Yuha Buttes

How have the Yuha Buttes affected the region's history?

The Yuha Buttes provide incredible views of the Yuha Desert, are a crucial part of this desert's history and ecosystem, and are home to many unique desert species. The Buttes feature multiple historical and cultural sites including geoglyphs, fossilized oyster beds, and a historic well that once served indigenous people and explorers traveling through the desert. The Yuha Buttes also hold geological evidence of when the Imperial Valley was part of the Gulf of California and the creation of Ancient Lake Cahuilla by the wild untamed Colorado River.

Did you know that...

Yuha means, ‘there is water’, in Kumeyaay? This further demonstrates evidence of the original inhabitants of this region who have been here, as they say, 'since the beginning', with a vibrant and rich history dating back over 10,000 years. Already known to the Kumeyaay as a source of water in the dry desert, De Anza named this site, Santa Rosa de las Lajas, which translates to Santa Rosa of the Flat Rocks. This site was used on March 8, 1774 by Juan Bautista De Anza’s first exploration expedition. The wells were not ready to use upon arrival, so De Anza and his men had to deepen the wells in order to get the water flowing again.