Chumash Wilderness
Encyclopedia
The Chumash Wilderness is a wilderness area in the mountains of northern Ventura County
and southwestern Kern County
in California
, USA. It is completely within the Los Padres National Forest
, and includes most of the highest terrain in Ventura County. Although the mountains in the wilderness are not part of a named range, they are within the larger Coast Ranges of the western United States. The nearest towns are the unincorporated communities of Frazier Park
to the east, Lockwood Valley
and Cuddy Valley to the south, and the Pine Mountain Club
to the north.
The wilderness spans 38,150 acres (154 km²), and extends from just west of the summit of Mount Pinos
(8,831 ft/2,692 m) to Cerro Noroeste
(Mount Abel) to the west, and south into the badlands north of Lockwood Valley Road. Since Mount Pinos, Cerro Noroeste, and the Pine 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 is Sawmill Mountain
, at 8,818 ft (2,688 m).
The wilderness was created by the U.S. Congress in 1992 as part of the Los Padres Condor Range and River Protection Act. The same legislation also established the Sespe, Matilija, Garcia, Machesna Mountain, and Silver Peak wildernesses.
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 includes chaparral
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 fire possible.
Characteristic fauna of the wilderness include black bear
, mountain lion, as well as the endangered California condor
; the wilderness is at the heart of the historic range of these large scavengers.
Ventura County, California
Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country...
and southwestern Kern County
Kern County, California
Spreading across the southern end of the California Central Valley, Kern County is the fifth-largest county by population in California. Its economy is heavily linked to agriculture and to petroleum extraction, and there is a strong aviation and space presence. Politically, it has generally...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA. It is completely within the Los Padres National Forest
Los Padres National Forest
Los Padres National Forest is a forest located in southern and central California, which includes most of the mountainous land along the California coast from Ventura to Monterey, extending inland...
, and includes most of the highest terrain in Ventura County. Although the mountains in the wilderness are not part of a named range, they are within the larger Coast Ranges of the western United States. The nearest towns are the unincorporated communities of Frazier Park
Frazier Park, California
Frazier Park is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Kern County, California. Frazier Park is west of Lebec, at an elevation of 4,639 feet . It is one of the Mountain Communities of the Tejon Pass...
to the east, Lockwood Valley
Lockwood Valley, California
Lockwood Valley is an unincorporated community in Ventura County, California, and part of the Mountain Communities. It lies at an elevation of 4,839 feet .....
and Cuddy Valley to the south, and the Pine Mountain Club
Pine Mountain Club, California
Pine Mountain Club is an unincorporated private community and census-designated place in Kern County, California, northwest of the San Fernando Valley and west of Gorman. It is one of the mountain Communities of the Tejon Pass, and sits in a deep valley on the San Andreas fault, in the same area...
to the north.
The wilderness spans 38,150 acres (154 km²), and extends from just west of the summit of Mount Pinos
Mount Pinos
Mount Pinos is a mountain located in the Los Padres National Forest on the boundary between Ventura and Kern counties in California. The summit is the highest point in Ventura County.- Geography :...
(8,831 ft/2,692 m) to Cerro Noroeste
Cerro Noroeste
Cerro Noroeste is a mountain located in Southern California's Kern County, a mile north of the Ventura County border. It is located a few miles southwest of the community of Pine Mountain Club, at an elevation of 8,280+ feet . The mountain is located in the Los Padres National Forest...
(Mount Abel) to the west, and south into the badlands north of Lockwood Valley Road. Since Mount Pinos, Cerro Noroeste, and the Pine Mountain Club
Pine Mountain Club, California
Pine Mountain Club is an unincorporated private community and census-designated place in Kern County, California, northwest of the San Fernando Valley and west of Gorman. It is one of the mountain Communities of the Tejon Pass, and sits in a deep valley on the San Andreas fault, in the same area...
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 is Sawmill Mountain
Sawmill Mountain
Sawmill Mountain is located on the county line between Kern and Ventura counties in California. The mountain is located in the Chumash Wilderness and it's summit is the highest point in Kern County and the second highest in the Los Padres National Forest. Mount Pinos has an elevation of ....
, at 8,818 ft (2,688 m).
The wilderness was created by the U.S. Congress in 1992 as part of the Los Padres Condor Range and River Protection Act. The same legislation also established the Sespe, Matilija, Garcia, Machesna Mountain, and Silver Peak wildernesses.
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 includes chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
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 fire possible.
Characteristic fauna of the wilderness include black bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
, mountain lion, as well as the endangered California condor
California Condor
The California Condor is a New World vulture, the largest North American land bird. Currently, this condor inhabits only the Grand Canyon area, Zion National Park, and coastal mountains of central and southern California and northern Baja California...
; the wilderness is at the heart of the historic range of these large scavengers.
See also
- California CondorCalifornia CondorThe California Condor is a New World vulture, the largest North American land bird. Currently, this condor inhabits only the Grand Canyon area, Zion National Park, and coastal mountains of central and southern California and northern Baja California...
- Mountain Communities of the Tejon PassMountain Communities of the Tejon PassThe Mountain Communities of the Tejon Pass, or the Frazier Mountain Communities, in the San Emigdio Mountains is a region of California that includes Lebec, Frazier Park, Lake of the Woods, Lockwood Valley, Pinon Pines, and Pine Mountain Club, in Kern County, California, and Gorman in Los Angeles...
- Scheideck, CaliforniaScheideck, CaliforniaScheideck, California is an unincorporated community in Ventura County in Southern California within the Cuyama Valley about due north of Ojaiand from Frazier Park in Kern County....