diff --git a/backend/services/navi_offroute/router.py b/backend/services/navi_offroute/router.py
index 045eaee..9de3a15 100755
--- a/backend/services/navi_offroute/router.py
+++ b/backend/services/navi_offroute/router.py
@@ -933,7 +933,7 @@ class OffrouteRouter:
         valid_highways = MODE_TO_VALID_HIGHWAYS.get(mode)
 
         # Find entry points near start, filtered by mode
-        MAX_ENTRY_POINTS = 10
+        MAX_ENTRY_POINTS = 5  # tighter wilderness bbox: origin + 5 nearest entry points
         entry_points = self.entry_index.query_radius(
             start_lat, start_lon, DEFAULT_SEARCH_RADIUS_KM, valid_highways
         )
@@ -1013,7 +1013,7 @@ class OffrouteRouter:
         valid_highways = MODE_TO_VALID_HIGHWAYS.get(mode)
 
         # Find entry points near END (destination)
-        MAX_ENTRY_POINTS = 10
+        MAX_ENTRY_POINTS = 5  # tighter wilderness bbox: origin + 5 nearest entry points
         entry_points = self.entry_index.query_radius(
             end_lat, end_lon, DEFAULT_SEARCH_RADIUS_KM, valid_highways
         )
@@ -1091,7 +1091,7 @@ class OffrouteRouter:
             }
 
         valid_highways = MODE_TO_VALID_HIGHWAYS.get(mode)
-        MAX_ENTRY_POINTS = 10
+        MAX_ENTRY_POINTS = 5  # tighter wilderness bbox: origin + 5 nearest entry points
 
         # Find entry points near START
         entry_points_start = self.entry_index.query_radius(
@@ -1194,13 +1194,15 @@ class OffrouteRouter:
             {"status": "ok", "coords": [...], "stats": {...}, "entry_point": {...}}
             or {"status": "error", "message": "..."}
         """
-        # Build bbox - only include origin and entry points, NOT distant destination
-        # The destination is handled by Valhalla, wilderness only needs to reach entry points
+        # Build a tight bbox around origin + the (<=5) nearest entry points, NOT the distant
+        # destination (Valhalla handles the network leg). A small pad keeps the pathfinder
+        # off the grid edge; typical spans land ~3-5 km/side. MAX_BBOX_DEGREES is the
+        # absolute safety clamp, unchanged.
         MAX_BBOX_DEGREES = 2.0
         all_lats = [origin_lat] + [p["lat"] for p in entry_points]
         all_lons = [origin_lon] + [p["lon"] for p in entry_points]
 
-        padding = 0.05
+        padding = 0.015  # ~1.5 km
         bbox = {
             "south": min(all_lats) - padding,
             "north": max(all_lats) + padding,
diff --git a/backend/services/navi_offroute/tests/test_offroute.py b/backend/services/navi_offroute/tests/test_offroute.py
index 1244390..a25ed4d 100644
--- a/backend/services/navi_offroute/tests/test_offroute.py
+++ b/backend/services/navi_offroute/tests/test_offroute.py
@@ -765,3 +765,61 @@ def test_signed_grade_at_max_threshold():
     expected = 30.0 * 3.6 / _speed_kmh(mg, 0, 6.0, mg)  # penalty = 1.0 at threshold
     assert idx == 0
     assert abs(cost - expected) < 1e-6
+
+
+# ── Tighter wilderness bbox (#20): 5 entry points + 1.5 km pad ─────────────
+
+def test_route_a_slices_entry_points_to_five(monkeypatch):
+    # query_radius yields 8; _route_A must hand _pathfind_wilderness at most 5.
+    eps = [{"lat": 44.0 + i * 0.001, "lon": -115.0, "highway_class": "track",
+            "name": str(i), "land_status": "open"} for i in range(8)]
+    captured = {}
+
+    def fake_pf(self, olat, olon, dlat, dlon, entry_points, boundary_mode, label, mode="foot"):
+        captured["n"] = len(entry_points)
+        return {"status": "error", "message": "stop"}
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(OffrouteRouter, "_pathfind_wilderness", fake_pf)
+    r = object.__new__(OffrouteRouter)
+    r.entry_index = type("I", (), {
+        "has_entry_points": lambda self: True,
+        "query_radius": lambda self, *a, **k: list(eps),
+    })()
+    out = r._route_A_wilderness_to_network(44.0, -115.0, 44.5, -115.5, "foot", "pragmatic")
+    assert out["status"] == "error"
+    assert captured["n"] == 5
+
+
+def test_pathfind_wilderness_bbox_pad_is_1_5km(monkeypatch):
+    # Capture the bbox passed to get_elevation_grid; with origin == the single entry point,
+    # the span is purely the padding -> 0.015 deg (~1.5 km) on each side.
+    bounds = {}
+
+    class _CapDEM:
+        def get_elevation_grid(self, south, north, west, east):
+            bounds.update(south=south, north=north, west=west, east=east)
+            return _np.zeros((10, 10), dtype=_np.float64), {"cell_size_m": 30.0}
+        def latlon_to_pixel(self, lat, lon, meta):
+            return (0, 0)
+        def pixel_to_latlon(self, row, col, meta):
+            return (44.0 + row * 0.001, -115.0 + col * 0.001)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(_router_mod, "compute_cost_multiplier_grid",
+                        lambda *a, **k: _np.ones((10, 10), dtype=_np.float64))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(_router_mod, "astar_multigoal",
+                        lambda *a, **k: (0, _np.array([[0, 0]], dtype=_np.int64), 5.0))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(OffrouteRouter, "_init_readers", lambda self: None)
+
+    r = object.__new__(OffrouteRouter)
+    r.dem_reader = _CapDEM()
+    r.friction_reader = type("F", (), {"get_friction_grid": lambda self, **k: _np.full((10, 10), 30, dtype=_np.uint8)})()
+    r.barrier_reader = type("B", (), {"get_barrier_grid": lambda self, **k: _np.zeros((10, 10), dtype=_np.uint8)})()
+    r.trail_reader = type("T", (), {"get_trails_grid": lambda self, **k: _np.zeros((10, 10), dtype=_np.uint8)})()
+    r.wilderness_reader = None
+
+    ep = [{"lat": 44.0, "lon": -115.0, "highway_class": "track", "name": "t", "land_status": "open"}]
+    out = r._pathfind_wilderness(44.0, -115.0, 44.0, -115.0, ep, "pragmatic", "start", mode="foot")
+    assert out["status"] == "ok"
+    assert abs((bounds["north"] - 44.0) - 0.015) < 1e-9
+    assert abs((44.0 - bounds["south"]) - 0.015) < 1e-9
+    assert abs((bounds["east"] - (-115.0)) - 0.015) < 1e-9