Yucca Ridge Trail

Experience a spectacular bird’s-eye view of the preserve’s woodland and wetland areas. Take in the community of Morongo Valley, the snowcapped San Gorgonio and San Jacinto mountain peaks, and the Big Morongo Canyon below. Walk through the vegetation of the desert scrub, including creosote bush, Mojave yucca, Mormon tea, numerous species of cacti and even club moss clinging to the cool sides of the rock surfaces. View white dikes of aplite intruding into an ancient outcrop of gneiss that is over one billion years old and one of the oldest exposed rock formations in California. This trail enters the marsh habitat at the juncture with the Mesquite Trail at one end and joins the desert wash habitat along the Desert Willow Trail at the other.

Length: .72 miles/1159 meters

Time: 25 minutes

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

  • The Yucca Ridge Trail starts at trail junction #3 off the Desert Willow Trail and winds it's way through desert scrub including mesquite, Mojave Yucca, cats claw, and Mormon tea.
  • Once on top of the ridge there are spectacular views like this one of Morongo Valley and the BMCP parking area.
  • Along the way are boulders and rocks stained red from flame retardant that was dropped on the 2005 fire that burned in excess of 3000 acres. To the left of this stained boulder are unburned Mojave Yucca, thriving hedgehog cactus (in front), and burned Yucca and other desert scrub to the right.
  • The Yucca Ridge overlook offers views of the preserve Education Center and a panoramic view of Morongo Valley.
  • A view of the Mesquite Trail along the base of the ridge, the Helmkamp Deck, and the Canyon Trail heading off in the distance.
  • The trail down from the overlook is steep and winding with many water shunts to discourage erosion.
  • The trail passes an impressive dike of aplite intruding into an ancient outcrop of gneiss that is in excess of 1 billion years old.
  • The trail proceeds down numerous stone steps to join the Mesquite Trail at junction #7.