Golden Valley Wilderness Area

Golden Valley Wilderness Area encompasses nearly 38,000 acres of federally protected backcountry in California, managed by the Bureau of Land Management. This is true wilderness—no roads, no motors, no mechanized travel of any kind. What you'll find here is primitive backcountry where solitude and self-reliance define the experience.

Hiking and backpacking are the primary ways to explore Golden Valley. The landscape rewards those willing to travel on foot through remote terrain, offering the kind of quietude that exists nowhere else in heavily populated California. You'll encounter a place shaped entirely by natural forces, where the only human presence you're likely to meet comes from other hikers moving through the same wild country.

Visiting means accepting wilderness rules in full. Leave No Trace principles are not suggestions—they're the framework that keeps this place protected and pristine for everyone who comes after. Pack out everything you pack in, camp responsibly, and travel lightly. Access requires planning; there are no facilities, no marked services, and no shortcuts. The season matters too: timing your visit for stable weather is essential, as this is exposed backcountry with real consequences for poor preparation or bad luck. Come equipped, self-sufficient, and ready to leave no trace of your passage.