Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument

Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument protects roughly 280,000 acres of varied landscapes stretching from desert terrain to mountain summits reaching 11,000 feet. The terrain encompasses multiple ecosystems with distinct plant and animal life found at different elevations.

The United States Congress established this protected area in October 2000 to safeguard its biological, cultural, geological, and scientific importance. The designation recognized that these landscapes represent long-standing traditions and natural processes of national significance.

The Cahuilla people maintain deep ties to these mountains through more than 200 recorded sites scattered across the terrain. Visitors can encounter physical traces of their presence, such as rockhouses and other cultural landmarks woven into the landscape.

The visitor center at Highway 74 in Palm Desert offers information and orientation for exploring the area and provides access to the Ed Hastey Garden Trail. The best time to visit is outside the extreme summer heat, when conditions are more comfortable for outdoor activities.

The area contains the largest system of native fan palm oases in the United States. These rare oases form where the Palm Canyon Fault creates surface water sources, allowing ecosystems to flourish in this otherwise dry region.

Location: Riverside County

Operator: United States Forest Service;Bureau of Land Management

GPS coordinates: 33.67483,-116.50059

Latest update: December 8, 2025 13:43