Pachappa Hill facts for kids

Pachappa Hill is a cool spot located in the Temescal Mountains. You can find it right inside the city of Riverside, which is in Riverside County, California. This hill stands about 1,175 feet (or 358 meters) tall. It's like a natural landmark in the area.

The Story of Pachappa Hill

Historians in Riverside have a fascinating idea about Pachappa Hill. Long ago, there was a huge piece of land called Rancho Jurupa. This land was given out as a "land grant," which means it was officially given to someone by the government.

Some historians believe this land grant was actually smaller than what people later thought it was. They think the original Pachappa Hill, which marked the edge of the Rancho Jurupa, was a different hill entirely. This other hill is known today as Mount Rubidoux.

The story goes that an early owner of the Rancho Jurupa might have changed the name "Pachappa" from the original hill to the one we call Pachappa Hill today. Why would they do this? It was likely to make their property, the Rancho Jurupa, seem much larger than it originally was. It's a bit like moving a fence post to claim more land!