Santa Ana Mountains History, Habitat and Hikes

Themajestic Santa Ana Mountains cover one thousand square miles and much of the Cleveland National Forest in Orange, Riverside and San DiegoCounties.

Unlike other designated wild lands close to huge population centers,the rugged Santa Anas remain largely primordial.

Dominated by Old Saddlebackand its twin peaks of Modjeska and Santiago, this beautiful range, visible frommuch of the Los Angeles Basin, remains the last intact coastal ecosystem inSouthern California.

Home to Native Americans, Spanish missionaries, vaqueros,sheep barons, bandits and suburban developers, the Santa Anas were traversed bymountain man Jedediah Smith, explorer John C.

Fremont, lawman Wyatt Earp andother historic figures.

Join author Patrick Mitchell for this firstcomprehensive volume on the natural and cultural histories of the great SantaAnas.