Pets allowed
Allowed with Restrictions
Guided tours
No
Backcountry camping
Yes
Lodging
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

The Kiavah Wilderness covers 86,245 acres in the Scodie Mountains at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada. This area is primarily within Sequoia National Forest, with a small portion located on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. A unique mix of biodiversity can be found in this transition zone between the Mojave Desert and the Sierra Nevada. Here you will find plants such as creosote bush and Joshua tree growing in close proximity to pinyon pine, juniper, and oak trees. 

Additionally, this unique terrain is home to a variety of wildlife including lizards, pocket mice, raptors, resident birds, and migratory birds. 

This rugged wilderness is accessible by trails and dirt roads where hikers, campers, and horseback riders can explore.  Also passing through the Kiavah Wilderness is a portion of the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail. 

PERMITS

In the Kiavah Wilderness, visitors do not need a permit to visit, but campfire permits are required.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Bureau of Land Management: https://www.blm.gov/visit/kiavah-wilderness.  

USFS: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd694659.pdf  

California Campfire Permit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sequoia/passes-permits/?cid=fsbdev3_059516.  

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Fall

Congestion

Low

Parking Pass

None

Open Year-round

Yes

Pros

Unique biodiversity. Transition zone. Expansive views.

Cons

Lack of water and shade.

Features

Backcountry camping
Wildlife
Big vistas
Bird watching
Wildflowers

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

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