For centuries, the Cahuilla People used trails winding through the Santa Rosa Mountains to move in and out of California’s Coachella Valley; these mountains were their pathway to the west. They shared those foothills with the largest herd of peninsular bighorn sheep in the United States. Today the sheep move up and down the steep eastern flank of the Santa Rosas following the availability of food. The Santa Rosa Mountains are truly the home of ancient paths.
Continue reading “Santa Rosa Wilderness”San Jacinto Wilderness
The San Jacinto Wilderness (designated in 1964) is located in its namesake sky island mountain range in western Riverside County, California. Despite the fact that the Wilderness lies over much of the high San Jacinto Mountains, it does not contain San Jacinto Peak (10,833′)–the highest point in Riverside County. The peak lies within San Jacinto Mountains State Park, which bisects the Wilderness. Nevertheless, the Wilderness contains some beautiful scenery. Administered by the US Forest Service, much of the San Jacinto Wilderness lies within the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, which was established in 2000. Continue reading “San Jacinto Wilderness”