Big Morongo Canyon Preserve facts for kids
The Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is a huge natural area in California. It covers about 31,000 acres (about 130 square kilometers)! This special place is a home for many native plants and wildlife. It sits between the higher Mojave Desert and the lower Colorado Desert, which is part of the Sonoran Desert. Because of this unique spot, the preserve has an amazing variety of plants and animals.
A natural spring here creates a desert oasis. This oasis is one of the 10 largest Cottonwood and Willow riparian areas in California. Riparian means it's a habitat right next to a river or stream. The Audubon Society also says it's one of the most important bird habitats in California.
You can find the preserve's entrance in Morongo Valley, California, a small town in San Bernardino County. It's right off California State Route 62. It's free to visit, and the preserve is open every day from 7:30 AM until sunset.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Preserve
Early Inhabitants: The Serrano People
Long ago, the Serrano Indians lived peacefully in this canyon and the surrounding valley. They were known as the Morongos, a strong clan. They lived here until the mid-1800s, before white settlers arrived.
Archaeologists found a large, old Serrano settlement here. It was a permanent home because there was always a reliable water source. The water attracted many plants and animals, providing plenty of food and materials for tools. Things found at the site include bedrock mortars (used for grinding), pottery, and old stone tools.
In 1994, human remains were found that were not cremated. This suggests the site is very old, as the Serrano people usually cremated their dead in more recent times. We don't know much about this ancient site. The Serrano people who lived here either moved away during the mission period, joined other tribes, or sadly, got sick from diseases brought by Europeans.
How the Preserve Was Formed
In 1885, Mark and Sylvia Warren started a homestead next to the preserve. Later, in 1982, The Nature Conservancy, San Bernardino County, and the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) worked together to create the preserve.
The BLM recognized how special this area was for nature. They named almost 3,700 acres of the canyon and ridge an "Area of Critical Environmental Concern." This means it's a place that needs extra protection. Interestingly, over 570 acres of the preserve were once planned for an oil pipeline station. But in 1989, the company ARCO donated that land to The Nature Conservancy instead.
Fires and Rebuilding
The preserve has faced two big fires since 1990. The most recent one was the Paradise Fire in 2005. This fire burned over 2,000 acres inside the preserve. It caused a lot of damage to the boardwalks, trails, and visitor areas. The BLM worked hard to rebuild everything, making sure it was even better and met standards for people with disabilities. Because of the high risk of fire, smoking is not allowed anywhere in the preserve.
Protecting Nature Today
Today, the Bureau of Land Management manages the preserve. They get help from a group called the Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. Their main goals are to protect rare and endangered wildlife, help plants grow back, and offer learning opportunities for everyone who loves nature.
Amazing Wildlife at the Preserve
A Bird Watcher's Paradise
The preserve is famous around the world for its birds! It's a top spot for bird watchers. Many rare or unusual bird species build their nests here. Also, tons of other birds stop by during their spring and fall migrations.
Important groups like the American Bird Conservancy and the American Birding Association have called it an "Important Bird Area." Even the National Geographic Guide to Bird Watching Sites features it! Over 247 different kinds of birds have been seen here, and at least 72 species live and breed here all the time.
Other Animals You Might See
While birds are a big draw, many other animals call this preserve home. You might spot a cougar, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, raccoon, or mule deer. You could also see bighorn sheep, deer mice, ground squirrels, and cottontail rabbits. The preserve also has different kinds of amphibians and reptiles, like the Mohave rattlesnake and the rosy boa.
The Land: Geography of the Preserve
The preserve has some of the oldest rocks in California! They are almost two billion years old. These rocks started as granite but changed over millions of years due to heat and pressure, becoming gneiss and schist.
The preserve has steep canyons, rough land, and beautiful desert oases. The upper part of the canyon starts in the Mojave Desert, and the lower part opens into the Colorado Desert. A crack in the Earth called the Morongo fault runs through the canyon. This fault causes water from the surrounding mountains to form Big Morongo Creek and the marshy areas.
Where is the Preserve?
The preserve's eastern edge is next to Joshua Tree National Park. However, you can't walk directly between the two parks. Yucca Valley, California, is about 11 miles east of the preserve if you take State Route 62. Desert Hot Springs, California, is 11 miles to the southeast. The closest airport is Palm Springs International Airport, which is about 24 miles south.
Fun Things to Do at the Preserve
Exploring the Trails
You can go hiking, but only on trails that are marked. The preserve has several short trails, like the Marsh and Mesquite trails, which are less than a mile long. The Canyon trail is longer, about 10 miles round-trip. Some trails are even built to be easy for wheelchairs to use.
What's Not Allowed
To keep the preserve safe and protected, some things are not allowed:
- Camping: You cannot camp or have fires of any kind inside the preserve.
- Bikes and Wheels: Bicycles, skateboards, skates, or other unauthorized vehicles are not allowed past the parking lot.
- Pets: Pets are not allowed in the preserve because it's a special protected area.
- Hunting: You cannot use firearms or hunt inside the main part of the preserve.
- Collecting: Please do not collect anything or disturb the wildlife.
Visitor Facilities
When you arrive, you'll find an information area near the parking lot. There are also people called "camp hosts" who can help you. You can get trail maps, guides for self-guided walks, and information brochures. There are also picnic areas and restrooms. The preserve also has a nature education center.
Trails Map
