2 min
Overview
Author’s Note: A 2019 wildfire burned a significant portion of the plateau, and the trails remain closed south of Clinton Keith Road indefinitely. Long ago, much of the flat areas of Southern California were covered with endless grasslands punctuated by several different types of oaks, including coast live oaks, valley oaks, and Engelmann oaks. These flatlands included much of the Los Angeles Basin through the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire. Further south, the grasslands stretched across the vast coastal plains of Orange County before meeting the natural divide of the Santa Ana Mountains. On the east side of the Santa Ana range lay drier, but no less grassy and oak-y plains in Murrieta and Temecula. Engelmann Oak However, flat lands close to the coast in the fine climate of Southern California would not last long as urban development replaced the grassy, oak-studded savannas. As of 2014, only a few isolated pockets of these grasslands remain, with the Santa Rosa Plateau being the best preserved. The 9,000 acre Ecological Reserve protects a rich woodland of Engelmann oaks along with native grasslands on a volcanic plateau on the southeast end of the Santa Ana Mountains in Riverside County. This relict ecosystem protects 200 species of native birds, 49 species of endangered animals including mountain lions, pond turtles, and the fairy shrimp that populate the ephemeral Vernal Pools. You will also find the oldest structure in Riverside County, as well as an extensive network of biking and hiking trails. Lone oak on Poppy Hill Like much of Southern California, this land was originally occupied by a band of Native-Americans now known as the Luiseno Indians. The Luiseno harvested the acorn masts produced by the abundant coast and Engelmann oaks found throughout the region while hunting the mule deer and smaller mammals that still populate the area today. Also like much of Southern California, this way of life came to an abrupt end in the 1820’s following the arrival of the Spanish, who “obtained” the land a
Trail Stats
7.4 km
137 m
637 m
558 m
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