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75-693: The range extends for approximately 30 mi (50 km) from the San Bernardino Mountains southeast to the Santa Rosa Mountains . The San Jacinto Mountains are the northernmost of the Peninsular Ranges , which run 1,500 km (930 mi) from Southern California to the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula . The highest peak in the range is San Jacinto Peak (3,302 m; 10,834 ft)  NAVD 88 , and

150-716: A beautiful challenge that deserved better than eradication. In 1965, Hall convinced federal agencies to cease their extermination policies. Plantations of California black oak have been successfully established in clearcuts from acorn plantings. Thinning such stands promotes stand productivity and wood quality, and is recommended when trees are from 9–15 m (30–49 ft) tall or when stand density (basal area) exceeds 29 m /ha (125 ft /acre). This tree has also been managed for hardwood production by maintaining scattered pure stands within coniferous forests. Stands of this species often establish on poorer sites, where conifer seedling establishment has not been successful. Q. kelloggii

225-652: A danger that has prompted the construction of numerous flood control dams throughout the range. The largest of these is Seven Oaks Dam – the sixth highest dam in the United States – on the Santa Ana River. In 1969, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deemed the Santa Ana the greatest flood threat in the United States west of the Mississippi River because of its course through heavily developed areas. Completed in 1999,

300-773: A large reservoir created by the construction of a dam on the northern flank of the San Bernardinos in 1973. From Silverwood, the water passes through the mountains via the San Bernardino Tunnel, and drops down to the Devil Canyon Power Plant in the San Bernardino Valley, using the enormous hydraulic head afforded by the mountains to generate up to 276 MW of power. The streams of the San Bernardino Mountains are also prone to flash floods ,

375-465: A lifespan between 100 and 200 years, California black oak can live up to 500 years. The tree reproduces when its acorns sprout to form seedlings. It also reproduces vegetatively with new growth sprouting from the root crown after the tree is top-killed by wildfire , logging , frost , or other events. California black oak is a deciduous tree growing in mixed evergreen forests , oak woodlands , and coniferous forests. California black oak

450-476: A period in the mid-1960s, the U.S. Forest Service policy in California's National Forests was systematic extermination of California black oak by girdling the trees. The objective was to make room for more coniferous growth. In the rush to use the pines, firs, and redwoods, the dense hardwoods were looked on with contempt. Like a few other visionaries in the 1960s, Guy Hall thought the California black oak presented

525-547: A resident priest", San Bernardino was an estancia , or cattle ranch. In 1820, a 12-mile (19 km)-long irrigation ditch or "zanja" was dug using Native American labor to furnish water from Mill Creek , a major stream flowing out of the San Bernardinos, to the estancia and surrounding croplands. For the next twenty years, the Spanish – then the Californios under newly independent Mexico – practiced agriculture and ranching at

600-578: A sought-after winter destination by the 1930s. Skiing did not become a popular recreational activity in the mountains until a simple sling lift was built at Big Bear in 1938. By 1949, a 3,000-foot (910 m)-long chair lift was built, hugely increasing the amount of skiers the area's resorts could accommodate. Known as the Lynn Lift, it operated until 1970, but was demolished in 1981 due to its limited capacity. Tommi Tyndall, who founded ski schools at Big Bear, Mill Creek, Snow Summit and Sugarloaf Mountain ,

675-467: A tributary of the Mojave River, in particular. During the 17th and 18th centuries, various Spanish explorers passed through coastal Southern California and claimed the area for Spain. In 1769, the Spanish government began an effort to bring what they called Alta California under their control and introduce Christianity to native peoples through the construction of missions . It was not until 1772 when

750-413: A variety of other human impacts. Cutting green trees for fuelwood has contributed to the decline of this species, and illegal harvesting of green trees from public lands is a continuing problem. It was long considered by foresters and government agencies to be a weed tree. In its earlier years, its only use to settlers was to feed the boilers of donkey engines bringing in the valuable pine and fir logs. For

825-522: Is 361,800 hectares (3,618 square kilometers or 894,000 acres); 239,200 ha (2,392 km or 591,000 acres) of timberland and 122,600 ha (1,226 km or 303,000 acres) of woodland. Of this land 60% is privately owned, 31% is in National Forests, and 9% is on other public lands. It has greatly decreased from its historic abundance. This is due to a number of factors, including drought, disease, animal foraging, logging practices, fire suppression, and

