Wildwood Canyon facts for kids

Wildwood Canyon is a beautiful natural area in California. It's a special place with a deep valley, located in the eastern part of the San Bernardino Mountains. This area is also a California state park, which means it's protected for everyone to enjoy. You can find it near the city of Yucaipa, and it's surrounded by the large San Bernardino National Forest.

A Look Back in Time

First People of the Canyon

Long ago, different groups of Native American people lived in or traveled through the Wildwood Canyon area. These included the Cahuilla, Serrano, and Tongva peoples. The area near Yucaipa was an important meeting point for these traveling groups.

Ranches and a New Park

You can still see old buildings in the park from the 1930s and 1940s. These buildings are from the time when the "Hi Up House ranch" and "Hunt Ranch" were active here.

Later, there were plans to build houses in the canyon. But a big flood showed that the area might not be safe for building. Because of this, the California Department of Parks and Recreation bought about 900 acres of land in the canyon. In May 2003, Wildwood Canyon officially became a state park.

Wildwood Canyon State Park

Wildwood Canyon State Park is a great place to visit during the day. It is open from sunrise to sunset. Many people come here for fun outdoor activities. You can go horseback riding, hiking, or mountain biking on the trails.

Amazing Animals of the Canyon

Wildwood Canyon is home to many different kinds of animals. You might spot birds like the California quail, western meadowlark, towhee, and red-tailed hawk. Look up for the white-tailed kite soaring in the sky!

On the ground, you might see bobcats, black bears, and gray foxes. Mountain lions also use the canyon as a pathway to move between different areas. A tiny animal called the San Diego pocket mouse lives here too. It is a special species that needs protection because its home is shrinking.

Plants and Trees of Wildwood

The park has two main types of plant areas. In most open spaces, you will find grassy fields. On the hillsides, there is a type of plant community called chaparral sage scrub.

Some common chaparral plants include chamise, scrub oak, California lilacs, and black sage. You can also find beautiful wildflowers like buckwheat and monkey flower.

Along the streams and in the deeper parts of the canyon, you will see woodlands. These areas have tall trees like Interior live oaks and California sycamore.