Pioneertown Mountains Preserve

Shanghai Brown
Aug 12, 2018
1 min read

(The Wildlands Conservancy)

51010 Pipes Canyon Road, Pioneertown

(760)369-7105

www.wildlandsconservancy.org/preserve_pioneertown.html

Hours: Dawn to dusk, daily

Free admission

The Pioneertown Mountains Preserve is a 25,500 acre private preserve, owned and operated by The Wildlands Conservancy (see also the Whitewater and Mission Creek preserves). The Preserve climbs from the valley around Pioneertown into the 7,800 foot elevations of the San Bernardino Mountains.

The Preserve contains year-round riparian corridors in both Pipes and Little Morongo canyons. It is a crucial linkage between Joshua Tree National Park, the San Bernardino National Forest, and the Big Horn Mountains BLM Wilderness.

In the 2006 Sawtooth Complex Fire, the majority of the Joshua trees, pinyon pines, and junipers in the Preserve were burned. The Preserve continues to undergo natural vegetation succession.

The Pioneertown Mountains Preserve is an ideal place for a family day hike. Visitor facilities include parking, picnicking, restrooms, and an information kiosk. A favorite is a hike to the Olsen Ruins, a historical site that's a fairly easy approximately three mile round trip hike that includes Native American petroglyphs, a homestead cabin ruins, and great wildflower viewing in the spring. The Preserve is also cooler than many hiking destinations in the area, which makes it perfect for a day that may be too hot elsewhere in the desert.

The Pioneertown Mountains Preserve does offer some ranger-led interpretive programs that are free. Call the Preserve for upcoming dates and times.