SBC Through Your Eyes: Providence Mountains State Recreation Area

County Destinations | CountyWire | Photos | Uncategorized
A rocky hillside with a trail leads to a cave entrance. Several people are walking along the path.

"San Bernardino County Update", yellow arrowhead and "SBCounty.gov
A rocky hillside with a trail leads to a cave entrance. Several people are walking along the path.
A stone building with mountain in the background. In the foreground, a pole displays the United States and California flags.
Limestone formations with varying textures and shades of brown and beige.
Rocky hills surrounded by cacti.
Cave featuring limestone formations hanging from the ceiling.
A rocky hill with two cave openings in the foreground. The sky is clear with a few wispy clouds, and a tree stands to the right.
Two people stand on a winding path inside the Mitchell Caverns surrounded by limestone formations.

We would like to thank Gary Mumaw of Rancho Cucamonga for submitting incredible photos that capture the beauty of the Mojave Desert.

Providence Mountains State Recreation Area is a remote Mojave Desert park and the home of the Mitchell Caverns. The caverns contain limestone formations along with wildlife, such as bats and tiny pseudoscorpions. The park was originally a private tourist retreat operated by Jack and Ida Mitchell from the 1930s to the 1950s and later became a state recreation area in 1972.

Visitors can explore two main caves, El Pakiva and Tecopa, where temperatures inside the caverns vary slightly from chamber to chamber, but generally range in the 60s. The park also features trails, including the Cave Trail, Mary Beal Nature Trail and Niña Mora Trail. For more information about the Providence Mountains State Recreation Area, please visit the California State Parks website.

Additional County Update News – May 21, 2026

More from County Destinations, CountyWire, Photos, Uncategorized
Board Actions, May 19
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center nurse honored with the 2026 National Circle of Excellence Award
San Bernardino County’s increasing household incomes and population growth drive retail investment and expansion