Piute Mountains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Piute Mountains |
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 Location in California
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 964 m (3,163 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | Mojave Desert |
| District | San Bernardino County |
| Range coordinates | 34°46′55″N 115°3′58″W / 34.78194°N 115.06611°W |
| Topo map | USGS Fenner Spring |
The Piute Mountains are a cool mountain range found in the eastern part of the Mojave Desert in California. They are part of the amazing Mojave Trails National Monument in San Bernardino County. These mountains are a great example of the natural beauty in the desert.
Contents
Where are the Piute Mountains?
The Piute Mountains are easy to spot! They cross Interstate 40 at a place called Mountain Springs Summit. This spot is about 2,770 feet above sea level.
The mountains are located:
- Northeast of the Old Woman Mountains
- Southwest of the Piute Range
- East of the Fenner Valley, where small towns like Essex, Goffs, and Fenner are located.
To the northwest, you'll find the Mojave National Preserve. To the east are the Bigelow Cholla Garden Wilderness and the Sacramento Mountains.
What do the Piute Mountains look like?
The Piute Mountains have many different colors and textures. Some parts are very sharp and jagged, made of volcanic rock. Other parts are smooth and rounded, made of granite. The mountain ridges are cut by many canyons and washes, which are like dry riverbeds.
Exploring the Piute Mountains Wilderness
A special part of these mountains is the Piute Mountains Wilderness. This wilderness area covers about 48,080 acres. It includes the mountains themselves, plus the flat areas around them called bajadas and alluvial fans. These areas are found below US Route 66.
This wilderness is part of the Mojave Trails National Monument. It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which helps protect the land.
Plants and Animals of the Piute Mountains
The main plant you'll see here is the creosote bush scrub. This plant community gradually changes into a mix of different desert plants at higher elevations.
The large, flat bajadas are a perfect home for the threatened desert tortoise. In fact, the entire wilderness area is considered very important for these tortoises. It's a critical habitat, meaning it's essential for their survival.
