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Mojave Narrows Regional Park - Site # 283
	Regional - worth visiting if you are already in the area. They may be located farther from populated areas or with more limited wildlife species.
Background:	The Park is quietly nestled within a rapidly growing area of the Mojave Desert. The Park offers a multitude of Biodiversity that can be easily enjoyed with even a simple walk through the Park.
	The Mojave Narrows corridor has long functioned as a pathway for a variety of human activities. Beginning approximately 5,000 years ago, early human migrants used the river as a route south and successive waves of early man left their traces in the Victor Valley. Native Americans lived in the Mojave Desert region and consistenty made use of the river corridor, drawn by its diverse biological resources and unique shelter and water suppily provided by the Mojave Narrows Formation. The historic Mormon Trail passes through the Park and the site was a cattle ranch from the 1840's through the early 1960's. The Park offers the experience of a ranch with livestock pastures and equestrian areas.
The Habitat:	Fresh water marsh (30%), lakes(20%), Mojave River riparian (25%), and rubber rabbitbrush scrub (5%), Ruderal agricultural fields (20%) habitats all converge at the Park. Many species from these habitats can be viewed on a daily basis.
The Experience:	Mojave Narrows is a wondrous place with immense biodiversity. Unique geological occurrences formed the area which created a multitude of plant communities. Due to the diversity of these communities multiple habitats for bird, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians exist at the Park. Geology: During the Mesozoic age a batholithic mass composed of mostly leucocratic granitic types form this area of the Mojave Desert. Plutonic rocks engulfed in this mass were pushed to the surface. One of these small plutonic masses is the Mojave Narrows Formation. The Mojave Narrows Formation is the very reason for the surface water at the Park. The formation causes up welling of groundwater flows from the Mojave riverbed. Soil types within the Park include Villa Loamy sand, Riverwash, Victorville Sandy Loam, and Cajon Sand. Botany and Associated Vegetation Communities: Four vegetation communities exist throughout the Mojave Narrows Regional Park including freshwater marsh, rubber rabbitbrush scrub, Mojave riparian forest, and ruderal agricultural fields all of which are described in more detail below. Mojave riparian forest is a vegetation community typically characterized by open, broad-leaved winter deciduous species such as cottonwood, various species of willow, and mulefat. Associated species found within openings of the canopy include saltbush, rubber rabbitbrush, wild rose, and sandbar willow. This community occurs along the eastern portion of the park and provides suitable habitat for a number of sensitive plant species including Booth's evening-primrose. Freshwater marsh is typically characterized by permanently flooded areas that lack a significant current allowing for saturated soils and accumulation of deep, peat soils. This community can be observed in significant patches throughout the northern boundary of the park and is dominated by various perennial, emergent species of cattail and bulrush. Associated species include various perennial broad-leaved herbs, grasses and sedges. Rubber rabbitbrush scrub is a vegetation community type that exists along the western boundary of the park. This community typically establishes following natural or human caused disturbances, e.g., wildfires, and fallow agricultural fields and is dominated by rubber rabbitbrush. Associated species include four-wing saltbush, Russian thistle, and black mustard Ruderal agricultural fields exist along the southern portion of the park just north of Yates Road. This area is grazed by livestock. Climate features: The Park is very warm from late spring to early autumn, temperatures reaching 115 degrees; cold during the winter with temperatures reaching 2 degrees. Rain fall is limited year round due to a unique weather feature that occurs over the Park. When rain falls over most of the area the Park stays dry due to wind patterns. The westerlies blow up the Cajon Pass while the Santa Anas blow down the pass. They converge almost directly over the Park creating a circular pattern in the atmosphere. The saturated clouds follow the wind and circle around the Park, leaving the Park dry. The Park also has a few micro climates. The west side of the park side throughout the Horseshoe campground and the east side of the Park around Pelican Lake,the temperature is worm. In the middle of the park, to the east side of Horseshoe Lake through the equestrian center the temperature is unusually 5 degree cooler them the west and east sides. Under the canopy of the riparian forest is always a good 8 degrees cooler than anywhere else on the park, due to the trees keeping the heat out of their understory. With this unique ecology, Mojave Narrows Regional Park is one of the best places in California to view hundreds of animal and plant species with just a drive or short walk through the Park.
Wildlife and Where to Find It:	Vehicle, walking trails (difficulty varies by trail), natural overlooks, boating, and horseback.
Viewing Tips:	Fishing- year round. Camping year round with the peak season being summer. Horseback riding year round. Picnicing year round. Birding-year round. Migratory water fowl-fall and winter. Reptiles and amphibians-spring and summer. Mammals-year round.Raptors-year round
Site Notes:	The Park is nestled in the Mojave River Basin. Beautiful Rubber Rabbit bush scrub line the west boundary. Desert Wetlands to the north. Mojave River Riparian forest on the east. Two wonderful lakes lined with mature Cottonwood and Sycamore trees conected by a majestic, meandering creek. We hope you will get the true sense of a Natural Wildlife area upon your visit to the Park. As you explore the Park your senses will be tingling as our Great Blue Herons glide over head. You will enjoy the aerial showmanship of our flocking birds soaring from one cluster of trees to another in great numbers while offering up whimsical stunts in the sky. Your eyes will also be drawn to the sky surrounding Pelican Lake as our variety of Raptor species take to the sky showing off their great flying and diving skills. You will be certain to remember the distant sounds of Coyotes communicating to one another as they become cloaked by the coat tail of darkness. You will laugh at some of the skunks and ground squirrels as they appear to take on the role of class clowns with the park as their playground.
Nearby Viewing Sites:	None within 10 miles.
Visitor Information:	VICTORVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - (760)245-6506 - www.vvchamber.com
Viewing Site Hours of Operation are:
Staff On-site:	Yes
Open:	Everday
Hours:	Winter: M-Th 7:30am-5:00pm,F-Sat. 7:30am-10:00pm
Year Round:	Yes
Road Information:	Paved.  Dirt.
	Road Hazards: none
	Number of Parking Spaces: 500
	Parking Fee: Yes
	Proximity to viewing area:from 2 feet to a half mile.
	Pull-Through Parking: Yes
	Parking Notes:
How to Get There:	Take Highway 15 to Victorville. Exit Bear Valley Road. Go East on Bear Valley Road (approx. 5 miles). Turn North on Ridgecrest Road. Ridgecrest Road becomes Yates Road and the Park is to the North side of Yates Road (approx. 2 miles).
Contact Information
Managing Agency:	San Bernardino County Regional Parks
Agency Site URL:	www.county-parks.com
Physical Address:	18000 YATES ROAD VICTORVILLE, CA 92392	Agency 2:	PO BOX 361 VICTORVILLE, CA 92393
Manager Phone:	760-220-2850	Contact Us:	by Email
Site Phone:	760-245-2226
County:	SAN BERNARDINO
Addition Website: