Sheep Mountain Wilderness

The United States Congress designated the Sheep Mountain Wilderness in 1984 and it now has a total of 41,883 acres. All of this wilderness is located in California and is managed by the Forest Service. The Sheep Mountain Wilderness is bordered by the San Gabriel Wilderness to the east. Extremely rugged terrain dominates Sheep Mountain Wilderness, with elevations from about 2,400 feet to 10,064-foot Mount Baldy (also known as Mount San Antonio), the highest point in the San Gabriel Mountains. The East Fork of the San Gabriel River, Prairie Fork, and Upper Lytle Creek drain the area. Chaparral covers the lower slopes, changing to a mountain forest of mixed Southern California evergreens. A rich diversity of wildlife includes Nelson bighorn sheep, deer, coyotes, bears, and mountain lions. Several inholdings of privately owned land occur within the Wilderness borders and deserve special consideration.