The Santa Rosa Mountains have areas of cultural significance containing primitive trails, roasting pits, milling stations, rock shelters and examples of rock art. Native Americans have identified areas that are currently used for temporary habitation, resource collection and ritual hunting. Remains of historical early settlement and mining include quarry sites, mining prospects and water improvements associated with natural springs.
The wilderness protects habitat that supports the largest herd of Peninsular bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) in the country.[3] The Bighorn Institute, a non-profit research group established in 1982 by several biologists and veterinarians, estimates approximately 60 adult sheep live in the Santa Rosa Mountains,[4] and a total population of 800 sheep in the Peninsular Ranges north of Mexico.
The Peninsular Range bighorn sheep (United States population) is a subspecies that has been protected since 1971 under the California Endangered Species Protection Act and federally protected since 1998 under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).[5] The Peninsular Range bighorn sheep herd utilize the entire range between 1,000 to 4,000 feet (1,200 m) elevation. Bear Creek, Deep Canyon and Martinez Canyon are important as summer concentration areas and provide the rugged escape terrain necessary for lambing. Besides bighorn sheep, there are also mule deer, bobcat and coyote.
Native rare plants in the Santa Rosa Wilderness include shrubs such as Santa Rosa sage (Salvia eremostachya), and Nuttall's scrub oak (Quercus dumosa). Perennial herbs include Santa Rosa Mountains leptosiphon ( Linanthus floribundus ssp. hallii), and triple ribbed milkvetch (Astragalus tricarinatus).
The rugged terrain is formed by uplifted blocks of igneous and metamorphic rocks situated between two major tectonic fault zones, the San Andreas and the San Jacinto. Perennial streams erode the steep-walled canyons and support large fan palm oases. The Santa Rosa Mountain range and the two faults all trend northwest-southeast and are part of the Peninsular Ranges that extend from Southern California to Baja, Mexico.
Recreational activities in the Santa Rosa Wilderness include backpacking, horseback riding, day hiking, and nature study/photography.[3]
The Boo Hoff equestrian trail is one of the few trails in the wilderness that is constructed and maintained by a local equestrian club.
The Cactus Spring Trail which is an ancient aboriginal pathway, links the Santa Rosa plateau with the desert floor in the Coachella Valley. To the west, this trail connects with designated wilderness areas in the San Bernardino National Forest.
Rockhouse Canyon and valley, in the southern wilderness area, has remnants of early Native American and European settlers.
Rabbit Peak, located near the southeastern boundary, is a notable desert peak for its challenging climb to the 6,623-foot (2,019 m) summit. Local Sierra Club chapters lead organized day and overnight trips to the peak. Universities and local colleges utilize the Santa Rosa Mountains frequently as a living laboratory for scientific and informal studies and outings.
Hunting is restricted to the southern half of the wilderness since the northern portion is located within a State Wildlife Refuge. Deer, quail and dove are hunted in season.
santa, rosa, wilderness, acre, wilderness, area, southern, california, santa, rosa, mountains, riverside, diego, counties, california, colorado, desert, section, sonoran, desert, above, coachella, valley, lower, colorado, river, valley, regions, peninsular, ra. The Santa Rosa Wilderness is a 72 259 acre 292 42 km2 wilderness area in Southern California in the Santa Rosa Mountains of Riverside and San Diego counties California It is in the Colorado Desert section of the Sonoran Desert above the Coachella Valley and Lower Colorado River Valley regions in a Peninsular Range between La Quinta to the north and Anza Borrego Desert State Park to the south The United States Congress established the wilderness in 1984 with the passage of the California Wilderness Act Public Law 98 425 managed by both the US Forest Service San Bernardino National Forest 13 801 acres 2 and the Bureau of Land Management 58 458 acres 2 In 2009 the Omnibus Public Land Management Act P L 111 11 was signed into law which added more than 2 000 acres 8 1 km2 Most of the Santa Rosa Wilderness is within the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Santa Rosa WildernessIUCN category Ib wilderness area LocationRiverside County CaliforniaNearest cityPalm Desert CaliforniaCoordinates33 30 54 N 116 19 04 W 33 51500 N 116 31778 W 33 51500 116 31778 Coordinates 33 30 54 N 116 19 04 W 33 51500 N 116 31778 W 33 51500 116 31778 1 Area72 259 acres 292 42 km2 Established1984 California Wilderness Act Governing bodyU S Bureau of Land Management U S Forest ServiceThe Santa Rosa Mountains have areas of cultural significance containing primitive trails roasting pits milling stations rock shelters and examples of rock art Native Americans