October 24, 2000 –The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Act, Public Law 106-351was approved.  Congress found that, "...the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains in southern California contain nationally significant biological, cultural, recreational, geological, educational and scientific values."  The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains provide a world-renowned scenic backdrop to the desert communities of the Coachella Valley. The National Monument serves as a model for community based support and creation. This monument reflects the vision of the local jurisdictions that assisted in the designation. 

The mountains rise abruptly from the desert floor to an elevation of 10,804 feet at the top of Mount San Jacinto.  Visitors may take the breathtaking Palm Springs Tramway to access the high elevations. The landscape gives residents and visitors a powerful sense of place for their natural scenic beauty, recreational opportunities, and extensive biodiversity and cultural values.  The quality of life and recreational opportunities that the mountains afford contribute significantly to the Coachella Valley's status as a popular destination resort and retirement community.  The National Monument is home to creatures such as the Peninsular Ranges Bighorn Sheep, desert tortoise and the slender salamander all listed federal species.

The BLM has a program of sheep ambassadors on trails that are critical to sheep lambing activities to discuss alternative hiking locations and provide information about the sheep.

Careful thought by BLM, the U.S. Forest Service, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and the local jurisdictions went into the development of the boundary, the objective being a landscape theme, ridge top to toe of slope.  Map of The Santa Rosa and Santa Jacinto Mountains National Monument.

The National Monument will have a Monument Management Plan that will grapple with the issues of access, recreation and the protection of threatened and endangered species as well as conservation of native plants and other wildlife species.  A better understanding of the cultural and historical resources will also be gathered during the development of the plan.  The public is encouraged to participate at public meetings to be held in 2002 focused on the management of the National Monument.

.The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center, which  is located off State Highway 74 south of Palm Desert, was dedicated in 1996 and is open to the public seven days a week. The city of Palm Desert donated six acres in the 1990's for the current visitor center. The Friends of the Desert Mountains provides volunteers to help staff the center, which is a tourism gateway to the  Monument and the Coachella Valley

The Visitor Center has a desert garden that allows for a gentle walk and stretch.  The Bobcat bookstore is located at the Center and offers desert books and unique gift items.

From the Visitor Center one may take Highway 74 also known as the Scenic Palms to Pines Highway..

As the National Monument reaches out to the local community and beyond a focus will be on developing educational programs, partnerships for restoration and conservation and the opportunity for various arts activities. Please feel free to contact us at either 760-251-4800 or at the Visitor Center at 760-862-9984

Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument