Sand to Snow National Monument, 154,000 acres (62,000 hectares) in the San Bernadino Mountains, S Calif. It rises from the Sonoran Desert floor to Mount San Gorgonio (11,503 ft/3,506 m), the highest peak in S California. The diverse lands in the monument include desert lowlands, scrub and woodlands, chaparral, coniferous forests, and alpine ecosystems. It is home to numerous animal species, including bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, black bears, mountain lions, and rattlesnakes, and is frequented by many bird species. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail traverses the monument.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. National Park System
