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5.14 Parks and Recreation

fishing. Pyramid Lake also offers picnicking opportunities along its 21 miles of shoreline and
camping locations (DWR 2016).

Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area
The Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) is the second largest unit of
California State Park’s Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division and is located
approximately three miles west of the Project site, as measured from the Quail Lake vicinity.
Hungry Valley offers 19,000 acres and over 130 miles of scenic trails for motorcycles, all-
terrain vehicles (ATVs), dune buggies, and 4x4 vehicle recreation as well as hikers and
bicyclists. Although primarily an off-highway vehicle (OHV) facility, there are additional
trails and areas of the park that are only accessible to hikers and bicyclists. Elevations at
Hungry Valley range from 3,000 feet above mean sea level (msl) to nearly 6,000 feet above
msl (CDPR 2015c).

Antelope Valley California Poppy State Reserve

The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve was established to protect and perpetuate
outstanding displays of native wildflowers, particularly the California poppy (Eschscholzia
californica), which is the state flower. This 1,745-acre State Reserve, nestled in the Antelope
Buttes, is approximately 20 miles east of the Project site at an elevation ranging from
2,600 feet above msl to 3,000 feet above msl; it is located on California’s most consistent
poppy-bearing public land. Other wildflowers in the reserve include owl’s clover (Castilleja
exserta ssp. Exserta), lupine (Lupinus sp.), goldfield (Lasthenia californica), cream cups
(Platystemon californicus), and coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata). Eight miles of trails,
including a paved section for wheelchair access, wind through the wildflower fields. The
reserve is a natural area, where only day use (hiking and picnicking) is allowed. Activities
include exhibits and programs, guided tours, hiking trails, and nature trails. Facilities include
parking, picnic areas, restrooms, and a visitor center (CDPR 2015d).

Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park

Added to the State Park system in 1988, the 566-acre Ripley Desert Woodland State Park is
located approximately 5 miles west of the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve on
th
Lancaster Road (an extension of West Avenue I) at 210 Street West, and approximately
15 miles southeast of the Project site. The park protects and preserves a large stand of native
Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) and juniper trees (Juniperus sp.), which once grew in great
abundance throughout the Antelope Valley. Today, only remnants of this woodland
community remain in the valley. Facilities at the park primarily include hiking trails (CDPR
2015e).

Fort Tejon State Historic Park

Fort Tejon State Historic Park (SHP) is located off Interstate (I) 5 at the Fort Tejon exit near
the top of Grapevine Canyon. Fort Tejon was originally built to protect and control the Native
Americans who were living on the Sebastian Indian Reservation, and to protect both Native
Americans as well as white settlers from raids by the Paiutes, Chemeheui, Mojave, and other
native groups of the desert regions to the southeast. The park has many restored adobe
structures that were part of the original Fort, and the park offers guided tours, exhibits,

R:\Projects\PAS\CEN\000306\Draft EIR\5.14 ParkRec-051117.docx 5.14-10 Centennial Project
Draft EIR