Introduction
The United States Congress designated the Chimney Peak Wilderness (
map) in 1994 and it now has a total of
13,140 acres.
All of this wilderness is located in
California and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Description
Here on the eastern slope of the southern Sierra Nevada, you'll find valleys, canyons, alluvial fans, and steep foothills leading up into rugged granite mountains, all encompassed by Chimney Peak Wilderness. Joshua trees, creosote bushes, and desert shrubs dot the valley floors. Higher elevations grow cottonwoods, cactuses, and piñon pine. With Chimney Peak rising in the northeast corner to 2,435 feet, Chimney Creek briskly flows across the eastern boundary, providing a habitat for trout. The Pacific Crest Trail crosses about eight miles of the area just west and south of the peak's summit. You'll see little evidence of human visitation except for a few traces of the Sacatar Trail, an old wagon road. From Kennedy Meadows outside the northeastern corner, you can hike three miles into the area north of Chimney Peak and join the PCT.
