CIENEGA CANYON PRESERVE

The 358-acre Cienega Canyon Preserve is located in San Timoteo Canyon in the city of Calimesa and borders on the city of Beaumont. It is an area of diverse habitats including riparian woodland along a perennial creek, coastal sage scrub and chaparral on the steep rugged hillsides, oak woodland nestled the valleys and a seasonally-flooded cienega. Rivers & Lands Conservancy engages the public and other partners in habitat restoration programs, outdoor recreation, and education activities on the Preserve.

Cienega Canyon Preserve Access

Cienega Canyon Preserve has many trails to enjoy! Currently the preserve can be accessed in three locations as shown on the map below: Crenshaw Street Trailhead, O’grady Court Trailhead, and the Palmer Ave Utility Road Trailhead. Note the metal swing gate off San Timoteo Canyon Road remains locked and is accessible to authorized vehicles only.

The History of Cienega Canyon Preserve and Its Future!

Rivers & Lands Conservancy purchased Cienega Canyon Preserve in November 2002 to conserve open space for habitat conservation and public recreation. The property was purchased with grant funds from the State of California Wildlife Conservation Board, in the sum of $5,000,000.

In 2015 RLC launched with Acorn to Oaks Education Program to bring oak woodland ecology to the classrooms of Banning High School, and to bring their classrooms outdoors to the preserve. The program was successful, and has continued to be offered annually with the inclusion of Summerwind Middle School in 2022.

In the near future RLC will be putting together a Public Access and Recreation Plan for the Preserve. The Plan will help us determine how the public will best utilize the Preserve for their enjoyment and benefit, while ensuring the conservation values of the unique habitats onsite are maintained or enhanced.

What’s a Cienega?

Restoring and Protecting one of Southern California’s Rarest Habitats.

A cienega is a unique type of wetland found in the American southwest. Undisturbed Cienegas are characterized as wet meadows with permanently saturated soils typically in arid regions. The hydrology of many cienegas, including the namesake of our preserve, have been hydrologically altered or drained to make the land more suitable for agricultural or residential uses.

RLC is working to restore our cienega closer to historic conditions for the benefit of our native plants and wildlife, as well as for the water resource conservation value that is so important to our region.

YOU CAN HELP!

Volunteer!

Want to take part in the restoration efforts? Join us on one of our many restoration events in the Preserve! Click the button below to check out our web calendar of events at Cienega Canyon Preserve, as well as our other conservation properties in Southern California!

Check for Volunteer Opportunities

Support!

Donations to Cienega Canyon Preserve help to support stewardship and restoration of the preserve’s lands as well as planning efforts and the future implementation of natural resource protection and public amenities. We depend on grants and public support for this work and every donation, no matter how small or large, matters!

Thank you for helping our preserve thrive and remain protected for future generations!

Donate!

CIENEGA CANYON PRESERVE