PORTAL RIDGE WILDLIFE PRESERVE

About Portal Ridge Wildlife Preserve

This project area is the last piece of the puzzle that will connect the Angeles National Forest, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, and the Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park. The Portal Ridge Wildlife Preserve (PRWP) encompasses one of the Audubon’s Important Bird Areas, as well as a substantial portion of the Portal Ridge-Liebre Mountain Significant Ecological Area, and spans over 5,700 acres. The unique geography of these lands and the influence of the San Andreas fault has led to the presence of nearly a dozen naturally occurring springs throughout PRWP. We help protect and monitor these precious desert water sources. They contribute to much of the wildlife diversity present on the Preserve. The PRWP and adjacent lands represent a transition zone between three distinct eco-regions: the San Gabriel Mountains, the Tehachapi Foothills and the westernmost portion of the Mojave Desert. A total of 13 plant communities have been recorded and 110+ wildlife species have been observed. The Preserve contains previously unprotected transitional plant communities and significant wildlife habitat occurring between the Antelope Valley in the western Mojave Desert and Portal Ridge in Los Angeles County, California. These lands contain habitat for the state-listed and threatened Swainson’s hawk, Southern California mountain lion, Western burrowing owl, large swaths of Western Joshua Tree woodland, wildflower fields, and pristine desert washes. There are 37 documented special status species, rare plant communities, and rare plants present.

Reserve Activities

  • A hiker is walking away from the camera, towards a vista of California buckwheat, large puffy clouds, and the Tehachapi mountains in the skyline.

    Hiking

  • A group of horseback riders heads up a wildflower-filled trail a Portal Ridge. The yellow coreopsis are blanketing the hillside.

    Equestrian

  • An up close, side-profile of a juvenile Swainson's hawk.

    Birding

  • A beautiful hillside on Portal Ridge is covered with yellow flowers, with gray pines, Joshua trees, and an ephemeral wash in the foreground.

    Photography

  • A close-up shot of Coulter's jewel flower, with rich maroon blooms.

    Wildflower Viewing

  • A full pond at Portal Ridge Wildlife Preserve on a clear day, with the Tehachapi mountains in the backdrop.

    Picnicking

The Plants and Animals of Portal Ridge

  • Portal Ridge Wildlife Preserve is completely encompassed within an Audubon-designated global Important Bird Area. A total of 88 species of birds have been observed in the PRWP vicinity (SWCA 2011, Cooper 2011). As many as 50 additional bird species may also occur in the area on the basis of noted plant communities and available habitat components (SWCA 2011). Some of the listed and threatened species found here include:

    • golden eagle

    • Swainson’s hawk

    • Western burrowing owl

  • Vegetation found in the PRWP vicinity is considered by many to support the most plant diversity of any of Los Angeles County’s Significant Ecological Areas. It is diverse both topographically and floristically, supporting lower montane and semi-desert chaparral, dry riparian canyons, native grasslands and wildflower/forb fields. The northern portion of the PRWA intergrades with lands comprising the southern Antelope Valley, where Joshua tree woodlands predominate with creosote bush and cheesebush scrub, wildflower/forb fields and former/active agricultural areas. Sensitive plant communities and associated habitats in the region, as recorded in the California Natural Diversity Database, include Bigcone Spruce-Canyon Oak Forest, Interior live-Oak woodland, Southern Willow Scrub and Wildflower Fields.

    Click Here to View Our Wildflower Gallery

    Click Here to View Our Plant List

  • 14 mammal species have been observed, either through direct observation or diagnostic sign, within the PRWP vicinity. With additional sign found of other species:

    • desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii)

    • black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus)

    • California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi)

    • Botta’s pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae)

    • long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata)

    • mountain lion (Puma concolor)

    • bobcat (Lynx rufus)

    • mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus).

    • dusky footed woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes)

    • American badger (Taxidea taxus)

    • striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)

    • coyote (Canis latrans),

    • American black bear

    • desert woodrat (Neotoma lepida)

    • brush mouse (Peromyscus boylii)

    • gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)

    • raccoon (Procyon lotor)

    Acoustic bat surveys on lands located just east of the PRWP in March-April, 2011 recorded 1,057 bat passes over the course of 1,553 detector-nights (WEST 2011). The majority (61.0%) of recorded calls appeared to be associated with:

    • big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus)

    • hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus)

    • Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis)

    • Potentially spotted bat (Euderma maculatum) and/or western mastiff bat (Eumops perotis californicus)

  • 8 reptile species have been observed within the PRWP vicinity (SWCA 2011). As many as 11 additional reptile species may also occur in the area on the basis of noted plant communities and available habitat components.

    At least 2 identified species of amphibians are present in the Preserve, including both treefrog and salamander species.

  • 264 species of insects have been identified in the vicinity of PRWP. 6 butterfly species have been observed on PRWP. 6 additional butterfly species have been recorded just east of the PRWP (NRC 2011), with numerous additional insect species expected to occur in the general area. We are currently in the process of conducting native bee surveys with Antelope Valley College to further investigate our insect populations.

Hiking In Portal Ridge

We are currently revising our trail map to improve accuracy and include recent updates. A new version will be available once the revisions are complete. We appreciate your patience and look forward to providing an enhanced resource for your outdoor experience.

Download the Plant List

Hiking and Usage Tips

  1. Bring lots of water. There is no supplemental water onsite.

  2. Bring snacks if possible.

  3. Check the weather in advance.

  4. Bring a hat and other appropriate clothing such as a jacket or other layers.

  5. Wear shoes comfortable enough to provide support.

  6. Bring dog-poop bags and more water if you are bringing your pup.

  7. Wear sunscreen.

  8. Watch out for the "pokey" plants on the trails, such as Joshua tree and Yucca. Also, avoid poodle-dog bush. Every part of the plant can cause severe skin irritation.    

  9. Keep an eye out for the wildlife that calls this place home. Rattlesnakes, coyotes, bobcats, bears and mountain lions are a few of our very rarely seen residents. If you give them space they will be happy to keep away from you. Enjoy the sighting if you do spot them.

  10. Do not climb on rocks. Rocks in this area can be loose and unstable.

  11. There is 1 restroom facility (porta-potty)  available at the trailhead.

  12. There are no trash cans on site, so be prepared to take out with you what you bring in. 

  13. No fires, drone usage, shooting, hunting, motorized vehicles, or collecting of any plants, animals or other materials in the Preserve.

For helpful tips on how to be outdoors, click on these link logos provided.