Proposed Wilderness Areas

The following areas are the proposed Wilderness additions in Senator Boxer's most recent legislation, The Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel Wild Heritage Act.

Hoover Wilderness Additions Location: Mono County, CA Land Management Agency: U.S. Forest Service Approximate Acreage: 79,820 Adjacent to Yosemite National Park, the Hoover Wilderness Additions are a classic high Sierra landscape of majestic peaks, glacial valleys, alpine lakes and pine forests. These areas include 10 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, the headwaters of the West Walker River, spectacular Mount Conness on the border of Yosemite National Park,bighorn sheep habitat and popular hiking and fishing destinations.
Granite Mountain Location: Mono County, CA Land Management Agency: U.S. Bureau of Land Management Approximate Acreage: 34,342 Granite Mountain is home to sage grouse, deer migration corridors, abundant raptor nesting sites and wild horses. Its Great Basin sagebrush steppe habitat is underrepresented in the National Wilderness Preservation System. Photo courtesy of John Dittli
Owens River Headwaters Location: Mono County, CA Land Management Agency: U.S. Forest Service Approximate Acreage: 14,721 The Eastern Sierra’s most important river system, this addition to the Ansel Adams Wilderness includes the San Joaquin Ridge, Glass Creek Meadow and the region’s largest old-growth red fir forest.
White Mountains Location: Mono County, CA Land Management Agency: U.S. Forest Service/Bureau of Land Management Approximate Acreage: 229,993 America’s largest and highest desert mountain range, the Whites contain the largest expanse of alpine tundra in western North America and the highest peak in the Great Basin.
John Muir Wilderness Additions Location: Mono and Inyo Counties, CA Land Management Agency: U.S. Forest Service/Bureau of Land Management Approximate Acreage: 70,411 The John Muir Wilderness Additions protect the dramatic eastern scarp of the Sierra and trout-bearing streams which flow down into the Owens Valley, while maintaining access to popular car camping, hunting and fishing sites. Photo courtesy of John Dittli
Magic Mountain Location: Los Angeles County, CA Land Management Agency: U.S. Forest Service Approximate Acreage: 12282 Magic Mountain ’s chaparral covered hillsides and oak-studded canyons provide a scenic vista and recreational opportunities for the rapidly urbanizing Santa Clarita Valley, and habitat for the California condor.
Ansel Adams Wilderness Addition Location: Mono County, CA Land Management Agency: U.S. Forest Service Approximate Acreage: 528 The Ansel Adams Wilderenss Addition preserves the mouth of Glacier Canyon below Mt. Dana on the edge of Yosemite National Park. The area is strewn with wildflowers in the summer. Photo: Flickr
Pleasant View Ridge Location: Los Angeles County, CA Land Management Agency: U.S. Forest Service Approximate Acreage: 26,757 Pleasant View Ridge features 8,200-foot Mt. Williamson, rugged backcountry, the headwaters of Little Rock Creek, a section of the Pacific Crest Trail and numerous recreational opportunities.
Wild & Scenic Rivers
Amargosa River Location: Inyo and San Bernardino Counties, CA Land Management Agency: U.S. Bureau of Land Management Approximate Mileage: 26 The only river flowing into Death Valley, the Amargosa is a fertile oasis in a harsh desert setting. The Amargosa River supports a wide array of wildlife and offers outstanding recreational opportunities. Photo courtesy of John Dittli
Owens River Headwaters Location: Mono County, CA Land Management Agency: U.S. Forest Service Approximate Mileage: 19 The Owens Headwaters support one of America’s finest and most popular trout fisheries. Wild and scenic protection of Glass Creek, Deadman Creek and Big Springs enhances the area’s fishing economy.
Piru Creek Location: Los Angeles County, CA Land Management Agency: U.S. Forest Service Approximate Mileage: 7 One of the few year-round free flowing streams on National Forest lands in Southern California, Piru Creek supports a catch-and-release trout fishery below Pyramid Dam and is a popular recreation destination.
Wilderness Study Area Release
Location: Mono County, CA Land Management Agency: U.S. Bureau of Land Management Approximate Acreage: 51,000 The bill releases the following Wilderness Study Areas: Masonic Mountain, Mormon Meadow, Walford Springs and Granite Mountain.
Other Designations
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Location: White Mountains, Mono County, CA Land Management Agency: U.S. Forest Service Approximate Acreage: 31,700 The bill gives permanent protection to the ancient bristlecone pines, the oldest living trees on earth, while allowing for the continued scientific research conducted in the area, prohibiting the construction of additional roads and enforcing existing special management.
Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area Location: Southwest of Bridgeport, Mono County, CA Land Management Agency: U.S. Forest Service Approximate Acreage: 7,254 This designation creates a snowmobile recreation area in Leavitt Bowl, adjacent to the Hoover West Wilderness Additions.
John Muir Wilderness Boundary Correction Location: Laurel Canyon, Mono County, CA Land Management Agency: U.S. Forest Service Approximate Mileage: .5 This designation corrects a 30-year mapping error and adjusts the wilderness boundary to allow continued motorized access to Laurel Lakes.
Pickel Hill Management Area Location: Mono County, CA Land Management Agency: U.S. Forest Service Approximate Acreage: 3,690 The bill would make available for snowmobiling an additional 3,690 acres of land in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.