The sierra and its plants

With 500 taxa of plants, nearly all native to the region, the Parque Nacional de la Sierra San Pedro Mártir is a plant lover’s playground. This scientific paper from 2010 gives an introduction to the flora of the mountain range and list of the plants that can be found there. We (Alan Harper, Sula Vanderplank, and Jon Rebman) have updated the list of plants with the discoveries we have made and the changes in nomenclature that have taken place since 2010.

The park is easy to access — there is a paved road from Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, with ample campsites and limited roads. Much of the park is only accessible by foot or on horseback, so bring a good map and sturdy boots. (Don’t count on internet access while you are in the park, make sure you have downloaded everything you need to your phone.) And be sure to bring a field guide!

Regional map of the Sierra San Pedro Mártir. (From A Guide to the Flora of the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir. ©2021)
Detail map of the Sierra San Pedro Mártir. (From A Guide to the Flora of the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir. ©2021)