Sacatar Trail Wilderness

Infobox Protected area
name = Sacatar Trail Wilderness
iucn_category = Ib

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caption =
base_width =
locator_x = 25
locator_y = 94
lat_degrees = 35
lat_minutes = 57
lat_seconds = 20
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 117
long_minutes = 59
long_seconds = 41
long_direction = W
nearest_city = Ridgecrest, California
area = convert|51900|acre|km2
established = Oct.31, 1994
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = Bureau of Land Management
world_heritage_site =The Sacatar Trail Wilderness is a federally designated wilderness area located convert|20|mi|km northwest of Ridgecrest, California USA.It was created in 1994 with the passage of the California Desert Protection Act (Public Law 103-433) and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).The wilderness is convert|51900|acre|km2 in size and protects portions of the southern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. [ [http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=legiscdpa&error=404#titlei Wilderness.net's HTML version of Ca. Desert Protection Act of 1994.] ] The Sacatar Trail was the only route into the Owens Valley from the West before the road over Walker Pass was built.Cattle, soldiers, and commercial traffic used this trail. [ [http://kernkaweah.sierraclub.org/roadrunner/november_december_2004.pdf Sierra Club's newsletter, "Roadrunner", Nov/Dec 2004 issue p.6] ] It is the only designated hiking trial within the wilderness and is about nine miles (14 km) in length.

Elevations in the wilderness are from convert|3541|ft|m to convert|8800|ft|m.

Recreation activities are day-hiking, backpacking and pinyon nut gathering. A California Campfire permit is required for open fires or backpack stoves.

The Bureau of Land Management encourages the practice of Leave No Trace principles of outdoor travel to minimize human impact on the environment.

Landscape

The Sacatar Trail Wilderness encompasses a narrow band along the southern Sierra crest between Ninemile Canyon in the south and Sequoia National Forest to the north. Its boundary includes the desert-like eastern face of the Sierra where broad alluvial fans or bahadas collect from Rose Valley. Height from Rose Valley up to the granite crest is as much as a mile. Five steep canyons cut through the east side with several perennial springs. At the springs, riparian growth includes Fremont cottonwood trees, willows and grasses. The higher elevations have single-leaf pinyon pine and Jeffrey Pine trees.

Access

The trail crosses the wilderness from east to west, with the east side a steep and strenous climb. Starting at the west trailhead and traveling east is recommended.

The eastside trailhead is difficult to find because of minimal signage. A topographic map (Little Lake quad) or the BLM map of the area is helpful.

Footnotes

References

Adkinson, Ron "Wild Northern California, including the entire Sierra Nevada", Globe Piquot Press, 2001

External links

[http://www.blm.gov/ca/pa/wilderness/wa/areas/sacatar_trail.html Bureau of Land Managemnt's page on Sacatar Trail Wilderness]

[http://www.blm.gov/education/lnt/ The Bureau of Land Management's Leave No Trace training page]