eXputer
Subscribe

Locationmajor

Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness

Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness is the rugged highland surrounding Mount Chiliad in northern Blaine County, San Andreas.

Importancemajor

Key takeaways

  • The wilderness is a large Blaine County region, not just Mount Chiliad Mount Chiliad, Raton Canyon and the Altruist Camp are important components, but neighbouring areas such as Paleto Bay, Paleto Forest and Braddock Pass should be kept distinct.
  • Trevor has the most area-specific content After meeting Cletus and completing Fair Game, Trevor can hunt in the wilderness between sunrise and sunset, earning money for photographed kills.
  • The Altruist Camp is the principal hostile landmark In Story Mode, delivering four suitable random-event victims to the Altruists triggers the Altruist Cult Shootout, after which Trevor can collect four briefcases worth a total of $100,000.
  • The region is excellent for wildlife and off-road exploration Cougars, boars, deer, birds and coyotes can appear, while the Sasquatch is tied to the post-100% mission The Last One rather than being a normal roaming animal.
  • The Mount Chiliad Tunnel is a genuine through-route It runs beneath the western mountain and connects the rough trails on either side. The tunnel is accessible from the Mount Chiliad Tourist Trail and from an unpaved road branching from North Calafia Way.
  • Many collectible references are easy to misclassify Mount Chiliad summit collectibles, Raton Canyon collectibles and items near the Altruist Camp may be listed under broader map regions, so their exact subarea should be checked before treating them as wilderness content.

About this guide

Scope: Story Mode in Grand Theft Auto V, with clearly labelled notes for GTA Online. Status: Researched guide. The wilderness is a broad in-game zone rather than a single compact landmark, so this guide treats its recognised subareas separately and does not fold neighbouring locations into it without explanation.

Overview

Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness is one of Blaine County’s largest rural regions. It is centred on Mount Chiliad, but the zone is not simply the mountain itself. Its wider landscape includes mountain trails, forested slopes, remote roads, the Mount Chiliad Tunnel and the Raton Canyon area. The Altruist Camp lies inside the wilderness, while Mount Chiliad’s summit facilities and the communities around Paleto Bay, Paleto Forest and Braddock Pass form neighbouring or associated areas rather than one interchangeable location.

The region is deliberately sparsely developed. There are no ordinary shopping streets, garages or large settlements inside the wilderness. Instead, it is used for hunting, wildlife encounters, off-road driving, parachuting, random events, cult-related encounters and some of the game’s most memorable exploration secrets. Its isolation also makes it dangerous: mountain lions can attack suddenly, roads are rough, and several paths are difficult to follow without a suitable vehicle.

Rockstar’s in-game tourism material describes the wilderness as a place where people disappear more often than anywhere else in San Andreas. That description is reflected in the area’s combination of wildlife, cult activity, isolated cabins, hidden roads and mission locations.

Mount Chiliad

Mount Chiliad dominates the region and provides the most recognisable viewpoints in the game. Its slopes are crossed by dirt trails and the larger Mount Chiliad Tourist Trail. The summit includes an observation area, telescopes and the upper aerial tramway station in Story Mode.

The mountain’s top is also connected with the game’s UFO mystery, the mural inside the tramway station and a number of unusual exploration details. These are Mount Chiliad secrets rather than separate wilderness missions, but they make the mountain the main destination for players exploring the region.

Mount Chiliad’s steep elevation changes affect almost every activity. Standard road cars can reach some approaches, but motorcycles, off-road vehicles, bicycles and helicopters are more reliable for reaching remote points. A vehicle that is easy to control on dirt is usually more useful than a fast supercar.

Raton Canyon and Cassidy Creek

Raton Canyon is a dramatic canyon cut by Cassidy Creek. The watercourse runs from the Alamo Sea towards the Pacific Ocean, creating waterfalls and several layers of trails. Its cliffs provide opportunities for parachuting and difficult off-road routes.

