Our Mission The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and ome to hundreds Wildwood education of the people of California by helping H to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and of species of flora and Canyon cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. fauna, Wildwood Canyon preserves ancient oak woodlands, native sites, and pioneer California State Parks supports equal access. homesteads. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (951) 940-5600. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact [email protected]. CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service www.parks.ca.gov Wildwood Canyon 12241 Canyon Drive Yucaipa, CA 92399 (951) 940-5600 © 2010 California State Parks (Rev. 2017) A bove the hills of led to the sale of (supported by local conservationists) Yucaipa, Wildwood the development acquired Wildwood Canyon’s 900 acres. Canyon offers to Vernon Hunt, On May 9, 2003, a dedication ceremony panoramic views of who bought up area was held at Wildwood Canyon. the surrounding hills ranches and the and valleys. former Wildwood NATURAL HISTORY This park property Lodge in 1940 to build Wildwood Canyon lies between the San in the eastern foothills Hunt Ranch. Andreas Fault on the north and the San of the San Bernardino Hi Up House Jacinto Fault to the south. Igneous and Mountains features Photo courtesy of Theron Trowbridge was owned by the sedimentary rocks, transformed by the broad grasslands McCullough family. intense heat and pressure of tectonic and canopies of centuries-old interior live During the Great Depression in 1932, Charles activity, form the ancient metamorphic oak. The property’s box canyon is home to McCullough lost his Pasadena apple farm to rocks surrounding the canyon. hundreds of species of wildlife and native foreclosure. He borrowed $500 to purchase Wildlife plants, some of them rare and endangered. 88 acres in Yucaipa and brought his family Wildwood Canyon hosts to live off the land — digging wells and diverse wildlife. Birds PARK HISTORY water tunnels to irrigate their gardens and commonly seen include the Native People orchards, and raising rabbits and bees. The California quail, western The area near Yucaipa was known as a McCulloughs lived in a converted chicken meadowlark, towhee, crossroads for traveling indigenous people. coop for 13 years while they built a new phainopepla, red- The Cahuilla were traditionally active in home, using recycled and found materials. tailed hawk, Bewick’s the area of Wildwood Canyon, as were the Some remnants of Hunt Ranch and the Hi Red-tailed wren, Bullock’s oriole, hawk Serrano and Gabrieleno native people. Up House buildings are still on the property. and white-tailed kite. Early Pioneers Preserving the Land Other bird species found in Wildwood The first recorded landowner was mountain After a flood threatened developers’ plans Canyon include the Cooper’s hawk, sharp- man James Waters, who started a hog ranch to build subdivisions, California State Parks shinned hawk, and rufous-crowned sparrow. on the fringe of the current park property in the 1850s. The area was called “Hog Cañon” (the Spanish word for canyon) until the 1920s. Later settlers included rancher Louis Morris and the Brooks family, who staked mining claims in the area. The Wildwood Lodge resort was built in the 1920s; investors planned to sell more than 500 lots in a country-club development. Few lots were sold, and the property was foreclosed in 1928. Property tax defaults Hunt Ranch today The San Diego pocket mouse found at Climate ACCESSIBLE FEATURES Wildwood is a mammal species of special The park’s Mediterranean climate is typical At this time, no accessible features are concern—its population is declining due to of inland southern California. Dry summers available. Accessibility is continually being habitat loss or breeding problems. Visitors range from warm to very hot (over 100 improved. For updates, visit the website at may also see the deer mouse, cactus deer degrees); winters are more temperate but http://access.parks.ca.gov. mouse, California vole, and dusky-footed wet. Spring and fall are mild and moderate. NEARBY STATE PARKS