Most of the mountain range is within the Los Padres National Forest, and the northern slopes are included in the remote San Rafael Wilderness area.

Climate is moderate, with hot dry summers (rare thunderstorms) and cool to cold wet winters.

[5] Nearly every area within the San Rafael Mountains has burned within the last century, largely due to an increase in human-caused ignitions.

[6] In the more shaded and moist canyons and northern slopes oak woodlands, bigcone Douglas-fir, and Coulter pine are found.

The earliest known residents of the San Rafael Mountains were the Chumash Indians, and evidence of their habitation consists of pictograph rock paintings in remote areas.