The canyon’s trails are not one continuous, clearly marked road. Some routes run above the creek, some descend towards the water, and others terminate at cliffs or narrow ledges. A player travelling through the area should expect to dismount and climb rather than remain on a vehicle throughout.

Forests, slopes and dirt trails

The wilderness is made up of dry mountain woodland, exposed rock, scrub, steep ravines and loose-surface tracks. The visual character changes with the time of day and weather. Night exploration is particularly hazardous because wildlife is harder to see and headlights reveal only a short section of trail.

The area’s dirt paths are part of the wider tourist-trail network. They are useful for bicycles and off-road vehicles but can be awkward for normal cars. Several paths also function as informal stunt routes, with jumps and sudden drops that are not always obvious from the approach.

Mount Chiliad Tunnel

The Mount Chiliad Tunnel runs beneath the western part of the mountain and is approximately 370 metres long. It is a reinforced concrete road tunnel with a paved and illuminated interior, contrasting sharply with the rough roads at its entrances. Two service doors marked T01 and T02 warn of high voltage, but they are not normal player entrances.

Directory: named natural and infrastructural places

---

Directory: named natural and infrastructural places

From Paleto Bay and the Great Ocean Highway

The most straightforward approach for a first visit is from the Paleto Bay side. Follow the Great Ocean Highway south or east towards the mountain routes, then turn onto the marked or unmarked dirt roads leading into the slopes.

This route is useful when the player wants to combine:

A dirt bike, Sanchez, Brawler, Dubsta or similar off-road vehicle is preferable. A helicopter is faster but removes much of the route-finding experience.

From Paleto Bay and the Great Ocean Highway: steps

  1. 01
    Paleto Bay supplies and weapons,
  2. 02
    Mount Chiliad exploration,
  3. 03
    the northern tunnel entrance,
  4. 04
    the upper mountain trails.

From North Calafia Way

A second practical access route reaches the tunnel through an unpaved road branching from North Calafia Way. This is the better approach for players who want to inspect the tunnel itself without climbing all the way up from the Great Ocean Highway.

From Raton Canyon

The canyon can be entered from trails near Cassidy Creek and from roads approaching the mountain from the south-west. This route is best for hiking, parachuting and hunting. It is less convenient for ordinary road vehicles because of the steep terrain and interruptions caused by cliffs and creek crossings.

Helicopter access

Helicopters can land near many landmarks, including the Altruist Camp and upper mountain locations. However, approach carefully. The camp can behave differently depending on the method of arrival, and Altruists may appear when the player reaches it by helicopter even when the site seems empty on foot or by car.

Suggested exploration circuits

Altruist Camp circuit

---

Short scenic circuit

  1. 01
    Begin at the Paleto Bay side of the mountain.
  2. 02
    Take an off-road vehicle onto the lower Mount Chiliad trails.
  3. 03
    Visit the summit and observation area.
  4. 04
    Descend by the tourist trail.
  5. 05
    Cross or inspect the Mount Chiliad Tunnel.
  6. 06
    Return via the northern or southern trail network.

Wildlife and hunting circuit

  1. 01
    Start as Trevor between 05:00 and 19:00.
  2. 02
    Visit Cletus’s hunting trailer after Fair Game is complete.
  3. 03
    Hunt through the wooded slopes and canyon approaches.
  4. 04
    Photograph each kill and send it to Cletus.
  5. 05
    Return before the activity closes at sunset.

Altruist Camp circuit

  1. 01
    Approach from the nearest dirt route rather than using the main highway.
  2. 02
    Check the camp’s guard tower and buildings.
  3. 03
    If the Altruist Cult Shootout has been triggered, search the camp for its briefcases.
  4. 04
    Collect the health pickup in the front guard tower if it is present.
  5. 05
    Leave by vehicle or helicopter, since the camp may remain hazardous after the event.

Altruist Camp

The Altruist Camp is the headquarters of the Altruist Cult. It consists of wooden shacks, abandoned houses, a water mill and a surrounding wall. The compound is isolated and looks more like a fortified rural settlement than a conventional camp.

