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The Mendocino National Forest, located in the Coastal Mountain Range, spans 913,306 acres across six counties. It is unique as the only national forest in California without a major paved road entering it, offering a remote and tranquil outdoor experience. The forest features diverse landscapes, including mountains, canyons, rivers, and lakes, with elevations ranging from 750 feet to 8,092 feet at South Yolla Bolly Mountain. It is home to four wilderness areas—YollaBolly-Middle Eel, Yuki, Snow Mountain, and Sanhedrin.
The forest supports a rich ecosystem with mixed conifer forests, oak woodlands, chaparral, and wet meadows, hosting wildlife like tule elk, black bears, mountain lions, and rare plants such as the Anthony Peak lupine. Lake Pillsbury, the largest recreational lake at 2,280 acres, is a popular destination. The Forest’s waters flow into the Pacific Ocean via the Eel River system and eastward through the Sacramento River system.
The Forest was established as a reserve in 1907 and renamed Mendocino in 1932. It has faced significant wildfires, including the 2018 Mendocino Complex Fire, and the 2020 August Complex Fire, the latter being California’s largest recorded wildfire, burning over 1 million acres. It is managed by three ranger districts (Covelo, Grindstone, and Upper Lake) with headquarters in Willows, California.