have identified areas that are currently used for temporary habitation resource collection and ritual hunting Remains of historical early settlement and mining include quarry sites mining prospects and water improvements associated with natural springs Contents 1 Wildlife vegetation and topography 2 Recreation 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksWildlife vegetation and topography EditThe wilderness protects habitat that supports the largest herd of Peninsular bighorn sheep Ovis canadensis in the country 3 The Bighorn Institute a non profit research group established in 1982 by several biologists and veterinarians estimates approximately 60 adult sheep live in the Santa Rosa Mountains 4 and a total population of 800 sheep in the Peninsular Ranges north of Mexico The Peninsular Range bighorn sheep United States population is a subspecies that has been protected since 1971 under the California Endangered Species Protection Act and federally protected since 1998 under the Endangered Species Act ESA 5 The Peninsular Range bighorn sheep herd utilize the entire range between 1 000 to 4 000 feet 1 200 m elevation Bear Creek Deep Canyon and Martinez Canyon are important as summer concentration areas and provide the rugged escape terrain necessary for lambing Besides bighorn sheep there are also mule deer bobcat and coyote Native rare plants in the Santa Rosa Wilderness include shrubs such as Santa Rosa sage Salvia eremostachya and Nuttall s scrub oak Quercus dumosa Perennial herbs include Santa Rosa Mountains leptosiphon Linanthus floribundus ssp hallii and triple ribbed milkvetch Astragalus tricarinatus The rugged terrain is formed by uplifted blocks of igneous and metamorphic rocks situated between two major tectonic fault zones the San Andreas and the San Jacinto Perennial streams erode the steep walled canyons and support large fan palm oases The Santa Rosa Mountain range and the two faults all trend northwest southeast and are part of the Peninsular Ranges that extend from Southern California to Baja Mexico Recreation EditThe Santa Rosa Wilderness joins wilderness areas in the San Bernardino National Forest along its western border and the designated California State Wilderness in Anza Borrego Desert State Park to the south 6 7 Recreational activities in the Santa Rosa Wilderness include backpacking horseback riding day hiking and nature study photography 3 The Boo Hoff equestrian trail is one of the few trails in the wilderness that is constructed and maintained by a local equestrian club The Cactus Spring Trail which is an ancient aboriginal pathway links the Santa Rosa plateau with the desert floor in the Coachella Valley To the west this trail connects with designated wilderness areas in the San Bernardino National Forest Oases trails Bear Creek Oasis 8 Lost Canyon Oasis Guadelupe Canyon and Devil Canyon Rockhouse Canyon and valley in the southern wilderness area has remnants of early Native American and European settlers Rabbit Peak located near the southeastern boundary is a notable desert peak for its challenging climb to the 6 623 foot 2 019 m summit Local Sierra Club chapters lead organized day and overnight trips to the peak Universities and local colleges utilize the Santa Rosa Mountains frequently as a living laboratory for scientific and informal studies and outings Hunting is restricted to the southern half of the wilderness since the northern portion is located within a State Wildlife Refuge Deer quail and dove are hunted in season See also EditCategory Fauna of the Colorado Desert List of Sonoran Desert wildflowers Category Geography of the Colorado DesertNotes Edit GNIS Detail Santa Rosa Mountains State Wilderness geonames usgs gov a b Acreage breakdown by agency Wilderness net Retrieved 2009 07 01 a b Santa Rosa Wilderness www blm gov Archived from the original on 2010 03 05 Retrieved 2010 06 20 Research Projects Bighorn Institute Archived from the original on 2009 06 20 Retrieved 2009 07 02 Peninsular Bighorn Sheep Protected Under the Endangered Species Act US Fish and Wildlife Service March 13 1998 Archived from the original on 2007 02 20 Retrieved 2009 07 01 Santa Rosa Wilderness Area Map 11 PDF www blm gov Archived from the original PDF on 2011 06 14 Retrieved 2010 06 20 Anza Borrego Desert State Park parks ca gov Archived from the original on 2022 08 31 Retrieved June 20 2010 Bear Creek Canyon Trail hiking in ps com 22 June 2015 Archived from the original on 2015 06 04 References EditBLM Wilderness Study Areas Report Santa Rosa Mountains 1990 at the Wayback Machine archived 2012 10 06 External links EditOfficial Santa Rosa Wilderness website at the Wayback Machine archived 2010 03 05 Santa Rosa Wilderness photographs at the Wayback Machine archived 2012 10 13 University of California Boyd Deep Canyon Desert Research Center at the Wayback Machine archived 2010 02 11 Summitpost s webpage on Rabbit Peak Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Santa Rosa Wilderness amp oldid 1132650797, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
