Carrizo Gorge Potential Wilderness Additions
 Managing
agency: Bureau of Land Management
Size: Approximately 6,508 acres
Location: San Diego County, near Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Access: From the south: McCain Valley road north from the community of Boulevard. From the north: Carrizo Canyon 4WD route south from Highway S-2 in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Description:
- Critical habitat for the endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep
- Transition plant communities: mixed chaparral and high desert scrub
- Home to California fan palms
- Includes upper portions of the important tributaries that run into Carrizo Creek
The Carrizo Gorge proposed wilderness additions cover several rugged canyons that were left out of the existing Carrizo Gorge Wilderness. Further protection of these canyons will create a biologically and geographically sensible area, preserving critical habitat for the endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep and ensuring that the existing Carrizo Gorge Wilderness maintains its wilderness character.
On its lower slopes, from 2,000 to 3,000 feet, this wildlands area consists of desert scrub typical of the upper Sonoran Desert, including agave, ocotillo, mesquite and various cacti. This plant community provides homes for phainopeplas, cactus wrens, and kangaroo rats, and good hunting grounds for red-tailed hawks. The upper slopes, from 3,000 to 4,000 feet, are covered in a mixed chaparral of scrub oak, juniper, sugarbush and mountain mahogany.
Connecting these diverse habitat zones, Rock House, Bow Willow, Four Frogs and Jacumba Jim canyons drain from the high chaparral slopes down to Carrizo Creek. The current wilderness boundary cuts across these steep tributaries, including the lower portion of each stream in the wilderness area but excluding the upper portions. These streams are all rugged and wild, containing stands of the native California fan palm, and numerous springs and oases.
The area provides outstanding habitat for bighorn sheep, including
potential lambing areas. Bighorn scat, tracks, and beds have all been observed
here. While the habitat is good, the Carrizo Gorge band is one of the most precariously
balanced of all Peninsular bighorn groups, with just 19 ewes counted in 1998;
everything possible must be done to protect these vanishing symbols of the desert.
Hikers and equestrians will have difficulty deciding which of these canyons to explore. Upon dropping into the head of the canyons, the adventurer is soon away from trails, roads and other modern markings. These canyons once provided routes for the McCain family to drive their cattle to wintering grounds on the desert, and the possibility still exists for rugged equestrian adventures in the tradition of these hardy pioneers.
For more information, please contact:
Geoffrey Smith
Phone: (858) 566-5676
Email: gsmith@thecomputersmith.com
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Just three miles off of Interstate 80, 