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900-565: Is a critical species for wildlife . Oaks ( Quercus spp.) may be the single most important genus used by wildlife for food and cover in California forests and rangelands, and California black oak occupies more total area in California than any other hardwood species. Livestock also make heavy use of this species for food and cover. Older trees affected by heart rot have cavities which provide den or nest sites for owls , various woodpeckers , tree squirrels , and American black bears . Trees provide valuable shade for livestock and wildlife during

975-805: Is distributed along foothills and lower mountains of California and western Oregon. It can be found at altitudes of up to 1,800 m (5,900 ft), for example near Mount Shasta . It is found from Lane County, Oregon , south through the Cascade Range , the Sierra Nevada , and the Coast , Transverse , and Peninsular Ranges to San Diego County, California . The tree occurs in pure or mixed stands. Pure stands usually indicate sites unfavorable to conifer growth or recurring disturbance such as fire or logging activities. The tree can grow in many types of soils, but they must be well-drained. The California black oak

1050-627: Is home to several large water supply reservoirs. South of the Big Bear area the range is cut by the Santa Ana Canyon, the broad valley of the Santa Ana River , and rises dramatically to culminate at Mount San Gorgonio and eleven other peaks that exceed 10,000 feet (3,000 m) in elevation. The mountains feature a steep drop into the Coachella Valley and San Gorgonio Pass – the latter of which

1125-442: Is less shade tolerant than its associate ponderosa pine . It is vulnerable to sudden oak death . The pollen is released in spring and is a severe allergen. Some California Native Americans prefer California black oak acorns over those of other species for making acorn meal. Historically, this acorn was a staple food for many Native American groups, who usually leached out the bitter tannin . Native Americans recognized

1200-575: Is one of the deepest mountain passes in the United States, exceeding the Grand Canyon 's depth by over 2,000 feet (610 m). Many cities lie at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains. These include San Bernardino, Redlands and Yucaipa in the south; Yucca Valley to the east; and Hesperia to the northwest. In addition, there are several mid-sized to large towns in the mountains themselves, including Big Bear Lake , Big Bear City , Crestline , Lake Arrowhead and Running Springs . Cities within

1275-681: Is one of the most abrupt in North America, going from sea level to 10,000 feet in a few miles. The height and steepness of the range points out that the San Jacinto fault and San Andreas fault are very active and very capable of producing major earthquakes (well in excess of magnitude 7). The last massive quake struck the southern segment of the San Andreas-San Jacinto fault complex more than 200 years ago making another major earthquake likely but not currently possible to predict. Rock slides from

1350-399: Is widely credited for introducing and later advocating the sport in the San Bernardino Mountains, as well as for bringing snowmaking technology, without which the present-day ski industry would be severely crippled during dry winters. During the early 20th century, the roads that serviced the San Bernardino Mountains were steep and narrow. Conflicts occurred between those who believed that

1425-609: The San Jacinto Wilderness protects two areas to the north and south of Mount San Jacinto State Park (the location of San Jacinto Peak ). The 32,168 acre wilderness area is all within the San Bernardino National Forest and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service . San Bernardino Mountains The San Bernardino Mountains are a high and rugged mountain range in Southern California in

1500-603: The California Aqueduct traverse the mountains today; these developments have all had significant impacts on area wildlife and plant communities. The San Bernardinos run for approximately 60 miles (97 km) from Cajon Pass in the northwest – which separates them from the San Gabriel Mountains – to San Gorgonio Pass , across which lie the San Jacinto Mountains , in the southeast. The Morongo Valley in

1575-458: The Mojave Desert to the north. Most of the range lies within the boundaries of the San Bernardino National Forest . From its northwestern end, the crest of the mountains rises steadily until they are interrupted by the gorge of Bear Creek . The northern part of the San Bernardinos is a large upland plateau characterized by a series of extensive subalpine basins, including Big Bear Valley, and

