| San Jacinto Mountains | |
|---|---|
| Jalisco Mountains, Indian Land | |
 Montane Conifer Forest near San Jacinto Peak | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | San Jacinto Peak |
| Elevation | 3,302.3 m (10,834 ft) |
| Naming | |
| Native name | Avii Hanupach (Mohave) |
| Geography | |
  San Jacinto Mountains San Jacinto Mountains | |
 San Jacinto Mountains | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| District | Riverside County |
| Range coordinates | 33°48′52″N116°40′45″W / 33.81444°N 116.67917°W /33.81444; -116.67917 |
| Topo map | USGS San Jacinto Peak |
TheSan Jacinto Mountains (Mohave:Avii Hanupach)[1] are amountain range inRiverside County, located east ofLos Angeles in southernCalifornia in theUnited States.[2] The mountains are named for one of the firstBlack Friars,Saint Hyacinth (Spanish:San Jacinto), who is a popularpatron inLatin America.
The range extends for approximately 30 mi (50 km) from theSan Bernardino Mountains southeast to theSanta Rosa Mountains. The San Jacinto Mountains are the northernmost of thePeninsular Ranges, which run 1,500 km (930 mi) fromSouthern California to the southern tip of theBaja California Peninsula. The highest peak in the range isSan Jacinto Peak (3,302 m; 10,834 ft) NAVD 88,[3] and the range is also aGreat Basin Divide landform for theSalton Watershed to the east. The hills east of Live Oak Canyon Road, in San Bernardino County, are the northernmost extent of the range.
TheCoachella Valley stretches along the eastern side of the range, including the cities ofPalm Springs andRancho Mirage.San Gorgonio Pass separates the range fromMount San Gorgonio to the north. The western slope holds the community ofIdyllwild. The range is the eastern boundary of theSan Jacinto Valley, location ofHemet; it also marks the eastern edge of the fast-growingInland Empire region andGreater Los Angeles as a whole.
Much of the range is embraced by theSanta 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 the eastern flank of the range is located within theAgua Caliente Indian Reservation. In 1990, theCalifornia Legislature created theCoachella Valley Mountains Conservancy to protect the mountains surrounding the valley.
The range is afault block of granitic rocks squeezed between the San Jacinto fault on the west and the San Andreas fault system on the east. Thefault scarp on the northern and eastern side 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 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 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 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 asky 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 the vegetative palette to species that are adapted to such conditions.[4] At lower elevations forestation of the San Jacinto Mountains includes considerableCalifornia black oak associated withCoulter pine.[5] At higher elevations, forests includePonderosa pine,Jeffrey pine,Lodgepole pine,Incense cedar,White fir,Red fir,Manzanita, and deciduous oak. There is also agrove of over 150giant sequoia trees on 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.[6] 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 theMountain Fire and theCranston Fire, have also temporarily denuded some areas.
Like many other isolated high elevation mountains in California, the San Jacinto mountains are home to several endemic species, including theSan Jacinto shieldback katydid andshaggy-haired alumroot.
The communities ofIdyllwild-Pine Cove,Mountain Center, andPinyon Pines are located in the San Jacinto Mountains.
The indigenousCahuilla live in the deserts around the San Jacinto Mountains and used the range for hunting, foraging, and to escape the summer heat.
The range was a frequent subject for Palm Springs artistsCarl Eytel (1862–1925) andPaul Grimm (1892–1974).
Hollywood film directors have used the mountains to shoot film scenes. InFrank Capra's 1937 film,Lost Horizon, theTahquitz Falls inTahquitz Canyon was used as a scene.[7]
Today, the range is a destination for outdoor recreation. ThePacific Crest Trail runs along the spine of the range. A popular walking route runs from thePalm 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 historicTahquitz Peak and otherrock climbing areas.
Established in 1964 by the U.S. Congress with the originalWilderness Act, theSan Jacinto Wilderness protects two areas to the north and south ofMount San Jacinto State Park (the location ofSan Jacinto Peak). The 32,168 acrewilderness area is all within theSan Bernardino National Forest and is managed by theU.S. Forest Service.[8]
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