Jawbone Canyon

Jawbone Canyon is a geographic feature in the Mojave Desert and a Bureau of Land Management area located in Kern County, California. Located 20 miles north of Mojave on CA 14, the area is a popular destination for hikers and off road vehicle enthusiasts.

Contents

History

Europeans first settled in the canyon around 1860—naming it Jawbone because its shape resembled a mandible[1]—and the trail was used as a trade route from Keyesville into the Piute Mountains. During the Kern River gold rush, several gold mines operated in the canyon; the most successful of these, the St. John mine, yielded nearly $700,000 worth of gold between 1860 and 1875. The Gwynn mine, on the Geringer Grade, ran six claims yielding a total of $770,000 worth of gold and quartz before ceasing operations in 1942. Mining continued throughout the 1940s, mainly focused on rhyolite and antimony. [2]

The area has been used for recreation since the early 20th century. A scientific study, published in 1983, shows that extensive environmental damage had been caused by off road vehicles operating in Jawbone Canyon.[3] Although off-roading is still permitted in the recreation area, as the Jawbone-Butterbredt Area of Critical Environmental Concern riders are restricted to established trails.[4]

Features

See also

Articles

Index

References

  1. ^ Gudde, Erwin G.; Bright, William (2004). California Place Names. University of California Press. p. 183. ISBN 0520242173. 
  2. ^ a b Massey, Peter; Wilson, Jeanne (2006). Backcountry Adventures Southern California. Adler Publishing. p. 187. ISBN 1930193262. http://books.google.com/books?id=HjMozd3dBjoC&pg=PT187&dq=#v=onepage&q=&f=false. 
  3. ^ Webb, Robert H.; Wilshire, Howard G. (1983). Environmental effects of off-road vehicles: impacts and management in arid regions. Springer-Verlag. ISBN 0387907378. 
  4. ^ Jenkins, Jim C.; Jenkins, Ruby J. (1992). Exploring the Southern Sierra. p. 28. ISBN 0899971288. http://books.google.com/books?id=iLCoCjfNnq4C&pg=PA28&dq=#v=onepage&q=&f=false. 
  5. ^ "CA4933: Los Angeles Aqueduct Jawbone Canyon Siphon". Center for Land Use Interpretation. http://www.clui.org/clui_4_1/ludb/sites/CA4933.html. Retrieved January 2, 2010. 
  6. ^ Huegel, Tony (2001). Sierra Nevada Byways: Backcountry Drives for the Whole Family. p. 52. ISBN 089997273X. http://books.google.com/books?id=BuruHIpyRSwC&pg=PA52&dq=#v=onepage&q=&f=false. 
  7. ^ Massey, Peter (2006). California Trails Central Mountains Region. Adler Publishing. p. 104. ISBN 193019319X. http://books.google.com/books?id=d5IdAYVc3nkC&pg=PA104&dq=#v=onepage&q=&f=false. 

External links