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1650-465: The San Andreas Fault , and are still actively rising. Many local rivers originate in the range, which receives significantly more precipitation than the surrounding desert. The range's unique and varying environment allows it to maintain some of the greatest biodiversity in the state. For over 10,000 years, the San Bernardinos and their surroundings have been inhabited by indigenous peoples, who used

1725-665: The Transverse Ranges of Southern California, a mountain chain formed by tectonic forces between the North American and Pacific Plates along the San Andreas Fault . An early version of the range rose in the Miocene , between eleven and five million years ago, but has largely eroded. The range was shaped into its present form during the Pleistocene epoch beginning approximately two million years ago, with regional uplift continuing to

1800-548: The 1880s, and the mountains were quickly depopulated, with most of the miners settling down in the San Bernardino Valley and the Mojave Desert near present-day Hesperia. Many structures built by miners, including chutes, sluices and a few cabins, can still be found in the area today. In 1880, Frank Elwood Brown designed the first dam in the Big Bear Valley, forming Big Bear Lake – the world's largest artificial reservoir at

1875-540: The Arrowhead Reservoir and Power Company – and reportedly inspired by the success of the Big Bear Lake project – Lake Arrowhead was to be one of a series of three reservoirs that would divert water draining off the northwestern San Bernardino Mountains into the San Bernardino Valley, and furnish water to a 260 KW hydroelectric plant. Although the project was never completed to full extent, Arrowhead became one of

1950-579: The Coachella Valley into the Salton Sea , and the Mojave River , which drains northwards into the Mojave Desert. The San Bernardino Mountains (along with the adjacent San Gabriel and San Jacinto Mountains) are a humid island in the mostly semi-arid southern California coastal plain. Parts of the San Bernardino Mountains have annual precipitation totals in excess of 40 inches (e.g. Lake Arrowhead and Barton Flats areas), and provide an important water resource for

2025-614: The San Bernardino Mountains total a population of about 44,000, with this number sometimes increasing tenfold during peak tourist season. Several regional streams and rivers also have their headwaters in the mountains. The principal drainage is provided by the Santa Ana River, which runs westwards into the Pacific Ocean in Orange County . Other streams flowing off the mountains include the Whitewater River , flowing southeast through

2100-453: The San Bernardino Valley, Santa Ana Canyon, and Big Bear Lake. In the late 1950s, work began on the California Aqueduct , a massive system of canals and pipelines designed to bring water from Northern California to growing cities in the parched south. The East Branch of the aqueduct passes over the San Bernardino Mountains through a complex arrangement of pumping stations, reservoirs and power stations. The aqueduct feeds Silverwood Lake ,

2175-611: The San Bernardinos east of Cajon Pass and permitted trade between people of the Inland Empire basin and the Mojave Desert. San Gorgonio Pass, which forms the largest natural break in the Transverse Ranges, also allowed interaction between coastal and desert tribes. River canyons, especially those of the Mojave and Santa Ana, provided the major means of entry to the mountains. Many archaeological sites have been discovered along Deep Creek,

2250-569: The San Bernardinos – California State Route 18 , more popularly known as the Rim of the World Highway for 107 miles (172 km) as it winds through the mountains – was dedicated on July 18, 1915. Traveling from Crestline through Big Bear City and north into the Mojave Desert, the Rim of the World Highway is one of the most spectacular roads in Southern California, affording motorists wide views of

2325-566: The San Jacinto mountains are home to several endemic species, including the San Jacinto shieldback katydid and shaggy-haired alumroot . The communities of Idyllwild-Pine Cove , Mountain Center , and Pinyon Pines are located in the San Jacinto Mountains. The indigenous Cahuilla live in the deserts around the San Jacinto Mountains and used the range for hunting, foraging, and to escape

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2400-413: The United States. Situated north and northeast of San Bernardino and spanning two California counties, the range tops out at 11,503 feet (3,506 m) at San Gorgonio Mountain – the tallest peak in Southern California. The San Bernardinos form a significant region of wilderness and are popular for hiking and skiing . The mountains were formed about eleven million years ago by tectonic activity along

2475-535: The acorns, and acorns that have been stored in the ground or otherwise buried are more likely to sprout than those that remain on the surface. The tree is adapted to wildfire. It is protected from smaller fires by its thick bark. If it is top-killed and burned away in a larger fire, it easily resprouts and has a good supply of nutrients and water stored in its root system. Acorns sprout into seedlings after fire, and sites that have been cleared of canopy and leaf litter in fires are ideal for seedling success. The tree

