Golden Trout Wilderness

The protected area spans 303,511 acres across the Sierra Nevada mountains, featuring meadows, grasslands, forests, and peaks reaching 12,900 feet in elevation.

The United States Congress established this wilderness area in 1978 as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System under Forest Service management.

The region contains significant sections of the Pacific Crest Trail, where hikers traverse 25 miles of paths maintaining elevations above 10,000 feet.

Visitors need permits for overnight stays, with reservations opening six months ahead at 7 AM PST for 60 percent of available spots.

This protected habitat supports pure populations of California's state freshwater fish, the golden trout, in fewer than 10 miles of streams.

Location: Inyo County

Operator: US Forest Service

GPS coordinates: 36.30805,-118.30204

Latest update: March 2, 2025 20:16