Big Morongo Canyon Preserve

Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is located among the Little San Bernardino Mountains in Morongo Valley, California. The canyon contains one of the ten largest cottonwood and willow riparian habitats in California. The downstream portion of the canyon opens into the Colorado Desert and the upstream end lies in the Mojave Desert.

The Canyon is 31,000 acres in size with an elevation from 600 feet at the canyon floor and 3,000 feet at the top of the ridge. The canyon plays an important role in the natural and cultural history of the Morongo Basin.

The area was designated as an Area of Critical Environment Concern in 1982 and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The aim of this is to protect rare and endangered wildlife in the area, enhance riparian zones with are sensitive and provide educational opportunities. Mammals that are found in the preserve include mule deer, desert bighorn, raccoons, bobcats and kangaroo rats.

Visitors to the valley are able to hike the numerous trails which include a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk that runs through the marsh and riparian habitats. The preserve is open daily from 7.30am until sunset; the best time to visit is the fall, winter and spring seasons. There is no entry fee into the preserve, although all donations are welcome.

The trails at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve start at the kiosk and range from three-tenths of a mile is distance to an 11-mile round trip. Visitors are asked to adhere to certain rules to protect the plants and wildlife in the area such as no pets on the preserve, no smoking, fires and remain on the trails.