2550-482: The area's agricultural production by bringing in thousands of head of livestock and overhauling the local irrigation network. In order to obtain lumber for their settlements, they also began the first large-scale logging operations in the San Bernardino Mountains, starting in the Mill Creek valley. Luis Vignes built the first sawmill in the range sometime between 1851 and 1853. By 1854, six lumber mills were in operation in

2625-562: The area. The party captured and skinned more than twenty bears. Later, they found and arrested the rustlers, who were hiding along the Mojave River. Wilson's expedition opened the interior of the San Bernardinos to later exploration, and discouraged Native Americans such as the Mohave from staging similar raids over the mountains. Beginning in 1851, Mormon colonists began emigrating to the San Bernardino Valley. The Mormons bought and subsequently split up Rancho San Bernardino , and greatly improved

2700-460: The automobile could provide fast and cheap transportation up the steep grades of the mountains, and those who worried that cars were dangerous and would cause accidents with the stagecoaches then in use. In 1908, W.C. Vaughan drove up the Waterman Canyon road to Lake Arrowhead in protest of county restrictions, with police in hot pursuit. In spite of a total ban on automobiles imposed by the county

2775-496: The coastal plain below. Most of the precipitation falls between November and March; summers are mostly dry except for infrequent thunderstorms during late summer. During the colder winter storms, snow can fall above 2,000 feet, but most usually falls above 3,500 feet. Ski resorts (mostly in the Big Bear area) capitalize on this snowfall, the most reliable south of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The San Bernardinos are part of

2850-537: The community of Idyllwild . The range is the eastern boundary of the San Jacinto Valley , location of Hemet ; it also marks the eastern edge of the fast-growing Inland Empire region and Greater Los Angeles as a whole. Much of the range is embraced by the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument created in 2000. Mount San Jacinto State Park is located along the flank of San Jacinto Peak. Part of

2925-428: The crest, there are often a few patches of snow that may persist all year in shady spots. The range can be thought of as a sky island , as it contains numerous species of flora and fauna that cannot tolerate the triple-digit-Fahrenheit heat of the surrounding valleys. Vegetation found on the mountain flanks is strongly influenced by elevation and climate. Near the valley floor, conditions are often arid and hot, limiting

3000-450: The dam is designed to completely contain a 350-year flood. Many other dams, including Mojave Forks Dam on the Mojave River and various retention basins and check dams on smaller drainages, provide more localized flood and sediment control. The San Bernardino Mountains, along with the nearby San Gabriel and San Jacinto ranges, is considered a sky island – a high mountain region whose plants and animals vary dramatically from those in

3075-697: The eastern flank of the range is located within the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation . In 1990, the California Legislature created the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy to protect the mountains surrounding the valley. The range is a fault block of granitic rocks squeezed between the San Jacinto fault on the west and the San Andreas fault system on the east. The fault scarp on the northern and eastern side

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3150-521: The following year, Jack Heyser took a car down the narrow stage roads around modern-day Crestline in 1910, proving that the mountains could be safely serviced by automobiles. By 1911, cars had largely replaced horse-drawn carts as the primary mode of transport in the mountains, and new toll roads were constructed through the range to service them. Among the first were roads through Cajon Pass, City Creek Canyon ( SR 330 ), and Mill Creek and Santa Ana Canyons ( SR 38 ). The largest and most famous road through

3225-475: The foot of the mountains. The high country of the mountains remained largely unexplored until 1845, when Benjamin D. Wilson led a party of 22 men from a rancho near present-day Riverside to catch several Mohave cattle rustlers who had fled into the mountains. Wilson was the first recorded European to see the Big Bear Valley, and named Bear Lake (today's Baldwin Lake ) for the abundance of California grizzly in

3300-731: The highlands today, but they are not native to the region: they were imported from the Sierra Nevada by the California Department of Fish and Game in the 1930s, in part to attract tourists to the mountains. California black oak Quercus kelloggii , the California black oak or Kellogg oak , is an oak in the red oak section (genus Quercus , section Lobatae , series Agrifoliae ) native to western North America. Although genetically separated from them for more than 20 million years, its leaves (though not its fruit) are remarkably similar in appearance to several other members of

