Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park

Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park is located within the Baja California Peninsula, in the state of Baja California, municipality of Ensenada in northwestern Mexico.

Covering an area of 72,909 ha (180,160 acres), the National Park encompasses one of the few pine forests on the Baja Peninsula. It is part of the Sierra Juarez and San Pedro Martir Pine-oak Forests ecoregion and is known for its pine and cypress trees, granite rock formations, and snow-capped mountains in the winter.

The National Park is located within the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir mountain range, part of the Peninsular Ranges System. The Peninsular Ranges are a series of six coastal mountain ranges that run from north to south along the entire length of the Baja California Peninsula.

The park's terrain exhibits drastic topological change and is home to Devil's Peak (Picacho del Diablo), the highest peak in Baja California, at 3,096 m (10,157 ft) asl. It is located on the east side of the park.

Flora and Fauna

The Sierra de San Pedro Mártir is an example of a "sky island" where species have been separated from others that live in adjacent high-elevation areas by their inability to cross the intervening hotter, drier low-elevation lands.

This physical isolation has permitted genetic drift among several local plant and animal populations, producing variations found only here. Such species and subspecies are known as endemics.

The forest is an important habitat for native Bighorn Sheep. In addition, the park is home to the re-introduced California Condor. Other faunas include mule deer, bighorn sheep, cougar, bobcat and coyote.

Park Features

The National Astronomical Observatory is located within the National Park at 2,830 m (9,280 ft). Built in 1975, the observatory takes advantage of the location's high elevation, typically clear skies, low relative humidity, low atmospheric pollution, low light pollution and low levels of radio interference.

Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park is popular with hikers. There are a number of marked trails throughout the park that are well-maintained.