n e ig h bor hoo ds
Where the
wild things are
Photos by eric reed
A coyote surveys his surroundings at Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park.
Critters of all sorts make their home in Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park, a place where humans play too Written by Amy Bentley
O
pen spaceS and wilderness areas are an important — and treasured — part of Riverside’s legacy. Residents enjoy many natural open space areas from the Santa Ana River corridor to the spectacular views atop Mount Rubidoux. There’s also Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park, a huge urban wilderness area adjacent to the Canyon Crest, Mission Grove and Sycamore Canyon Springs neighborhoods. With 1,400 acres, Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park is the largest open space reserve in the city. It features many well-developed trails of varying difficulty throughout the park and is a great place to walk, run, ride a mountain
bike and watch for birds. Trailheads can be found on Central Avenue, Box Springs Boulevard, Alessandro Boulevard and Canyon Crest Drive. “There are a lot of hills. You get a good workout and great views of the city when you get into some of the hilly areas,” said Andy Melendrez, Riverside councilman for Ward 4. It’s 13.5 miles around the perimeter of the park, and most of it remains undeveloped — which is how many people want it to stay. But that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot going on. Within the park’s boundaries live many animals like snakes, coyotes, rabbits and bobcats, as well as birds and desert plants. It’s also a preserve for the endangered Stephens’ kangaroo rat.
In the spring, wildflowers pop up all over, making a hike at that time of year a special outing filled with lots of eye candy. The park also is a great place for learning. Local school children take field trips so they can go on walks and gain an appreciation for nature and all that it offers. “They learn about the plants, and get a broader view of different habitats for animals like lizards and hawks and endangered species in the area,” Melendrez said. Furthering the park’s great educational value will be a new interpretive center planned for the area near the parking lot along Central Avenue. The new center “will elevate Rattlesnakes also are at home in the park.
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| riversidethemag.com | february-march 2013