Stepladder Mountains

{{short description|Mountain range in southern California, United States}}

{{Infobox mountain

| name = Stepladder Mountains

| native_name =

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| photo = Stepladder Mountains.jpg

| photo_caption = Stepladder Mountains

| country = United States

| state = California

| region =

| district = San Bernardino County

| topo_map = Stepladder Mountains

| topo_maker = USGS

| border =

| range_coordinates = {{coord|34|33|47.023|N|114|51|47.887|W|type:mountain_scale:300000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| highest =

| elevation_m = 806

| coordinates =

| length_mi = | length_orientation =

| width_mi = | width_orientation =

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| map = California

| map_caption = location of Stepladder Mountains in California{{cite gnis|id=249911|name=Stepladder Mountains|access-date=2009-05-04}}

}}

The Stepladder Mountains are located in southeastern California in the United States. The range, found in San Bernardino County, is home to the 84,199-acre (approximate) Stepladder Mountains Wilderness, which protects the Desert tortoise, California's state reptile. The mountains are located east of the Old Woman Mountains and north of the Turtle Mountains, about {{convert|29|mi|km}} southeast of the town of Essex.

The dominant vegetation consists of creosote bush scrub on the bajadas, and microphylla woodlands within the washes; palo verde, smoketree, and catclaw are typically the trees found in the woodlands. A small stand of crucifixion thorn and a dense stand of teddy bear cholla are also found in the area. Wildlife is typical for the Mojave Desert; including coyote, black-tailed jackrabbits, ground squirrels, kangaroo rats, quail, roadrunners, rattlesnakes, and several species of lizards.