Story Mode uses

The camp is primarily important for the Altruist storyline:

The four-victim condition is important. If the player does not have enough suitable victims remaining in the random-event pool, the shootout may no longer be available in that playthrough. This is one of the region’s major missability concerns.

Camp directory

The last entry refers to the buildings and radio-antenna area above the camp, which is also associated with a Letter Scrap location.

Camp directory

Hunting trailer

The hunting trailer is the operational base for Trevor’s hunting activity. It is located in the wilderness and is associated with Cletus Ewing’s hunting lessons.

The trailer is not a general shop, accommodation or permanent service location. Its function is tied to hunting. A Blazer is available outside it during the activity, and Trevor receives hunting equipment and a hunting outfit through the related mission progression.

Mount Chiliad summit facilities

The telescopes are usable in Story Mode for a small fee. The summit is also associated with a peyote plant in enhanced versions of the game, located south-east of the Bells End sign.

Functional status

---

Functional status

PlaceFunctional?Notes
Altruist CampYes, mission and combat locationStory events, pickups and hostile occupants
Hunting trailerYes, activity locationTrevor’s hunting activity
Mount Chiliad summitYesViewpoint, telescopes, tramway station and exploration
Mount Chiliad TunnelYesThrough-route, environmental encounters
T01/T02 service doorsNo normal entryHigh-voltage warning doors
Rural shacks and abandoned housesMostly sceneryDo not assume they are enterable
Shops or petrol stationsNo confirmed internal businessesUse Paleto Bay or other nearby settlements

Altruist Cult

The Altruists are the wilderness’s principal resident faction. They are a violent, anti-technology cult associated with human sacrifice, cannibalistic beliefs and hostility towards younger generations. Their headquarters is the Altruist Camp.

They are not ordinary random pedestrians. Their presence is linked to specific Story Mode progression and event states. The camp may appear empty in some approaches, particularly when reached on foot or by car, while helicopter arrival and certain mission states can produce occupants.

Cletus Ewing

Cletus is a hunter who introduces Trevor to the hunting activity. He is a story-associated visitor rather than a permanent wilderness resident. His involvement begins with Target Practice and continues through Fair Game, after which hunting is available as a repeatable pastime.

Wildlife

The wilderness supports the following verified wildlife categories:

The Sasquatch is not a normal free-roaming Story Mode animal. It is the target of The Last One, which unlocks after 100% completion. In GTA Online, the Yeti belongs to a seasonal hunt rather than ordinary wilderness wildlife.

Visitors and environmental NPCs

The Mount Chiliad Tunnel can generate mountain bikers, skaters and other recreational visitors. Their appearance is time-dependent and should not be treated as a permanent resident population.

---

Hunting

Hunting is the wilderness’s most important repeatable Story Mode activity.

Requirements

During a hunt, Trevor receives unlimited sniper ammunition for the activity and wears the hunting outfit. Each kill must be photographed and sent to Cletus. Payment depends on the animal and shot quality. Heart, neck and head shots provide better scores and higher returns.

Practical method

The activity is not available to Michael or Franklin as a paid hunting challenge. They can encounter and kill wildlife, but only Trevor can use the formal Cletus hunting activity.

Practical method

  1. 01
    Begin near the trailer and check the wind direction.
  2. 02
    Move downwind where possible.
  3. 03
    Use the animal call, then watch the tree line and slopes.
  4. 04
    Prioritise a clean heart, neck or head shot.
  5. 05
    Photograph the body immediately.
  6. 06
    Send the image to Cletus.
  7. 07
    Continue until the activity closes or the desired medal is achieved.

Fair Game

Fair Game is the mission that establishes Trevor’s relationship with Cletus and leads into hunting. It is the progression gate for the repeatable hunting activity.

The Last One

The Last One becomes available after the player reaches 100% completion. Trevor tracks a supposed Sasquatch in the wilderness. This is a late-game mission and should not be confused with the regular wildlife population.