3375-471: The hot summer. California black oak forest types are heavily used for spring, summer, and fall cover by black bears. It is browsed by deer and livestock. Acorns are heavily used by livestock, mule deer, feral pigs , rodents, mountain quail , Steller's jays , and woodpeckers. Acorns constitute an average of 50% of the fall and winter diets of western gray squirrels and black-tailed deer during good mast years. Fawn survival rates increase or decrease with

3450-442: The importance of fire to this oak, and purposely lit fires in oak woodlands to promote its health and ensure their food source. The wood is used for making furniture, pallets , and construction timber. The tree is used as an ornamental . California black oak comprises a total volume of 29% of California's hardwood timber resources, and is the major hardwood sawn into lumber there. The total estimated area of species occurrence

3525-564: The lands surrounding the San Bernardinos. These included the Tongva , who occupied the Inland Empire area southwest of the mountains; the Cahuilla , who lived in the Coachella Valley and Salton Sea basin; and the Serrano and Chemehuevi peoples, whose territory comprised land north and northeast of the San Bernardinos, adjacent to the Mojave Desert. Most of these tribes did not have permanent settlements in

3600-446: The large montane plateau that characterizes the northern portions of the range; and the more complex and fractured San Gorgonio, Wilson Creek and Yucaipa Ridge blocks, which form the rugged and heavily dissected southern parts of the mountains. Because of their large, steep rise above the surrounding terrain, the San Bernardinos have been subject to great amounts of erosion that have carved out numerous river gorges. Rocks and sediment from

3675-861: The lower 6–12 m (20–39 ft) in closed stands. Trunks are often forked, and usually decayed and hollow in older trees. The bark is thin and smooth in young trees, becoming thick, ridged, plate-like, and blackish with age. This oak grows from one to several vertical roots which penetrate to bedrock, with large, laterally spreading roots extending off from vertical ones. It also has a number of surface roots. Acorns are relatively large in this species, from 2.5–4 centimeters (1– 1 + 1 ⁄ 2  in) long and 1.5–1.8 cm ( 1 ⁄ 2 – 3 ⁄ 4  in) wide. The leaves are typically 10–25 cm (4– 9 + 3 ⁄ 4  in) long and deeply lobed, usually into seven portions; they are red and velvety when young, turning yellow-green then orange-brown in autumn. While individual trees generally have

3750-424: The lowlands around the San Bernardinos, and began to tap the mountains' rich timber and water resources on a large scale by the late 19th century. Recreational development of the range began in the early 20th century, when mountain resorts were built around new irrigation reservoirs. Since then, the mountains have been extensively engineered for transportation and water supply purposes. Four major state highways and

3825-519: The military governor of Alta California, Pedro Fages , became the first European known to reach the San Bernardino Mountains. Although the original purpose of his expedition was to pursue deserters from the Spanish army, he ended up venturing into not just the San Bernardinos but also the San Jacinto Mountains, the Mojave Desert, and eventually north into the Central Valley . The San Bernardinos and their surrounds were sporadically explored throughout

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3900-636: The most popular fishing destinations in Southern California. In the early 20th century, John Baylis built the Pinecrest Resort on Lake Arrowhead. This was followed by several other tourist developments, including the Skyland Inn and Thousand Pines Camp. Most early tourists arrived by stagecoach, though in time the old Mormon logging road through Waterman Canyon was overhauled, allowing for the passage of automobiles. Development of resorts also proliferated on rivers and high mountain valleys. The Seven Oaks Camp

3975-421: The mountains are deposited on the surrounding valley floors as massive alluvial fans . Regional alluvial deposits can reach depths of 1,000 feet (300 m) or more, and their permeable soils constitute several major groundwater basins. Archaeological discoveries in the San Bernardino Valley suggest that humans have populated the region for at least 10,000-12,000 years. Several Native American groups held

4050-405: The mountains as a summer hunting ground. Spanish explorers first encountered the San Bernardinos in the late 18th century, naming the eponymous San Bernardino Valley at its base. European settlement of the region progressed slowly until 1860, when the mountains became the focus of the largest gold rush ever to occur in Southern California. Waves of settlers brought in by the gold rush populated

