Granite Mountains (California)

This article is about a mountain range in eastern San Bernardino County, California. For other uses, see Granite Mountains.
Granite Mountains
Late afternoon view from Kelbaker Road
Highest point
Elevation2,062 m (6,765 ft)
Geography
Granite Mountains is located in California
Granite Mountains
Granite Mountains
Location of Granite Mountains in California[1]
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
RegionMojave Desert
DistrictSan Bernardino County
Range coordinates34°47′42.2″N 115°41′32.1″W / 34.795056°N 115.692250°W / 34.795056; -115.692250
Topo mapUSGS Leach Lake
Closer view of granite outcrop in the Granite Mountains.

The Granite Mountains is a small mountain range in eastern San Bernardino County, California, USA, in the Mojave Desert. The range stretches 10.7 mi (17.2 km) from Granite Pass to Budweiser Wash. The highest peaks of this mountain range are an unnamed peak, which is 6,738 ft (2,054 m) in elevation, and Granite Peak, which is 6,766 ft (2,062 m) in elevation.[2][3]

The Granite Mountains lies north of Interstate 40 and historic Route 66. The Providence Mountains are adjacent to the Granite Mountains to the northeast. The Bristol Mountains are directly to the west, the Old Woman Mountains are to the southeast, and Pisgah Crater and the Bullion Mountains are to the southwest. The Mountains lie east of the small community of Kelso, northeast of Ludlow, and north of Amboy.[2][3][4] This mountain range lies within the Mojave National Preserve, in the National Park Service system.[5]

The fauna and flora of the Granite Mountains are typical of this part of the Mojave Desert. Pinyon pine, juniper, and various shrubs and grasses characterize their higher elevations and north-facing slopes. Their lower elevations and south-facing slopes characteristically are more sparsely covered by yucca, cacti, creosote, and other shrubs. Numerous numerous springs and water seeps occur within these mountains.[4][5]

  1. ^ "Granite Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  2. ^ a b United States Geological Survey, 1956, Flynn Quadrangle California-San Bernardino CO. 15 Minute Series (Topographic), scale 1:62500
  3. ^ a b United States Geological Survey, 1957, Kerens Quadrangle California-San Bernardino CO. 15 Minute Series (Topographic), scale 1:62500
  4. ^ a b Howard, K.A., Kilburn, J.E., Simpson, R.W., Fitzgibbon, T.T., Detra, D.E., Raines, G.L., and Sabine, C., 1987. Mineral resources of the Bristol/Granite Mountains Wilderness Study Area, San Bernardino County, California. U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin no. 1712-C.18 pp.
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference SGMDRC024a was invoked but never defined (see the help page).