Mecca Hills

Mecca Hills is a mountain range in Riverside County's desert landscape characterized by narrow canyons, steep rock walls, and complex eroded formations. The terrain displays layered badlands with winding passages that challenge explorers navigating through the wilderness.

Congress designated this area as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System in 1994, placing it under Bureau of Land Management protection. The designation recognized the region's geological and ecological importance in the desert landscape.

The California desert wilderness area serves as an outdoor laboratory for scientists studying the effects of earthquakes on the Earth's crust along the San Andreas Fault.

Early morning and late afternoon visits are best for comfortable exploration, when temperatures are lower and sunlight is less intense. Bring plenty of water, protective clothing, and a map since the desert setting offers minimal shade.

The exposed rock layers here showcase formations over 600 million years old, shaped by tectonic movements along the San Andreas Fault. Scientists use these natural exposures as a living laboratory to understand how earthquakes have altered the Earth's surface over time.