wilderness includeblack bear,mountain lion,bobcat, as well as the endangeredCalifornia condor. The wilderness is at the heart of the historic range of this largeendangered species of scavengers.
Municipalities and communities ofVentura County, California,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |