Hike the Santa Rosa Mountains on Your Next Palm Springs Vacation
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If you are an outdoor enthusiast, the Santa Rosa Mountains are an excellent hiking adventure.
The Santa Rosa's consist of a s 72,259-acre wilderness area located in Southern California in the counties of Riverside and San Diego between La Quinta to the north and Anza Borrego Desert state park to the south.
Congressionally established as a wilderness area, 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. Historical early settlement remains and quarry sites can be found throughout the wilderness area.
The wilderness designation was made in 1984 to protect the indigenous animals, flora and fauna. The Santa Rosa Mountains have the largest herd of peninsular bighorn sheep in the country. The Bighorn Institute, a non-profit research group established in 1982 by several biologists and veterinarians, estimates that approximately ten percent of the entire world population of the Big Horn sheep live in the Santa Rosa Mountains.
The Bighorn sheep herd utilize the entire range and are most plentiful in the Bear Creek, Deep Canyon and Martinez Canyon areas.
You can also take in some of the native plants in the Santa Rosa Wilderness such as Santa Rosa sage, and Nuttall's scrub oak. Perennial herbs include Santa Rosa Mountain leptosiphon, and triple ribbed milkvetch.
Recreational activities in the Santa Rosa Wilderness include backpacking, horseback riding, day hiking, and nature study photography. 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.
Two of the notable trails are the Cactus Spring trail which is an ancient aboriginal pathway that links the Santa Rosa plateau with the desert floor in the Coachella Valley and the Boo Hoff equestrian trail. The latter is one of the few trails in the wilderness that is constructed and maintained by a local equestrian club.
Rabbits Peak, located near the southeastern boundary is probably the most notable of the desert peaks for its challenging climb to the 6,623-foot summit. I am told the local Sierra Club chapters lead organized day and overnight trips to the peak.
Hiking the Santa Rosa's is a great way to spend your next visit to Palm Springs and the California desert resort cities.
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
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