King Range Wilderness, Protected wilderness area in Humboldt County, US.

King Range Wilderness is a protected area along the California coast featuring steep terrain where mountains rise sharply from the ocean shore. The landscape combines rocky ridges, deep canyons, and untouched coastline into a rugged, interconnected environment.

The area gained wilderness protection in 2006 through federal legislation aimed at preserving wild coastal lands in Northern California. This designation ensures long-term conservation and limits development within the protected territory.

The earliest prehistoric sites along this coast are no older than 2,800 years, possibly because uplift and erosion removed older traces. Artifacts suggest the Wiyot settled first, followed by the Yurok by AD 1100; later the Mattole, Sinkyone and Bear River peoples lived here. Homestead ruins and old orchards remain visible in the range.

The area is lightly developed and requires good navigation skills since markings and facilities are sparse. Visitors should come prepared with a backpack, map or GPS device, and be ready for changing elevations and weather conditions.

The Mattole River estuary, over 650 acres, was designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern by the Bureau of Land Management in 1981. It traps river sediment and ocean sand and will eventually fill in to become a meadow.