Vast chaparral vistas and steep canyon streams near north San Diego County attract hikers, horseback riders and other visitors. The Wilderness Society wants to protect 21,000 acres of additional wilderness in two areas — Beauty Mountain and Agua Tibia — with bills introduced by Senator Barbara Boxer and Representative Darrell Issa.

Wild lands near the city

Northern San Diego County is close to both the Beauty Mountain and Agua Tibia wildlands. These areas feature:

• Unusual rock formations
• Scenic chaparral vistas
• Steep stream canyons
• Native American sacred places
• Wildlife corridors linking desert and coastal chaparral areas

San Diego is a tourist and outdoor destination. The Agua Tibia and Beauty Mountain areas help draw hikers, horseback riders and other visitors who come to escape nearby urban areas. Both the California Riding and Hiking Trail and the Cutca trail are popular.

Protecting wilderness

We are working with a coalition of residents, businesses and conservation partners to pass Rep. Darrell Issa’s bill that will add more than 21,000 acres of additional wilderness to Beauty Mountain and Agua Tibia.

These protections would add to protected wilderness already approved in 2009 in neighboring Riverside county.

Helpful links

• Wilderness.net:
  http://www.wilderness.net

• Friends of the River:
  http://www.friendsoftheriver.org/site/PageServer?pagename=NorthSanDiegoWilderness

• U-T San Diego editorial:
  http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2009/dec/21/aqua-tibia-editorial