Mokelumne Wilderness The 105,165 acre Mokelumne Wilderness straddles the crest of the central Sierra. It is a rugged landscape of great scenic beauty. Much of the area is dominated by volcanic ridges and peaks. The prominent feature is disputably the rugged Mokelumne River Canyon. Precipitation averages 50 inches annually on the west slope and as little as 15 inches on the east slope, 80 percent of it in the form of snow.

Snowcaps typically linger into June in the Round Top region to the north and on the Mokelumne Plateau to the south, while the Mokelumne River Canyon above Salt Springs Reservoir can be free of snow as early as March. Summers are generally dry and mild, but afternoon thundershowers occur periodically and nighttime temperatures may dip below freezing any time.

• Campfires - Campfires are allowed below 8,000 feet in elevation. Camp stoves are allowed in the entire wilderness. Your Wilderness Permit is also your campfire permit while visiting the Mokelumne Wilderness in a location where a campfire or camp stove is allowed.
• Campfires are prohibited in the following locations:
  • Above 8,000 feet.
  • Carson Pass Management Area
  • North Fork Mokelumne River Canyon along Salt Springs Reservoir and the Blue Hole Trail
• Campfires are prohibited to reduce human-caused fires, impacts to vegetation from firewood collection, and to reduce the visual impacts of fire rings and surface scarring.
• Method of Travel - Travel is restricted to horseback or foot only. Trails in the Mokelumne Canyon are maintained in a primitive and challenging condition and are not recommended for stock use. All means of mechanical transportation, including bicycles, are prohibited in wilderness. Wheelchairs are allowed. Stay on trails and do not shortcut switchbacks or create parallel ruts by walking alongside the trail.
• Waste - Visitors are required to bury human waste 6 to 8 inches deep and at least 200 feet away from water, trails, and campsites. Toilet paper must be buried or packed out. Garbage must be packed out.
• Group Size - Maximum group size: 12 people for day-use, and 8 people for overnight use.
• Pets - Domestic pets are allowed in the Mokelumne Wilderness at this time. You are responsible for their actions as well as their welfare. In the Carson Pass Management Area pets should be leashed or physically restrained at all times. Elsewhere within the Wilderness, dogs should be either leashed or under direct voice control. Dogs can disturb other campers, get in fights with other dogs along the trail, and scare wildlife away. The Amador and Alpine County leash laws will be enforced inside the Wilderness boundary where dogs off leash are an impediment or hazard to the safety of any person, or where dogs are harassing or molesting wildlife.

Permits

Permits are mandatory for entry into the Mokelumne Wilderness year round for overnight use. The permit system allows the Forest Service to inform visitors of their responsibilities for preserving the wilderness resource, gather important recreation use data, and to limit use where necessary. Permits can also be helpful in locating people during emergencies. Organized commercial or institutional groups will also need an Outfitter-Guide permit: contact the local Ranger Station for more information.

• Overnight Permits are required year-round.
• Day-Use permits are not required.
• Maximum group size: 12 people for day-use, and 8 people for overnight use. If you have a larger group than is permitted, reduce the number of people, split the group to visit different areas, or visit an area which permits larger numbers. You are not permitted to camp or travel within one mile of a related group.
• Only one permit is required per group and must remain with someone in the party at all times.
• Each permit is good for one trip only.
• You must enter at the trailhead designated on your permit.
• Permits for the Carson Pass Area can only be obtained from the Carson Pass Information Station during the summer. The Station is open 7 days a week during the summer:
  • Monday through Thursday - 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
  • Friday through Sunday - 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • Call the Amador Ranger Station for more information at 209-295-4251.
• Permits for the Mokelumne Wilderness in general can be obtained from Amador Ranger Station in Pioneer, Carson Pass Information Station, and the Eldorado Information Center in Camino.