Little San Bernardino Mountains

The Little San Bernardino Mountains are short peninsular range in southern California in the United States. They extend for approximately 40 mi (64 km) southeast from the San Bernardino Mountains through San Bernardino and Riverside counties to the northeast edge of the Salton Sea. The range separates the Coachella Valley on the west from the Mojave Desert on the east. The peaks vary in height from approximately 4,000-5,000 ft (1,200-1,650 m). The range highpoint is Quail Mountain (California), elevation 5,813' (1,772 m). The popular resort community of Palm Springs sits to the west of the range in the Coachella Valley.

Much of the eastern flank of the range is within Joshua Tree National Park. Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is also located in the Little San Bernadino Mountains. The oasis here contains one of the 10 largest cottonwood and willow riparian habitats in California. It was identified as an area of concern by the Bureau of Land Management in 1982. [ [http://www.bigmorongo.org/ Big Morongo Canyon Preserve Home Page] ]

The Colorado River Aqueduct, which provides drinking water for Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and San Diego, runs along the southwest edge of the mountains.

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