Wild Lands & Rivers
Agua Tibia Proposed Wilderness Additions
Size: Approximately 2,031 acres
Management Agency: Cleveland National Forest and Bureau of Land Management
Location: Riverside County, southwest of Highway 79 and 1 mile south of Aguanga
Description:
The Agua Tibia Proposed Wilderness Addition is a land of steep canyons cloaked in coastal sage scrub habitat. This once-common plant community is quickly being replaced by development in much of southern California, a phenomenon that has rendered the Agua Tibia area a haven for the rosy boa, coast horned lizard and other sensitive species. In rugged, shady canyons, north-facing slopes, and other sheltered places, small groves of pine and fir endure the hot, dry summers. Willow, cottonwood and other hardwoods grow along the larger streams in the area and provide a cool refuge for wildlife. In the summer months, small pools of water in the canyon heat up, giving Agua Tibia its name - Spanish for warm water.
Visitors to the Agua Tibia are greeted with outstanding views in all directions. In recognition of the area’s recreational and ecological values, in 1991 the Bureau of Land Management recommended to the Secretary of Interior that the proposed additions be designated as wilderness.