MARIPOSA RESERVE
The 800-acre Mariposa Reserve is a habitat reserve surrounded by the Cleveland National Forest. It represents the best grassland and sycamore savanna in the north end of the forest. Important habitats include chaparral, coastal sage scrub, valley needle grass, sycamore riparian woodland, coast live oak riparian forests, and rock cliffs and outcroppings. The reserve is important to many imperiled birds and is often traveled by mountain lions. There are abundant displays of spring wildflowers dominated by mariposa lilies, blur-eyed grass and owl’s clover. Bedrock mortars, found in the Reserve’s rock outcroppings, are a grand place to sit on a boulder and look at a vast vista, contemplating the Native Americans who ground the live oak acorns into flour in times past.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
RESERVE ACCESS
Accessible daily by foot, mountain bike, and horse. Park at the gate at the end of Black Star Canyon Road and proceed up the dirt road.
ADMISSION
FREE
CONTACT US
(909) 372-0138
southcoastpreserves@wildlandsconservancy.org
THINGS TO DO
AMENITIES
NONE
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
The acquisition of this property was going to be abandoned by another land trust when the surrounding Cleveland National Forest rejected taking title to the property. The Forest Service rejected a proposed conservation easement prohibiting activities such as mining, logging, hunting, grazing and off-roading. Wildlands, appreciative of the goals of the conservation easement, stepped in and took fee title to the property to prevent the abandonment of this funded acquisition.
