| Sanhedrin Wilderness | |
|---|---|
  Location in California Show map of California Location in United States Show map of the United States | |
| Location | Mendocino /Lake counties,California,USA |
| Nearest city | Willits, CA |
| Coordinates | 39°54′5″N123°7′25″W / 39.90139°N 123.12361°W /39.90139; -123.12361 |
| Area | 10,666 acres (43.16 km2) |
| Established | 2006 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
TheSanhedrin Wilderness is a 10,666-acre (43.16 km2) wilderness withinMendocino National Forest in theNorth Coast region ofNorthern California. It was established in 2006 by theNorthern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act.[1] The name derives fromthe Sanhedrin, a historical group of Jewish elders.[2]
The area offers a distinct wilderness experience: there are currently no managed trails, and the only public access is through the lookout point at Big Signal Peak. However, throughout the area are numerous cattle trails and old roads from before the wilderness designation.[3]
Many rare species call the wilderness home, includingAnthony Peak lupine, which only grows in Mendocino National Forest, thenorthern spotted owl, and threatenedsteelhead in Whitney and Thomas Creeks. The geology is also notable, with blue-green and redserpentinite soils, and an unstablefault passing through the southern part of the wilderness.[3]
In 2022, 917 acres near Thomas Creek were added to the original 10,571-acre wilderness designation via a private land transfer.[4]