wood rat. Mule deer and desert cottontail Average annual rainfall is 14 inches; the area share Wildwood Canyon with bobcats, black may experience strong, dry Santa Ana winds, • Lake Perris SRA, 17801 Lake Perris Drive bears, gray foxes, and skunks. Cougars use usually in late fall and early winter. Perris 92571 (951) 940-5600 the canyon as a travel corridor. • Mount San Jacinto SP & Wilderness Reptiles found in the park include several RECREATION 25905 Highway 243, Idyllwild 92549 types of lizards, the coastal western whiptail, Currently Wildwood Canyon is open only for (951) 659-2607 western skink, and California whipsnake. The day use from sunrise to sunset. The primary • Silverwood Lake SRA, 14651 Cedar Circle red-diamond rattlesnake is a reptile species activities are horseback riding, hiking, and Hesperia 92345 (760) 389-2303 of special concern. biking. A horse staging area is located near PLEASE REMEMBER Plant Life the entrance. The Hunt Ranch corrals are also available for equestrian use, but there is no • Dogs are permitted on all trails but The dominant plant community is Riversidian vehicle access to these corrals. must be on a six-foot-maximum leash sage scrub, with valley grasslands present Picnic tables and portable restrooms near and under human control at all times. in most open areas. Interior live oaks and the entrance are the only visitor facilities. • No motorized vehicles (including OHVs sycamore woodlands grow along drainages Special events and activities are held and motorcycles) are permitted on park and canyon bottoms. occasionally. See www.parks.ca.gov for an roads and trails beyond the locked gate. The oaks appear to be 150 to 250 years event schedule. • Stay on designated trails to protect old; in some canyons the branches have vegetation and wildlife. Do not hike interlaced so thickly that they form a TRAIL APPROX. MILEAGE alone or interact with wildlife. welcome shade canopy. • Poison oak can trigger a severe Dominant plants Central Ridge Trail .75 mi rash. Stay in designated found among Cottonwood Trail .5 mi areas to avoid the plant. the chamise • All natural, cultural, and chaparral are McCullough Loop 1 mi historic features are scrub oak, North Valley Trail .75 mi protected by law and California Oak Tree Loop 1 mi may not be disturbed, Poison lilacs, sage Stable Ridge Trail .5 mi collected, or removed. oak varieties, • Because fire danger is high, smoking buckwheat, Stetson Trail 1 mi and open flames are prohibited. monkey flower, Water Canyon Trail 1.25 mi • Please pack out all trash and recyclables. Lord’s candle, and Distance between Park Interior live oak .25 mi • All weapons and their use are prohibited. (Quercus wislizenii) silk tassel bush. Entrance and Locked Gate Legend 3800 C SAN Paved Road o t t o n w BERNARDINO Unpaved Road o o d Trail: Multi-Use T Outbuildings Wildwood Canyon r NATIONAL (Hike/Bike/Horse) a i l 3600 Stream FOREST Hunt 3800 Intermittent Stream Ranch il Forest Area e Tra 3800 idg R WILDWOOD 3400 al 3600 tr en Corral C Horse Staging Area il CANYON ra T y l e Locked Gate i ll a a r V T th r 3600 n o Park Building o N 3400 y n il il a a a r r C T T Parking r e e e t g g 3400 a id id W R R l Picnic Area e l ra 3400 b t a n t e S C SAN BERNARDINO Restrooms 3800 © 2010 California State Parks (Rev. 2017) 4000 Creek il yon ra 3200 an n T NATIONAL FOREST il C so d Stet ra o T o This park is supported d d w o il o W in part through w 4200 3200 n d o oa t R t p Supporters of Wildwood o p U o C i o L H h Canyon State Park. ug lo ul C c Hi Up M House p 3600 oo L Hesperia h g 15 18 247 oop ou San L ull Silverwood ree C T c Bernardino Big Bear ak 18 Lake SRA O M NF Lake p San oo 38 L 15 ree Bernardino k T 3200 to ek Oa Wildwood re 3400 Los Angeles C on Canyon y P YIELD 10 3000 n a Redlands C 10 d 60 Yucaipa o o Park Entrance w TO Banning 10 d to , l Riverside 10 i 60 Lake Perris Yucaipa W Canyon Dr 91 March AFB SRA Avenue F Wild w Roa Lake wo Oakvie d 79 Mt. San od C Perris 3000 Y an Jacinto SP uca yon Perris Idyllwild ip Ro a ad C d 15 74 San ree oa k R 74 Bernardino ve Cleveland Hemet NF ro NF 215 0 10 20 Mi G 3200 0 500 1000 1500 2000 Feet k to a 0 10 20 30 Km O San Diego 0 200 400 600 Meters.