About Valentine Camp

Valentine Camp Facts

Administering Campus: UC Santa Barbara

Established: 1972

Location: Mono County, on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, on Old Mammoth Road in the town of Mammoth Lakes

Size: 63 ha (156 acres)

Latitude/Longitude:
37º37'30" N latitude
118º59'30"W longitude

USGS Maps: Old Mammoth 7.5'

Regional Elevation: 1,250 to 4,012 m (4,100 to 13,163 ft)

Site Elevation: 2,437 to 2,605 m (7,994 to 8,545 ft)

Average Precipitation: 51 to 64 cm (20 to 25 in) per year

Temperatures Range:
July maximum: 25°C (77°F)
January minimum: -10°C (14°F)

One of two Reserves in the Valentine Eastern Sierra Reserve, Valentine Camp became part of the University of California Natural Reserve System in 1972 and is administered by UC Santa Barbara. It is located on the Eastern Slope of the Sierra Nevada in the town of Mammoth Lakes.

Valentine Camp, comprised of 156 acres, has been protected from entry and grazing since the early 1900's and features remarkably pristine sub-alpine habitat including montane forest, montane chaparral, Great Basin sagebrush, high montane riparian vegetation, wet montane meadow, and seep and spring vegetation.

Valentine Camp has housing for 16 in three renovated log cabins constructed in the 1920's. Each cabin has modern cooking, sleeping, bathroom facilities; electricity; spring water; limited parking/storage space. There is no food or custodial service.

The VESR Reserve Director has an office and residence at Valentine’s sister Reserve, SNARL. A year-round resident caretaker lives at Valentine Camp.

NRS Publications: VESR Flora, 2nd ed. published 2000