California Juniper, Juniperus californica

California Juniper fruit

As you climb into the desert mountains, the presence of the California Juniper may be one of the first signs that a pinyon-juniper woodland lies ahead. This is true if you walk along Plum Wash and look into the Pinyon Mountains. It is true if you walk up the ridge east of Clark Dry Lake and head toward Villager Peak. When you actually enter a pinyon-juniper woodland, of course, as in the Pinyon Mountain Valley on the way to Whale Peak, is when you start to see this plant in abundance. One very large California Juniper can be seen near the north parking spaces at Culp Valley camp.

Family Cypress.