Inner Coast Ranges facts for kids

The Inner Coast Ranges are a long chain of mountain ranges in western California. They stretch from Santa Barbara County in the south all the way north to the Klamath Mountains. These mountains are part of the larger California Coast Ranges system.

Where are the Inner Coast Ranges?

These mountains are called 'Inner' because they are further inland, or east, from the Pacific Ocean coast in California. This is different from the 'Outer Coast Ranges,' which are closer to the coast.

Northern Inner Coast Ranges

The Northern Inner Coast Ranges are the eastern part of the Northern Coast Ranges. They are found in Northern California. These ranges run from the North Bay area near San Francisco north to the Klamath Mountains. Some of the mountains in this northern section include:

• Mayacamas Mountains
• Sonoma Mountains
• Vaca Mountains

Southern Inner Coast Ranges

The Southern Inner Coast Ranges are the eastern part of the Southern Coast Ranges. They are located in Northern, Central, and Southern California. These mountains stretch from the East Bay area near San Francisco south into Santa Barbara County. Important ranges in the southern section include:

• Diablo Range
• Gabilan Range
• Sierra Madre Mountains
• Temblor Range

What Animals and Plants Live Here?

The Inner Coast Ranges are home to many different natural areas, called ecosystems. These include:

• California oak woodland: Forests with many oak trees.
• Chaparral: Areas with dense shrubs and bushes.
• Oak savanna: Open grasslands with scattered oak trees.
• Grassland: Wide open areas covered in grasses.

Trees and Plants

Many types of oak trees grow here. The most common ones are:

• Live oak (Quercus agrifolia)
• Blue oak (Quercus douglasii)
• Black oak (Quercus kelloggii)

Other plants found in the Southern Inner Coast Ranges include:

• Quercus alvordiana: This is a natural hybrid oak tree. It grows from Carmel Valley to the Tehachapi Mountains.
• Coulter pine (Pinus coulteri)
• Gray pine (Pinus sabiniana)

Early on, a scientist named Willis Linn Jepson studied the plants in the Northern Inner Coast Ranges. He noted that Yellow pine and Sugar pine trees grew there. Another tree found in this area is the Canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis).