PRESERVE OPEN - LIMITED TRAILS OPEN
Pioneertown Mountains Preserve is open with limited hiking opportunities. The Chaparossa Peak Trail is open to visitors as an out-and-back trail. The remaining sections of the Indian Loop Trail are closed. The Sawtooth Loop Trail is open. View details about sawtooth access below.
PIONEERTOWN MOUNTAINS PRESERVE
The 25,500-acre Pioneertown Mountains Preserve descends from the high piney 7,800-foot ridges into the Pioneertown Valley. The small community of Pioneertown is surrounded by conservancy-owned volcanic mesas, the Sawtooth Mountains, and Preserve lands leading to the San Bernardino National Forest. The Preserve has year-round riparian corridors in Pipes Canyon and Little Morongo Canyons. It is an important landscape linkage between Joshua Tree National Park, San Bernardino National Forest, and the Big Horn BLM Wilderness.
In 2006, the vast majority of the Joshua trees, pinyon pines and junipers at Pioneertown Mountains Preserve were killed in a 70,000-acre lightning-caused fire of unprecedented magnitude. Today, much of the Preserve is going through natural vegetation succession. Some scientists predict that fire succession and climate change will favor scrub oak and Joshua tree plant communities that may replace the pinyon forests. The fire laid bare the region’s rich geological backbone.
SAWTOOTH LOOP OPEN
The Sawtooth Loop Trail has re-opened to the public. There are a few changes to note for your next visit. Please note there are no restroom facilities at the Sawtooth Trailhead.
HIKERS & VEHICLE ACCESS
Please enjoy our new parking area and trailhead off of Kees road. Hours are sunrise to sunset 7 days a week. Please do not park at the old access in Chaparrosa Wash. Instead continue 1 mile past Chaparrosa wash and look for our Sawtooth Mountains Trailhead sign on the left at the next dirt road.
EQUESTRIANS & ACCESS FROM TOWN
Access from Chaparrosa Wash will remain available for equestrians and guests staying in and hiking from Pioneertown on foot. Please follow the wooden posts in the wash as the route has changed.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
PRESERVE HOURS
Dawn to Dusk
ADMISSION
FREE
CONTACT US
(760) 369-7105
pioneertownmountainspreserve@wildlandsconservancy.org
GETTING HERE
51010 Pipes Canyon Road
Pioneertown, CA 92268
Get Directions
THINGS TO DO
AMENITIES
PROHIBITIONS
SAFETY
LEAVE NO TRACE
Pack it in, Pack it out.
Take any trash you make with you.
Leave What You Find.
Allow others a sense of discovery by leaving rocks, plants, archaeological artifacts and other objects of interest as you find them.
Respect Wildlife.
Learn about wildlife through quiet observation. Do not disturb wildlife or plants just for a “better look.” Observe wildlife from a distance so they are not scared or forced to flee.
Be Considerate of Others.
One of the most important components of outdoor ethics is to maintain courtesy toward other visitors. It helps everyone enjoy their outdoor experience.
Principles courtesy of Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.
RESOURCES
CONSERVATION OUTCOMES
Pioneertown Mountains Preserve has long been The Wildlands Conservancy’s pulpit for preserving the Mojave Desert and many major conservation issues have been led by Wildlands’ desert staff. Pipes Canyon Wilderness, bisected by a year-round stream, is the largest nonprofit wilderness in California at more than 20,000 acres.
