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Description:
Bitter Creek Refuge was purchased to preserve and protect foraging habitat for the California condor. The refuge habitat is primarily grasslands with some pinyon pine-juniper community, scrub oak, and Bitter Creek riparian habitat. This refuge protects the habitat of a variety of plants and animals, including the endangered San Joaquin kit fox and blunt nosed leopard lizard. The last wild, free-ranging condor was trapped on the property and taken into captivity on April 19, 1987. Young condors released in California since 1992 occasionally use this important historic area for foraging and roosting. Directions:
The refuge is closed to visitors, but travelers can drive past the refuge along Highway 33/166 from the town of Maricopa, California. From Maricopa travelers should take Highway 33 west to Klipstein Canyon Road. Klipstein Canyon Road will transverse the refuge, giving the traveler a glimpse of the many wildlife habitat features the refuge provides. Klipstein Canyon Road will end at Cerro Noroeste Road. Travelers can turn right to return to Highway 33 or turn left following Cerro Noroeste Road to enjoy a scenic overlook of the refuge and the San Joaquin Valley. Along this road visitors may be privileged to see free flying condors foraging or passing along the high ridgelines in route to other foraging and roosting areas.
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