Crater Mountain WSA

Crater Mountain is a cinder cone located outside of Big Pine and is a Wilderness Study Area (WSA). Only Congress can designate wilderness, but areas meeting many of the wilderness characteristics were evaluated as Wilderness Study Areas. These areas can be designated wilderness, released, or not addressed. Until WSAs are addressed, management should not decrease their wilderness value.

Part of my job is simply to learn our resource area, so on monday I decided to take a visit to Crater Mountain. I hiked the 700 feet to the top, over areas of volcanic rock...not a hike for the weak of ankles! I was hoping to see the introduced tule elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes) herd, but didn't come across them. There were some baby lizards running around and a few bird species, including Rock Wren, Western Scrub-jay, and what appeared to be a migrating group of Black Swifts.

Crater Mountain from Highway 395

volcanic rock

summit registry

looking down from the top