Rodman Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Rodman Mountains are located in the Mojave Desert
, in San Bernardino County, California
, United States
. The range is located south of Interstate 40
and Newberry Springs
, and east of the Ord Mountains
and northwest of the Bullion Mountains
. They are 30 miles southeast of Barstow, California
.
One of the Cinder cone
s of the Lavic Lake volcanic field
are in the range, with the other three including Pisgah Crater
beyond to the east.
managed the Rodman Mountains Wilderness Area. A series of ridges and valleys climbing from 2,000 feet to almost 5,000 feet are the result of faults which cross this wilderness. A lava flow slices this area in two from northwest to southeast, forming a sloping mesa.
Colorful escarpments, calico-colored mountains, maze-like canyons and broad, majestic bajada
s come together here. Steep canyons and cliff-like walls form dry falls along deep drainage channels, creating cascades during heavy rain storms. More than a half dozen natural water "tanks" sit within the lava flow. Two of the tanks, Hidden Tank and Deep Tank, hold thousands of gallons of water, drawing wildlife.
One of only seven core raptor
breeding areas in the Mojave Desert
is within this wilderness, where prairie falcon
s and golden eagle
s are known to survive. The mountains themselves are part of the historic range of the Desert Bighorn Sheep
. While sheep have not been spotted here, this wildlife species has been seen in the nearby Newberry Mountains
.
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
, in San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The range is located south of Interstate 40
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
and Newberry Springs
Newberry Springs, California
Newberry Springs is an unincorporated area in the western Mojave Desert of Southern California, located at the foot of the Newberry Mountains in San Bernardino County, California, USA...
, and east of the Ord Mountains
Ord Mountains
The Ord Mountains are located in the Mojave Desert of southern California, USA. The range lies in a generally east-west direction, and reaches an elevation of above sea level at East Ord Mountain. The range is approximately long, and is about southeast of the city of Barstow. The Ord Mountains...
and northwest of the Bullion Mountains
Bullion Mountains
The Bullion Mountains are located in the Mojave Desert of California southeast of the city of Barstow. The mountain range stretches for approximately 50 miles in a northwest-southeasterly direction north of Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms....
. They are 30 miles southeast of Barstow, California
Barstow, California
Barstow is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 22,639 at the 2010 census, up from 21,119 at the 2000 census. Barstow is located north of San Bernardino....
.
One of the Cinder cone
Cinder cone
According to the , Cinder Cone is the proper name of 1 cinder cone in Canada and 7 cinder cones in the United States:In Canada: Cinder Cone In the United States:...
s of the Lavic Lake volcanic field
Lavic Lake volcanic field
The Lavic Lake volcanic field is a volcanic field with extinct cinder cones in the Mojave Desert, in San Bernardino County, California, United States...
are in the range, with the other three including Pisgah Crater
Pisgah Crater
Pisgah Crater, or Pisgah Volcano, is a young volcanic cinder cone rising above a lava plain in the Mojave Desert, between Barstow and Needles, California in San Bernardino County, California. The volcanic peak is around south of historic U.S...
beyond to the east.
Rodman Mountains Wilderness Area
The mountains are home to the Bureau of Land ManagementBureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
managed the Rodman Mountains Wilderness Area. A series of ridges and valleys climbing from 2,000 feet to almost 5,000 feet are the result of faults which cross this wilderness. A lava flow slices this area in two from northwest to southeast, forming a sloping mesa.
Colorful escarpments, calico-colored mountains, maze-like canyons and broad, majestic bajada
Alluvial fan
An alluvial fan is a fan-shaped deposit formed where a fast flowing stream flattens, slows, and spreads typically at the exit of a canyon onto a flatter plain. A convergence of neighboring alluvial fans into a single apron of deposits against a slope is called a bajada, or compound alluvial...
s come together here. Steep canyons and cliff-like walls form dry falls along deep drainage channels, creating cascades during heavy rain storms. More than a half dozen natural water "tanks" sit within the lava flow. Two of the tanks, Hidden Tank and Deep Tank, hold thousands of gallons of water, drawing wildlife.
One of only seven core raptor
Bird of prey
Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....
breeding areas in the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
is within this wilderness, where prairie falcon
Prairie Falcon
The Prairie Falcon is a medium-sized falcon of western North America.It is about the size of a Peregrine Falcon or a crow, with an average length of 40 cm , wingspan of 1 metre , and weight of 720 g...
s and golden eagle
Golden Eagle
The Golden Eagle is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas...
s are known to survive. The mountains themselves are part of the historic range of the Desert Bighorn Sheep
Desert Bighorn Sheep
The Desert Bighorn Sheep is a subspecies of Bighorn Sheep that occurs in the desert Southwest regions of the United States and in the northern regions of Mexico. The trinomial of this species commemorates the American naturalist Edward William Nelson...
. While sheep have not been spotted here, this wildlife species has been seen in the nearby Newberry Mountains
Newberry Mountains (California)
The Newberry Mountains of California are located southeast of Barstow in the Mojave Desert, in San Bernardino County, California. The Rodman Mountains lie to the southeast of the range, while the Ord Mountains lie to the southwest.Historic U.S...
.