4125-562: The mountains, perennial streams fed by springs and lakes nourish stands of alders , willows and cottonwoods . About 440 species of wildlife inhabit the mountains, including many endangered species such as the San Bernardino flying squirrel , California Spotted Owl , Mountain yellow-legged frog , Southern rubber boa , and Andrew's marbled butterfly . The mountains once had an abundant population of California grizzly, but hunting eliminated their populations by 1906. Black bears roam

4200-550: The mountains, some as high as the crest of the range three-quarters of a mile above San Bernardino, accessed by a twisting road through Waterman Canyon. Some of these mills were driven by waterwheels, although most were steam powered. Prospectors William F. Holcomb and Ben Choteau's 1860 discovery of gold on Holcomb Creek kicked off a flood of gold seekers to the San Bernardino Mountains. Mining boomtowns, including Belleville, Clapboard Town, Union Town, Bairdstown and Doble, were established almost overnight. Belleville even exceeded

4275-410: The mountains, with the possible exception of a few groups of Serrano. Indigenous peoples traveled into the mountains in the summer to hunt deer and rabbits, gather acorns, berries and nuts, and seek refuge from the desert heat. They established well-traveled trade routes, some of which were later used by Europeans to explore and settle the region. The precipitous Mojave Road (or Mojave Trail) crested

4350-505: The next 50 years or so - first by Francisco Garcés , the first known European to use the Mojave Road, in 1776, followed by José Maria de Zalvidea , who surveyed the Mojave River area in 1806. In 1810, Francisco Dumetz led a small company to build a temporary chapel near what is now Redlands. On May 20, the Feast Day of Bernardino of Siena , Dumetz named the San Bernardino Valley. This name

4425-690: The northeast facing slope. The sequoias (native to the Sierra Nevada Mountains) were planted by the U.S. Forest Service in the 1970s, and are now apparently healthy and producing seedlings. As in many other western U.S areas, bark beetle infestations have caused loss of some of the forest trees in recent years, especially during droughts. Wildfires, such as the Mountain Fire and the Cranston Fire , have also temporarily denuded some areas. Like many other isolated high elevation mountains in California,

4500-472: The population of San Bernardino itself for a short time and narrowly lost to the latter city for election as the county seat. Numerous mills and processing plants were constructed in the area, which became known as Holcomb Valley. In 1873, Eli "Lucky" Baldwin built California's largest stamp mill in Holcomb Valley. Although another major gold strike was made in that same year, area deposits petered out by

4575-409: The present. The rocks that make up the mountains are much more ancient than the mountains themselves – ranging from 18 million years to 1.7 billion years old. The San Andreas Fault was also responsible for the formation of both major mountain passes that mark the east and west ends of the range. These mountains are shaped by several primary tectonic or fault blocks – the Big Bear block, which forms

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4650-419: The range are possible during major earthquakes in the future, as they have been in the past. These slides may potentially impact the communities built directly adjacent to the steep escarpment on the desert side of the range. The San Jacinto Mountains, like the neighboring San Bernardino Mountains, are a humid island above the surrounding desert and semi-desert. Annual precipitation ranges from about 15 inches at

4725-604: The range is also a Great Basin Divide landform for the Salton Watershed to the east. The hills east of Live Oak Canyon Road, in San Bernardino County, are the northernmost extent of the range. The Coachella Valley stretches along the eastern side of the range, including the cities of Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage . San Gorgonio Pass separates the range from Mount San Gorgonio to the north. The western slope holds

4800-580: The record holder measuring 38 m (124 ft) tall and 2.7 m (9 ft) thick (in the Siskiyou National Forest in Oregon ). The species also grows in shrubby scrub-oak form on poor sites. In open areas, the crown is broad and rounded, with lower branches nearly touching the ground or forming a browse line. In closed stands, the crown is narrow and slender in young trees and irregularly broad in old trees. Trunks are usually free of branches on

4875-403: The red oak section including the red oak ( Quercus rubra ) and the black oak ( Quercus velutina ) found in eastern and central North America. Quercus kelloggii typically grows from 9–25 meters (30–82 feet) in height and from 0.3–1.4 m (1– 4 + 1 ⁄ 2  ft) in diameter. Large trees may exceed 36 m (118 ft) in height and 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in) diameter, with

