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Southern California Coast and Mountains

Southern California's Coasts and Mountains

9 posts

Rattlesnake Canyon Smelter and the Heartbreak Ridge Arrastra

Rattlesnake Canyon Smelter and the Heartbreak Ridge Arrastra

Most people interested in the old mines of Southern California know about the old "Spanish" smelter on the eastern edge of the San Bernardino Mountains. It is just off Burns Canyon Road in Rattlesnake Canyon and is well-visited. The smelter is old. One report states that it was

Chaparrosa Peak

Chaparrosa Peak

There is nothing historical here, but this is a nice hike to a peak with great views just outside of Joshua Tree. Directions * Hike: Moderate hike, 5.7 miles Out and back, 1,400 ft gain round trip. 3 hours. The trailhead for this hike is at the visitor center

Pipes Canyon

Pipes Canyon

Pipes Canyon is a pleasant and easy hike. The trail heads out from the visitor center at the Pioneertown Mountains Preserve and follows the canyon up into a riparian habitat. The canyon is usually dry, but water does occasionally surface to support this isolated oasis. Keep an eye out for

Belden Arrastra and Mikiska Petroglyphs

Belden Arrastra and Mikiska Petroglyphs

I had looked for this arrastra some time ago but instead found another mining camp. That ended up being a good trip, even without finding my elusive target. Still, it wasn’t an arrastra. So, some time passed (actually, a few years), and it sort of dropped off my radar,

Bighorn Boulder Camp

Bighorn Boulder Camp

Back in 2012, one of my mine exploring trips got canceled at the last minute, so I suddenly had some free time on my hands. I decided to try to find a supposed arrastra and petroglyph site out in the Mojave desert. Arrastras are always fun to find because they

Moreno Maze Pictograph

Moreno Maze Pictograph

Western Riverside County has a handful of unique Native American rock art maze drawings. The most well-known of them is the Hemet Maze. It is a petroglyph of complex design carved directly into granite. There are, however, other lesser-known rock art mazes, and one of them is the Moreno Maze

Mockingbird Canyon Pictographs

Mockingbird Canyon Pictographs

Nestled in a rural neighborhood in Riverside, the Mockingbird Canyon pictographs are a hidden gem. Believed to be the work of the native Luiseno Indians, this is an impressive set of San Luis Rey style polychrome pictographs painted on the ceiling of a granite rock shelter. The circles, nets, and