Dick Smith Wilderness is a protected mountain backcountry in Los Padres National Forest, northeast of Santa Barbara, within a larger band of federal wildlands that includes the San Rafael, Matilija, and nearby Sespe wilderness areas. Created by Congress in 1984 and named for Santa Barbara journalist and conservation advocate Dick Smith, it honors his efforts to draw attention to and defend this remote landscape. The wilderness spans rugged peaks, drainage divides, faulted terrain, and varied habitats shaped by Mediterranean climate, from chaparral to conifer slopes and streamside growth. Its wildlife includes bears, lions, coyotes, and occasional California condors, and the region also preserves deep human history and recurring wildfire.