4950-586: The size of the acorn crop. It is a preferred foraging substrate for many birds. All of 68 bird species observed in oak woodlands of the Tehachapi Mountains of California used California black oak for part of their foraging activities. Acorn woodpecker , Bullock's oriole , and Nashville warbler show strong preferences for California black oak. The parasitic plant Pacific mistletoe ( Phoradendron villosum ), which commonly grows on this oak, produces berries that attract birds, as well. Many animals cache

5025-597: The southeast divides the range from the Little San Bernardino Mountains . Encompassing roughly 2,100 square miles (5,400 km ), the mountains lie mostly in San Bernardino County , with a small southern portion reaching into Riverside County . The range divides three major physiographic regions: the highly urbanized Inland Empire to the southwest, the Coachella Valley in the southeast, and

5100-514: The spine of the range. A popular walking route runs from the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Mountain Station above Palm Springs, to the high point of the range, with a relatively mild climb of 2,400 ft (700 m) compared to other routes with more elevation gain. Above Idyllwild is historic Tahquitz Peak and other rock climbing areas. Established in 1964 by the U.S. Congress with the original Wilderness Act ,

5175-525: The summer heat. The range was a frequent subject for Palm Springs artists Carl Eytel (1862–1925) and Paul Grimm (1892–1974). Hollywood film directors have used the mountains to shoot film scenes. In Frank Capra 's 1937 film, Lost Horizon , the Tahquitz Falls in Tahquitz Canyon was used as a scene. Today, the range is a destination for outdoor recreation. The Pacific Crest Trail runs along

5250-443: The surrounding semi-arid lands. The San Bernardinos in particular comprise the largest forested region in Southern California, and support some 1,600 species of plants. Foothill regions are primarily composed of chaparral and evergreen oak woodland communities, with a transition to forests of deciduous oak, yellow pine , Jeffrey pine , incense cedar and several fir species at elevations above 5,000 feet (1,500 m). Deeper within

5325-491: The time – to supply water to citrus farms around San Bernardino. By 1910, a new dam had been built, increasing the size of the lake threefold. An unintended effect of the lake was to dramatically increase tourism in the San Bernardino Mountains, and its shores were developed with lodges and visitor facilities by the 1920s. The old logging camp of Big Bear Lake was expanded to accommodate increasing numbers of tourists from all over Southern California. Originally proposed in 1891 by

5400-432: The vegetative palette to species that are adapted to such conditions. At lower elevations forestation of the San Jacinto Mountains includes considerable California black oak associated with Coulter pine . At higher elevations, forests include Ponderosa pine , Jeffrey pine , Lodgepole pine , Incense cedar , White fir , Red fir , Manzanita , and deciduous oak. There is also a grove of over 150 giant sequoia trees on

5475-623: The western base (and only 6 inches on the eastern, desert base) to as much as 32 inches above 5,500 feet (the mountain town of Idyllwild averages 27 inches per year). The coastal (western) side of the range receives more precipitation than the eastern (desert) side. Most of the precipitation falls between November and March, with a secondary maximum associated with thunderstorms during the summer monsoon season between July and September. The precipitation totals are highly variable from year to year. Snow usually falls above 4,000 feet elevation in winter. Above 8,000 feet, snow sometimes persists until June. Near

5550-444: Was applied to San Bernardino Peak by 1835, and was in wide use for the entire range by 1849. In 1819, San Bernardino de Sena Estancia was created near present-day San Bernardino as an outpost of nearby Mission San Gabriel Arcángel . Although sometimes referred to as an asistencia , or "a mission on a small scale with all the requisites for a mission, and with Divine Service held regularly on days of obligation, except that it lacked

5625-420: Was established on the banks of the Santa Ana River in 1890, and resorts also grew up at Crestline and Running Springs in higher regions of the San Bernardino Mountains. Snow in the San Bernardinos was seen as an obstacle before the 1920s and practically shut down recreation in the winter. However, more and more Southern Californians braved the dangers of winter travel in the mountains, and Lake Arrowhead became

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