Big Morongo Canyon Preserve

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Morongo Valley, CA
Big Morongo Canyon Preserve

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An oasis in the desert open seven days a week. It is open everyday from 7:30am to sunset. Hiking and picnicking is permitted. Admission is free.
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Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is a 31,000 acre nature preserve nestled within San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, California and is part of Sand to Snow National Monument. Home to the largest riparian cottonwood oasis in the Mojave Desert, BMCP is one of the few locations within the area with water all-year-round. It is a popular destination sight for birdwatchers, with 254 bird species spotted. There are several hiking trails with diverse habitats, enhancing your experience uniquely with every trail you take. Various programs are offered throughout the year, including bird walks, butterfly walks, nature-themed guided hikes, volunteer work days, school tours, and summer day camp programs.

10/23/2026

Tomorrow Morning!

Join our “Hiking the Trails” with hike leader, Andy Jensen, on the fourth Saturday of the month. We meet in the parking lot at 8 am. Bring sturdy footwear, appropriate clothing for the weather, and plenty of water. No reservations needed.

bigmorongo.org/event/3050/2026-10-24/

10/17/2026

Special Event: Join us tomorrow (October 17th) for a special Howl-oween Family Nature Walk!

Costumes are highly encouraged, and there will be goody bags for the kids at the end. All ages are welcome!

10/14/2026

Bring your binoculars and spend the morning strolling the trails with knowledgeable local bird walk leaders.

Meet at the Information Kiosk south of the parking lot. Beginning birders are welcome. Reservations are not required and there is no fee to join a walk, but donations to Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve are gratefully accepted.

Please bring an adequate amount of water, hat, sunscreen, and suitable shoes for uneven surfaces on trails.

Learn more about Birds of the Preserve. Weekly sightings are posted on the web site.

bigmorongo.org/birding

10/12/2026

Walking the Marsh Trail today

10/11/2026

Be safe out there! The Preserve got much needed rain overnight and it is drizzling so bring an umbrella if you want to hike the trails.

10/10/2026

People came from all over to help protect the canyon.

This video captures the teamwork and great energy from our National Public Lands Day event. There is a lot of satisfaction in giving back, and seeing everyone come together to clear fire fuel highlights how essential volunteer support is for keeping these public lands maintained.

The work continues year-round. Big Morongo Canyon Preserve hosts regular programming, workshops, and guided activities. If you would like to get involved or join our next volunteer day, please visit our website to check out our events calendar.

bigmorongo.org/calendar

Thank you again to the groups and leaders who came out to help:

California Cadet Corps (led by Major Summers)

U.S. Marines (contingent from the 29 Palms Marine Corps Base)

Sand to Snow National Monument Team (Jeremy & Alex)

Bureau of Land Management (Caroline)

Conservation Lands Foundation (Margarita)

Nature Journaling Workshop (hosted by Jillian)

Guided Bird Walk (hosted by Kurt)

We hope to see you out at the preserve soon.

10/09/2026

Celebrating National Public Lands Day at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve!

A massive thank you to everyone who stepped up for this year's theme, "Caring for Our Shared America."

We tackled critical trail maintenance, clearing pre-cut, downed timber to reduce fire fuel loads along the Desert Willow and Marsh Trails—𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 our 40 cubic yard trash bin!

Big Morongo Canyon Preserve provided 🍕 as well as 👕 complimentary of the BLM:

✅ California Cadet Corps (led by Major Summers)
✅ U.S. Marines (contingent from the 29 Palms Marine Corps Base)
✅ Sand to Snow National Monument Team (Jeremy & Alex)
✅ Bureau of Land Management (Caroline)
✅ Conservation Lands Foundation (Margarita)
✅ Nature Journaling Workshop (hosted by Jillian)
✅ Guided Bird Walk (hosted by Kurt)

From the heavy lifters who transformed the trails to our workshop leaders who helped visitors connect with the canyon—thank you for keeping our public lands thriving!

10/07/2026

🎨 of our nature center by Tom Windeknecht Photography

10/06/2026

Beautiful Trail Tuesday

Address

11055 East Drive
Morongo Valley, CA
92256

Telephone

(760) 363-7190

Website

http://www.bigmorongo.org/

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