Calflora Home GREAT PLACES
TO VIEW NATIVE PLANTS
Mount Pinos
KEYWORDS:   iris meadow, sub-alpine, montane chaparral, mixed coniferous forest, fall color
ABOUT 
About one hour drive from the greater Los Angeles area. Has seasons. Iris blooms in great drifts in late spring, other wetland plants make it like a huge vernal pool at a high altitude. Sometimes condors can be seen. Summer on the flat rocky summit which you have to hike to has sub-alpine cushion-mat type plants in rocky scree. Fall has black oaks in bright colors. Snow play in winter. Great views on clear days. The road up follows the San Andreas Fault with typical features like sag ponds and scarps. Always cool.

TIPS FOR YOUR VISIT 
  • Floras http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm9_033971.pdf http://tchester.org/plants/muns/wtr/mt_pinos.html http://tchester.org/plants/muns/wtr/mt_pinos_summit.html http://www.cnpsci.org/html/PlantInfo/MtPinosPlantsChecklist.pdf Photo Galleries http://www.calflora.net/recentfieldtrips/mtpinos10.html http://www.calflora.net/recentfieldtrips/mtpinos08.html http://www.calflora.org/app/ipl?vrid=gr16655 Narratives Program Report: Mount Pinos High, June 2015 http://www.syvnature.org/field-trip-report-mount-pinos-high/ Ecology and Ecophysiology of a Subalpine Fellfield Community on Mount Pinos, Southern California https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Philip_Rundel/publication/232680407_Ecology_and_Ecophysiology_of_a_Subalpine_Fellfield_Community_on_Mount_Pinos_Southern_California/links/00b7d52b4cbcee8ad7000000.pdf?origin=publication_detail
  • MORE INFORMATION AND CONTACTS 
    USFS: Los Padres National Forest
    Mt Pinos Ranger District
    CNPS CHAPTER AREA: :   Kern

    AREA OF THE POLYGON::   6,189 acres
    DENSITY::   0.438 native species per acre
    Thanks to  Jane Strong  for contributing this great place.