Dome Land Wilderness
Encyclopedia
The Domeland Wilderness is a federally designated wilderness area located 55 miles (88.5 km) northeast of Bakersfield, California
USA. It encompasses 130081 acres (526.4 km²), is jointly managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) and is mostly within the Sequoia National Forest
.
of 1964 and expanded by the California Desert Protection Act of 1994
, adding 36000 acres (145.7 km²) of BLM land.
The Manter wildfire in July 2000 burned more than 74000 acres (299.5 km²) of the wilderness.
The wilderness protects the southern area of the Kern Plateau with the Wild and Scenic South Fork Kern River
bisecting the wilderness down the middle from north to south. The highest area of the plateau is the middle of the wilderness with large expanses of bedrock with cliffs, domes and spires that give the wilderness its name. One of the most outstanding rock formations is Church Dome. Interspersed with these formations are mixed conifer forests ranging from white fir
and Jeffrey pine
to Limber Pine
and foxtail pine
at the highest elevations.
The western boundary is defined by a broken granite ridge with another ridge divide at the northern boundary. Large meadows occur in the wilderness and provide summer range for the Kern River deer herd and the Monarche herd as well. Other animals in the wilderness include the mountain lion, bobcat
, and American black bear
. A large population of rattlesnake
s reside within the wilderness and visitors should use extra caution, especially in the area of the South Fork Kern River.
Extreme heat in the summer months as well as low water makes the Domeland lightly visited until autumn, winter or spring.
Activities in the wilderness are cross-country skiing
and snowshoeing in the winter, as well as day-hiking
, backpacking, fishing and rock climbing.
There are three campgrounds near the wilderness: Long Valley, Chimney Rock and Kennedy Meadows.
The Pacific Crest Trail
runs through the wilderness for seven miles (11 km) next to the South Fork Kern River. The Rockhouse Trail follows the river for another four miles (6 km). A ford across the river is required to access higher elevations in the wilderness. The trails in the wilderness traverse the variety of topography and can be accessed via 10 trailheads. The Domeland Trail goes through the most rugged, rocky part of the wilderness.
Fishing for brown trout
and rainbow trout
is popular at this part of South Fork Kern River as well as other streams such as Fish Creek, Manter Creek, Taylor Creek and Trout Creek. The upper reaches of these creeks can contain golden trout
.
Rock climbing
in Domeland Wilderness is possible, with seldom climbed class 5+ routes.
The Forest Service encourages the practice of Leave No Trace
principles of outdoor travel to minimize human impact on the environment.
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
USA. It encompasses 130081 acres (526.4 km²), is jointly managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
(BLM) and is mostly within the Sequoia National Forest
Sequoia National Forest
Sequoia National Forest is located in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California. The U.S. National Forest is named for the majestic Giant Sequoia trees which populate 38 distinct groves within the boundaries of the forest....
.
History
Domeland Wilderness was created by the federal Wilderness ActWilderness Act
The Wilderness Act of 1964 was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society. It created the legal definition of wilderness in the United States, and protected some 9 million acres of federal land. The result of a long effort to protect federal wilderness, the Wilderness Act was signed...
of 1964 and expanded by the California Desert Protection Act of 1994
California Desert Protection Act of 1994
The California Desert Protection Act of 1994 is a federal law , signed by President Bill Clinton, and passed by the United States Congress on October 8, 1994, that established the Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks and the Mojave National Preserve in the California...
, adding 36000 acres (145.7 km²) of BLM land.
The Manter wildfire in July 2000 burned more than 74000 acres (299.5 km²) of the wilderness.
Geography
Elevations range from 2800 feet (853.4 m) up to 9977 feet (3,041 m).The wilderness protects the southern area of the Kern Plateau with the Wild and Scenic South Fork Kern River
South Fork Kern River
The South Fork Kern River is a tributary of the Kern River in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. It is one of the southernmost rivers on the western slope of the mountains, and drains an area of that comprises mostly rugged mountain ridges and dry evergreen forest...
bisecting the wilderness down the middle from north to south. The highest area of the plateau is the middle of the wilderness with large expanses of bedrock with cliffs, domes and spires that give the wilderness its name. One of the most outstanding rock formations is Church Dome. Interspersed with these formations are mixed conifer forests ranging from white fir
White Fir
White Fir is a fir native to the mountains of western North America, occurring at altitudes of 900-3,400 m. It is a medium to large evergreen coniferous tree growing to 25–60 m tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 2 m . It is popular as an ornamental landscaping tree and as a Christmas Tree...
and Jeffrey pine
Jeffrey Pine
The Jeffrey Pine, Pinus jeffreyi, named in honor of its botanist documenter John Jeffrey, is a North American pine related to Ponderosa Pine.-Distribution and habitat:...
to Limber Pine
Limber Pine
The Limber Pine, Pinus flexilis, is a species of pine tree-the family Pinaceae that occurs in the mountains of the Western United States, Mexico, and Canada. It is also called Southwestern White Pine and Rocky Mountain White Pine...
and foxtail pine
Foxtail Pine
The Foxtail Pine is a rare pine that is endemic to California, United States, where it is found in two areas with a separate subspecies in each, the typical subsp. balfouriana in the Klamath Mountains, and subsp. austrina in the southern Sierra Nevada.-Description:Foxtail Pine is a tree to tall,...
at the highest elevations.
The western boundary is defined by a broken granite ridge with another ridge divide at the northern boundary. Large meadows occur in the wilderness and provide summer range for the Kern River deer herd and the Monarche herd as well. Other animals in the wilderness include the mountain lion, bobcat
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
, and American black bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
. A large population of rattlesnake
Rattlesnake
Rattlesnakes are a group of venomous snakes of the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus of the subfamily Crotalinae . There are 32 known species of rattlesnake, with between 65-70 subspecies, all native to the Americas, ranging from southern Alberta and southern British Columbia in Canada to Central...
s reside within the wilderness and visitors should use extra caution, especially in the area of the South Fork Kern River.
Recreation
Activities in the wilderness are cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
and snowshoeing in the winter, as well as day-hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, backpacking, fishing and rock climbing.
There are three campgrounds near the wilderness: Long Valley, Chimney Rock and Kennedy Meadows.
The Pacific Crest Trail
Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico...
runs through the wilderness for seven miles (11 km) next to the South Fork Kern River. The Rockhouse Trail follows the river for another four miles (6 km). A ford across the river is required to access higher elevations in the wilderness. The trails in the wilderness traverse the variety of topography and can be accessed via 10 trailheads. The Domeland Trail goes through the most rugged, rocky part of the wilderness.
Fishing for brown trout
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
and rainbow trout
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
is popular at this part of South Fork Kern River as well as other streams such as Fish Creek, Manter Creek, Taylor Creek and Trout Creek. The upper reaches of these creeks can contain golden trout
Golden Trout
The golden trout is a sub-species of the rainbow trout, and it closley resembles the juvenile Rainbow trout. The fish is also known as the California golden trout and is native to Golden Trout Creek, Volcano Creek and the South Fork Kern River. Another variant, O. m...
.
Rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
in Domeland Wilderness is possible, with seldom climbed class 5+ routes.
The Forest Service encourages the practice of Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace is both a set of principles, and an organization that promotes those principles. The principles are designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to reduce their impacts when they hike, camp, picnic, snowshoe, run, bike, hunt, paddle, ride horses, fish, ski or...
principles of outdoor travel to minimize human impact on the environment.