Nestled in a rural neighborhood in Riverside, the Mockingbird Canyon pictographs are a hidden gem. Believed to be the work of the native Luiseno Indians, this is an impressive set of San Luis Rey style polychrome pictographs painted on the ceiling of a granite rock shelter. The circles, nets, and lines are thought to represent the night sky and the Milky Way.
Read next
Rattlesnake Canyon Smelter and the Heartbreak Ridge Arrastra
Most people interested in the old mines of Southern California know about the old "Spanish" smelter on the eastern edge of the San Bernardino Mountains. It is just off Burns Canyon Road in Rattlesnake Canyon and is well-visited.
Chaparrosa Peak
There is nothing historical here, but this is a nice hike to a peak with great views just outside of Joshua Tree.
Directions
Getting There
The trailhead for this hike is at the visitor center in the Pioneertown Mountains Preserve, run by The Wildlands Conservancy.
Pipes Canyon
Pipes Canyon is a pleasant and easy hike. The trail heads out from the visitor center at the Pioneertown Mountains Preserve and follows the canyon up into a riparian habitat. The canyon is usually dry, but water does occasionally surface to support this isolated oasis.