The Warner Wilderness

     Have you ever visited a place and felt a spiritual connection to that place? That is exactly how I feel about the Warner Wilderness, located in Northern California it offers mountain views, pristine lakes and streams. 

     The Warner Mountains were named after Williams Horace Warner, who had been surveying the area for a possible railroad route through the mountains. He was killed by Native Americans in 1849; the railroad never built a railroad through this area. The Lassen-Applegate Trail did pass through this area as settlers came to California between 1846 and 1850. In 1855, a wagon train that passed through this area had a celebration for having made it to California and the Paiute Indians attacked the party and killed them all. Fandango Pass is named in honor of those who died in the massacre. I have always loved being in the outdoors and being totally surrounded by nature.


     The Warner Wilderness has it all with mountains that soar into the heavens, wildflowers, wildlife and streams so clear you can see the fish in them. I hesitate to even talk about this area for fear more people will discover what a few of us have known for years, that this is a special place in California. People have yet to discover the shear beauty of this area, it is usually a place of solitude, and most of the people who come to this area have been coming to it for years.

     There are a few camp grounds at Clear Lake, Blue Lake and Patterson Ranger Station, but for those who prefer to be alone you can find many more isolated camping spots. Hiking will be the only way to see some of the most spectacular views the Warner Wilderness has to offer. The Summit Trail Loop is a backpackers dream with 10 lakes that dot the trail, and most of the time you will have the whole area to yourself. You can also travel a lot of this area by horseback, which is how I love to see it. Riding horses gives you a chance to sit back and really enjoy the grandeur of the wilderness. 


     My family has been making a trip to this area every summer for as long as I can remember. My grandparent's would spend their summers at Blue Lake fishing and my family would make the trip and spend a couple of weeks each year with them. One of my first memories of the area is feeding the chipmunks by hand, which isn't advisable today, but 45 years ago we did things you shouldn't do today.


     If wildflowers are something you enjoy you won't be disappointed with the wilderness display. Mule ear, Thistle and Bush Lupine are just a few of the gorgeous flowers you will encounter. Quaking aspen, lodge pole pine and sagebrush intermingle to provide a diverse collection of flora and fauna. You can see Mule deer, antelope and if you travel a few miles to the south you will see some of the last remaining herds of wild horses. The wild horses are being rounded up and might not be seen in the future. I will always be grateful I was lucky enough to see them running wild. It is an amazing sight. I wish everyone could see this place without impacting its beauty.

     This is one place in California I would recommend to everyone to check out. Stop in at the Likely store and get the feeling of the old west before you head in. It’s the one of the last place to get gas and supplies