About Chimney Peak Recreation Area
7/17/2024- Chimney Peak, Long Valley campgrounds and portion of the Pacific Crest Trail are closed due to wildland fire danger Overview Chimney Peak Recreation Area includes most of the Bakersfield Field Office's Southern Sierra Recreation sites and Wilderness areas, including Domelands Wilderness, Sacatar Trail Wilderness, Owens Peak Wilderness, Chimney Peak Wilderness, Long Valley Campground, Chimney Creek Campground, Walker Pass Campground, the Owens Peak segment of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, Lamont Peak and other Wilderness trails, and the former Chimney Peak Backcountry byway. The area consists of approximately 105,000 acres stretching from north of California State Highway 178 to the edge of the Field Office near Kennedy Meadows. This rugged section of the southern Sierra Nevada mountains offers a number of excellent opportunities for hiking, bakcpacking, day hiking, horseback riding, and outstanding opportunities for primitive recreation and experiences of solitude and isolation.
How to Get There
Follow highway CA-178 approximately 30 miles east of the town of Lake Isabella and turn north onto Canebreak Road. From here, you can access most of the sites within the recreation area, including Chimney Creek Campground, Long Valley Campground, Domelands Wilderness (on your left as you drive up Canebrake Road), Owens Peak Wilderness (on your right as you drive up Canebrake Road), and Chimney Peak Wilderness (on your left on Canebrake Road past the junction with Long Valley Road). For detailed directions to each of these sites, see their individual pages.
Driving directions (Google Maps) →Plan Your Visit to Chimney Peak Recreation Area
Heading to Chimney Peak Recreation Area? A few things to know before you go:
- Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
- Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
- Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
- Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
- Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for Chimney Peak Recreation Area?
No central reservation system listed for Chimney Peak Recreation Area. Check the official page (https://www.recreation.gov/recarea/14789) for the latest entry policy and availability.
How do I get to Chimney Peak Recreation Area?
Follow highway CA-178 approximately 30 miles east of the town of Lake Isabella and turn north onto Canebreak Road. From here, you can access most of the sites within the recreation area, including Chimney Creek Campground, Long Valley Campground, Domelands Wilderness (on your left as you drive up Canebrake Road), Owens Peak Wilderness (on your right as you drive up Canebrake Road), and Chimney Pea…
How do I contact Chimney Peak Recreation Area?
You can reach the park at phone: 661-391-6000 or email: BLM_CA_Web_BK@blm.gov.
References & Official Resources
