Wild places > Southwest: Regional Map

Hauser Potential Wilderness Additions

Managing agencies: Cleveland National Forest and Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District

Size: Approximately 17,000 acres

Location: In San Diego County, not far from the Mexican border.

Description:

• Watershed protection for Cottonwood and Hauser Creeks: drinking water supply stored in Barrett Reservoir
• Pine Valley Creek Wild & Scenic River: drinking water supply and animal species protection.
• Pacific Crest Trail

The Hauser potential wilderness additions and Pine Valley Creek potential wild and scenic river occupy a remote area of moderate elevation just north of the international border, including 3,800-foot Hauser Mountain and the beautiful, treelined Hauser, Cottonwood, and Pine Valley Creeks.

The area provides a vital corridor for wildlife along the Peninsular Ranges, connecting Mexico and Otay Mountain with the Laguna Mountains to the north.

This area offers a scenic wilderness backdrop for the initial 20 miles of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) and invaluable watershed protection for Barrett Lake, an important link in San Diego's water supply.

The Hauser Additions include South Hauser Canyon, a 10- mile-long, steep-walled drainage just south of the existing Hauser Wilderness and Hauser Mountain (BLM Wilderness Study Area), a broad plateau with a sweeping view over hundreds of square miles and deep into Mexico.

South Hauser Canyon itself is a delightful haven of glistening rock slabs, lush plant life, quiet pools and plunging waterfalls, all shaded by towering oaks. The proposal to designate additional wilderness would complete the southern protection of Hauser Canyon. This area should have been designated in 1984 as part of the Hauser Wilderness.

In Hauser Mountain the steep slopes exhibit a rare, low-elevation variety of chaparral and coastal sage scrub, including Hemizonia floribunda, one of six sensitive plant species found in Hauser Mountain.

The Pacific Crest Trail traverses through Hauser Mountain roughly from south to north providing excellent recreation. With wilderness designation, travelers on a PCT odyssey will be provided with natural, historical, recreational and scenic values.

The Pine Valley Creek proposed Wild & Scenic River is one of the longest free-flowing low-elevation streams in southern California's national forests. Pine Valley Creek provides high-quality riparian habitat for the largest arroyo toad and southwestern pond turtle populations and a significant population of least Bell's vireos.

For more information, please contact:
Geoffrey Smith
Phone: (858) 566-5676
Email: gsmith@thecomputersmith.com

Access: Pacific Crest Trail: north from the international border (one mile south of Campo) or south from Lake Morena County Park. From the south: South Boundary Road from Potrero or hiking trails along Highway 94 leading to Hauser Mountain.