Wildlife Crossings in Action: A guided field trip through the Jacumba Mountains and In-Ko-Pah Gorge
Tour the Jacumba Mountains and In-Ko-Pah gorge – site of a future wildlife crossing structure – with a project proponent and regional conservation organization, Wildlands Network. Interstate 8 winds through this rugged canyon full of boulders, 4-ft barrel cactus and endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep. Learn about the bighorn ewe group that dodges traffic every year to raise their young and how the crossing project plans to protect their nursery grounds and the drivers travelling through it. You’ll learn why habitat connectivity equals climate resiliency in the hot and dry Colorado Desert. Learn more here: https://i8wildlifecrossing.org/
Stops will include: Desert View Tower, a scenic overlook of the Jacumba Mountains; the future wildlife crossing site, Imperial Valley Desert Museum, and the iconic Jacumba Hot Springs Hotel.
Jump on a bus, with local experts as your guide, for this unique conservation field trip to see firsthand the impact of wildlife crossings.
Field Trip Itinerary:
Please note this is a general timeline and times may vary depending on traffic and day-of conditions.
9:00am: Meet at Fashion Valley Mall
10:15am: Stop #1, Desert View Tower (30 min): Island overview and project description by Christina and Devin
10:55am: Stop #2 (5 min): Pull off at highway mortality hot spot and approximate future crossing location
11:10am: : Stop #3, Imperial Valley Desert Museum (30 min): Self-guided museum tou
11:50am: Stop #4, Devil’s Canyon (5 min): Pull off prior to Devil’s Canyon underpasses
12:10pm: Stop #5, Lunch at Long Shadow (1 hr)
1:10pm: Drive back to San Diego
~2:00pm: Arrive back at Fashion Valley
What to bring: Water bottle, comfortable shoes, sun protection, and snacks. Lunch will be provided.
Field trip will depart from the Fashion Valley Mall, the parking lot right outside JCPenney, at 9am. We’ll send an email a few days before confirming all details.