Why Preserve Tejon Ranch?

Tejon Ranch is an invaluable piece of California 's natural heritage—a hotspot of biological diversity that lies at the confluence of four major ecological regions. It is a haven for rare and endemic species, ancient oak trees, endangered California condors, rare native vegetation communities and intact watersheds and streams—and all near the largest metropolitan area in California . That’s why Tejon Ranch is one the State’s highest conservation priorities.

The 270,000-acre ranch, the largest contiguous private property remaining in California , supports three distinct topographic regions. The southern side of the Ranch sits in the westernmost corner of the Mojave Desert , characterized by spectacular wildflower fields, extensive native grasslands, and magnificent Joshua tree woodlands. Moving north, the gentle terrain of the Mojave Desert transitions into the rugged Tehachapi Mountains, which are the southernmost extension of the Sierra Nevada Range and serve to connect the Sierra to the Coast Ranges of California. The Tehachapis are characterized by extensive and diverse oak woodlands, including some of the largest oak trees in California , and critical feeding habitat for the California condor adjacent to its primary nesting area in the region. Continuing north, the Tehachapi Mountains slope down to the level grasslands of the San Joaquin Valley , the last remaining natural habitat around the southern rim of the Valley, and essential for a variety of endangered species.

» Read more about the natural heritage of Tejon Ranch.
» Learn about the history of Tejon Ranch.