Description

"Friends of Juniper Flats" (FOJF) is a 501(c)(3)organization dedicated to preserving Juniper Flats, the attractive hilly desert area, actually the northern foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains, to the east of Hesperia and south of Apple Valley.

The Flats feature several riparian areas, rare in the high desert, which attract a range of wildlife, including vireos, great horned owls, eagles, and a host of other birdlife, horned lizards, and bobcats. Coyotes and jackrabbits abound. Particularly in the spring, there is an abundance of wildflowers to enjoy: poppies, desert sage, yucca, Indian paintbrush and dudleya, to mention just a few. Juniper Flats, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), includes Cottonwood Springs, which has been designated as an “area of critical environmental concern” (ACEC). Other springs in the past had supported a Native American population. Ruins dating to the pre-Columbian era have been documented.

Juniper Flats is popular for outdoor recreation activities, including hiking, horse back riding and dirt biking or 4x4 driving. Motor vehicles are allowed only on specifically designated brown marker "open routes".

Friends of Juniper Flats (FOJF) was formed as non-profit making organization (under IRS code s501(c)(3)), with several goals in mind:
To educate the public about the area;
To educate the public about how to protect the area;
To promote responsible use of the area;
To work with the BLM in protecting the area; and
To work with the BLM in restoring the area.

In the last year, FOJF was active in the following:
Wrote letters, emails and made telephone calls to the BLM; monitored the area and submitted monthly observation reports to the BLM; notified BLM of broken or missing signs; open mine-shafts, broken fences, etc. We worked with the BLM and several youth groups in trail restoration, and cleaned up Arrastre Falls.

We also have great day and moonlight hikes, other activities. JOIN US!!