Pioneertown Mountains Preserve is a Wildlands Conservancy nature preserve consisting of of land in

San Bernardino County, California San Bernardino County (), officially the County of San Bernardino, is a County (United States), county located in the Southern California, southern portion of the U.S. state of California, and is located within the Inland Empire area. As of the ...

. It features geologically interesting mountain ranges and riparian zones. It is located in the

Mojave Desert The Mojave Desert ( ; mov, Hayikwiir Mat'aar; es, Desierto de Mojave) is a desert in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada mountains in the Southwestern United States. It is named for the indigenous Mojave people. It is located primarily in ...

in the eastern

San Bernardino Mountains The San Bernardino Mountains are a high and rugged mountain range in Southern California in the United States. Situated north and northeast of San Bernardino and spanning two California counties, the range tops out at at San Gorgonio Mountain � ...

Recreation

The preserve has hiking trails, picnic area, and restroom. Indian Loop Trail passes through a wetlands from a perennial stream and climbs to a ridge with views of rocky peaks. It passes by the Olsen Cabin ruins. A spur trail ascends Chaparrosa Peak which provides views in all directions. The peak is on the

Hundred Peaks Section The Hundred Peaks Section (HPS) is a mountaineering society within the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club that serves to provide mountaineering activities for Sierra Club members in the southern Sierra Nevada, the Transverse Ranges, and the Peninsul ...

list. Sawtooth Loop encircles the Sawtooth Mountains which have massive jumbles of boulders. Pioneertown Mountain Preserve

Geography

It is notable for its rock formations, desert-

riparian corridor A riparian zone or riparian area is the interface between land and a river or stream. Riparian is also the proper nomenclature for one of the terrestrial biomes of the Earth. Plant habitats and communities along the river margins and banks a ...

, and diverse

ecology Ecology () is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment. Ecology considers organisms at the individual, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere level. Ecology overlaps wi ...

. Pipes Canyon and Little Morongo Canyon are year-round riparian corridors. The Conservancy has three desert preserves in this region:

Whitewater Preserve Whitewater Preserve is a Wildlands Conservancy nature preserve consisting of of land in Riverside County, California. It features the perennial Whitewater River flowing through a desert canyon. The preserve is located within the San Bernar ...

, Mission Creek Preserve, and Pioneertown Mountains Preserve.

Flora and fauna

Scrub oak is growing in place of the vegetation burned in 2006.

History

In the 1930s a stone cabin was built in Pipes Canyon by a miner. Ruins of this cabin remain. In 1995, property was acquired and opened to the public. This was the first Wildlands Conservancy preserve. In 2006, the Sawtooth Complex Fire severely burned most vegetation in the preserve. The area has begun recovering. In 2017, a severe flash flood caused extensive damage in Pipes Canyon. The upper part of Pipes Canyon Trail beyond the Olsen Ruins was destroyed and has not been reopened. Debris flows covered the road into the preserve 3-5 feet deep.

References

External links