Red Buttes Wilderness

Red Buttes Wilderness is a 20,167-acre federally protected Wilderness Area in California, managed by the Forest Service. It offers primitive backcountry experience in a landscape suited to foot travel and self-reliance, drawing visitors seeking solitude and distance from developed areas.

Hiking and backpacking are the primary pursuits here. The wilderness is roadless and closed to all motorized and mechanized travel—no mountain bikes, no vehicles, no mechanized equipment. This is genuine backcountry: you travel on foot, camp where permitted under Leave No Trace principles, and carry everything in and out. The non-motorized mandate is both what defines the Wilderness Act and what preserves the quiet, undeveloped character of the place.

Access depends on trailheads and roads maintained outside the wilderness boundary. Seasonality is driven by weather and snow; spring and early summer may see lingering snow at higher elevations, while fall often offers stable conditions. Winter travel is possible but demanding. Before you go, check current conditions with the Forest Service and know the Leave No Trace ethic—pack out all waste, camp on durable surfaces, and minimize your footprint in this protected landscape.