The mission is also important to enhanced-version peyote progression. The Golden Peyote-related content requires all standard peyote plants, 100% completion and completion of The Last One.

Random events

Several random events can occur in or around the wilderness. Their exact positions and availability can depend on character, prior completion and random-event state.

Not every event listed at the Altruist Camp is a guaranteed canonical Story Mode occurrence in every playthrough. Some entries are optional or marked as non-canon possibilities.

---

Peyote plants

In the enhanced version of GTA V, the Mount Chiliad area contains peyote locations. The summit has an air-related peyote plant south-east of the Bells End sign, and another is listed on the north-eastern face of Mount Chiliad. Raton Canyon also contains separate peyote locations. These should be recorded by exact subarea rather than collapsed into one generic “Chiliad” entry.

Peyote plants trigger an animal hallucination. The player can end the hallucination manually, or it can end if the animal dies or enters water.

These are regional entries, not evidence that every peyote plant in the broader Blaine County mountain zone belongs to Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness.

Letter Scraps

A Letter Scrap is located at the radio antenna beside the buildings above the Altruist Camp. Another is located at the Mount Chiliad aerial tramway terminal, which should be filed under the summit rather than the general wilderness.

Health and weapons

The Altruist Camp has a health pickup in its front guard tower. After the Altruist Cult Shootout, an RPG can be obtained at the camp and may respawn after a few minutes. This makes the camp a useful early source of heavy weaponry, although collecting it can be dangerous if hostile occupants or wanted-level consequences remain active.

---

Cougars

Cougars are the most serious ordinary wilderness hazard. They can attack without warning, especially when the player is on foot and visibility is poor. Trevor’s special ability can help him survive an attack, but it is safer to keep a shotgun or assault rifle ready.

Terrain

The main environmental dangers are not scripted traps but steep drops, loose paths, sudden jumps and narrow ledges. A vehicle can roll down a slope even when it appears to be travelling slowly. Bikes are manoeuvrable but offer little protection from wildlife.

Altruists

The camp may contain armed cultists depending on the event state. Do not assume that an apparently empty camp is permanently safe. Helicopter arrivals, missions and character-switch behaviour can affect whether occupants appear.

Note

GTA Online note: Online content changes with updates and seasonal events. It should not be used to infer Story Mode progression.

Night exploration

Night-time exploration has atmosphere but poor visibility. The tunnel, summit and camp are easier to navigate during daylight. Hunting also closes at sunset, so plan the return journey rather than beginning a long route immediately before 19:00.

---

The wilderness appears in GTA Online, but its uses differ:

---

Navigation checklist

---

Is Mount Chiliad the same thing as Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness?

No. Mount Chiliad is the main mountain within the wider wilderness region. The wilderness also includes lower slopes, forests, trails, the Altruist Camp and the Raton Canyon area.

Is Raton Canyon inside the wilderness?

It is best treated as a distinct named subarea within the wider Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness. It has its own geography, trails and collectible placements.

Can Michael or Franklin hunt with Cletus?

No. The formal paid hunting activity is Trevor-specific and becomes available after Fair Game. Other protagonists can encounter wildlife but do not use the same activity system.

Can the Altruist Cult Shootout be missed?

Yes, in practical terms. It depends on delivering four appropriate victims to the Altruists, and the availability of suitable random events can be affected by progression and prior completion. The event is also character-specific because Trevor must be used.

Is the Sasquatch a normal animal?

No. In Story Mode, the Sasquatch is connected to The Last One, which is unlocked after 100% completion. It is not part of the ordinary wildlife spawn pool.

Are there shops in the wilderness?

No functional shops or general services have been verified within the wilderness itself. Use Paleto Bay, Sandy Shores or other nearby settlements for weapons, clothing, food, vehicle services and ammunition.

What is the best vehicle for exploring?

A Sanchez or another capable off-road motorcycle is the most flexible choice. An off-road car provides more protection from cougars and crashes. Helicopters are quickest for reaching the Altruist Camp or summit, but they bypass much of the route network.

---

Sources