Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument

Directions: From Interstate 10, take the Monterey Ave. exit and proceed south for 6 miles on Monterey to Highway 111. Continue south on Monterey (which is now called Highway 74) for another 3 miles and look for the Monument visitor center on the left just after the highway bends to the left.

About the Site: The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument was established by Congress in October, 2000. The Monument encompasses 272,000 acres which includes 81,070 acres of wilderness. The remaining acreage is a mixture of federal, state, tribal, and private lands, ranging from a few hundred feet above sea level to the top of the San Jacinto Mountains (over 10,000 feet). Under a unique agreement, management duties are shared by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. Information on the Monument’s many natural and cultural resources, along with maps, books, and hiking information, is available at the visitor center.

Habitats: Around the visitor center you can expect to see familiar desert species (Verdin, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Cactus Wren, etc.) that one might also see at The Living Desert (stop 2). But as you travel up Highway 74 you will pass through a variety of different biotic communities, each containing a unique suite of wildlife: creosote scrub, rocky hillside, chaparral, pinyon-juniper woodland, oak woodland, and pine forest. One of the special features of the Monument is the ability to experience all of these communities in a day’s drive or hike. It’s like traveling from Mexico to Canada in a single day! A handy fold-out guide to these biotic communities, listing common plants and animals you might see, is available for purchase at the visitor center.

Birds and Other Wildlife: Signature Species (from low to high elevation) - Phainopepla, Rock Wren, California Quail, California Thrasher, California Towhee, Wrentit, Western Scrub Jay, Oak Titmouse, Pinyon Jay, Red-tailed Hawk, Peninsular Bighorn Sheep, Coyote, Gray Fox. Rarities: Peregrine Falcon, Golden Eagle, Gray Vireo, Black-chinned Sparrow, Zone-tailed Hawk, Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Calliope Hummingbird, Mountain Quail, Spotted Skunk, Ringtail.

Best Times to Visit: During the summer the best birding is at the higher elevations along Highways 74 and 243. Summer residents such as the Scott’s Oriole, Lazuli Bunting, and Ash-throated Flycatcher nest between 3,000 and 5,000 feet. Various turnouts and trailheads afford access to the interior. The lower portions of the Monument are best visited during spring and winter. Bighorn sheep can be seen anytime of the year, often along Highway 74 below 4,000 feet. Check the visitor center for recent sightings.

Additional Notes: Visitor center hours 9-5 daily (closed on federal holidays). No admission fee, but a Golden Age, Golden Eagle, or Forest Adventure Pass is required to park at designated trailheads within the Monument along Highways 74 and 243. Stops 3 and 4 of the Palms to Pines Birding and Nature Trail are also included within the Monument’s official boundaries. Nearby birding areas along Highway 74 in Garner Valley include Lake Hemet (nesting Bald Eagles) and Hurkey Creek Campground (migrating Rufous Hummingbirds). The Idyllwild Nature Center on Highway 243 often has White-headed Woodpeckers at the feeders. Black Swifts nest near Lawler Lodge.

For More Information: Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center – 51500 State Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, 92260 phone (760) 862-9984 www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/palmsprings/santarosa