Day Trip: Exploring the Beauty of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve

Sometimes bigger is better. This is undoubtedly the case at the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. The park spreads over 31,000 acres of the Little San Bernardino Mountain Range. The differing elevations mean that an incredibly diverse number of plants and animals have evolved. Once home to several powerful clans of the Serrano First Nation, the park today is a permanent home for many creatures, none of them human. Big Morongo Preserve is internationally recognized as one of the top bird-watching sites in North America.

Bird Watching Big Morongo Canyon Preserve

National Geographic has featured the preserve in its popular Guide to Bird Watching Sites. Hundreds of big and small birds can be spotted at Morongo—sparrows and swifts, flycatchers, and finches flit through the sunny skies. Graceful herons hang out near the water while geese honking can be heard for miles.

Big Morongo Canyon Preserve Wildlife

While the birding opportunities are brilliant, don’t forget to look down and around. Bobcats and cougars are two big kitties that are out and about but seldom seen. In reality, they are more shy than scary regarding encounters with humans.

Coyotes and foxes are on the prowl, opportunists looking for their next meal. Raccoon encounters are usually restricted to the evening hours when they, too, hunt for scraps. It can be challenging to spot them, but Deer Mice and several squirrel species scurry about in the underbrush. Lizards bask in the sun; several kinds of snakes may also be seen catching the rays as they sleep their day away.

Most snakes in the preserve are harmless and will go out of their way to avoid you. However, Red Diamond Rattlesnakes are poisonous and will bite if cornered or scared. Try to make some noise rustling the ground as you walk; they will likely slither away from you as fast as possible. Another trick is to use a walking stick to “clear” the path before you as you make your way along the trails. Injuries resulting from the wildlife in the park are infrequent and can be avoided using common sense.

Hiking Trails in the Preserve

The overall ecology at higher elevations differs from that near sea level. Visitors who take the time to hike up the mountains will see the Mojave Desert-like environment. Despite being very dry, the land can support up to 2,000 plant species, including the iconic Joshua Tree. At lower elevations, park visitors can explore a Sonoran Desert environment. Many unique species of cactus thrive in the near-perfect conditions in the preserve.

Much of the Morongo Canyon is a “transition zone” between the Sonoran and Mojave deserts. These parts are fascinating, and there are fantastic plants and animals. A spring-fed desert oasis lies within the preserve’s boundaries, and Cottonwood and Willow Trees grow to heights. Rocks are not usually terribly attractive, but some at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve may prove an exception, with specific stones dating back two billion years.

Getting to the Big Morongo Canyon

An easy drive from Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and many other major California cities, Morongo makes a perfect day trip with friends or family. Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is just off State Route 62; the park is open year-round. No camping, bikes, or pets are permitted to protect the diverse life the preserve supports. Website. Are they worried about the admission fee? Don’t be. There isn’t one!

While in Morongo Valley, you might want to stop by the Cactus Mart, where you can find an excellent selection of California Native plants.

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