Angeles National Forest

The San Gabriel Mountains, part of the Angeles National Forest. The southwest view from Islip Saddle shows Bear Creek, a tributary of the San Gabriel River that lies within the San Gabriel Wilderness, and Twin Peaks (7761 feet / 2365 m).

Angeles National Forest, near Los Angeles

The east fork of the San Gabriel River is one of the most visited sites in the entire National Forest system.

Along the Icehouse Canyon Trail in the Angeles National Forest.

The Angeles National Forest (ANF) of the U.S. National Forest Service is located in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, southern California. It was established on July 1, 1908, incorporating the first San Bernardino National Forest and parts of the former Santa Barbara and San Gabriel National Forests. It covers 655,387 acres (1,024.0 sq mi; 2,652.3 km²) and is located just north of the densely inhabited metropolitan area of Los Angeles.

A small part extends eastward into southwestern San Bernardino County, in the Mount San Antonio ("Mount Baldy") area. A tiny section also extends westward into northeastern Ventura County, in the Lake Piru area. Forest headquarters are in Arcadia, California.

The Angeles National Forest manages the habitats, flora and fauna ecosystems, and watersheds. Some of the rivers with watersheds within its boundaries provide valuable non-groundwater recharge water for Southern California. The existing protected and restored native vegetation absorb and slow surface runoff of rainwater to minimize severe floods and landslides in adjacent communities.^[1] The land within the Forest is diverse, both in appearance and terrain. Elevations range from 365 meters to 3,067 m (1,200 to 10,064 ft). The Pacific Crest Trail crosses the forest.

Natural history

Much of this National Forest is covered with dense chaparral shrub forests with oak woodlands, which changes to pine and fir-covered slopes in the higher elevations.

Tree species for which the forest is important include bigcone Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga macrocarpa), Coulter Pine (Pinus coulteri), and California Walnut (Juglans californica). The National Forest also contains some 29,000 acres (12,000 ha) of old growth, with: Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi) forests and mixed conifer forests (Coast Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii), Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa), and White Fir (Abies concolor)), and Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta) the most abundant types.^[2]

Access

A National Forest Adventure Pass is required for parking at many locations in the Angeles National Forest and other National Forests in Southern California, and this can be obtained online or from visitor centers and local merchants.^[3] Los Angeles County has declared that passes are not required on county-maintained roads. There are also many other areas that do not require the pass.

Wilderness areas

The Angeles National Forest does contain three nationally-designated wilderness areas:

• the Cucamonga Wilderness
• the San Gabriel Wilderness
• the Sheep Mountain Wilderness.

History

The San Gabriel Forest Reserve was established on December 20, 1892, the San Bernardino Forest Reserve on February 25, 1893, and the Santa Barbara Forest Reserve on December 22, 1903. They became National Forests on March 4, 1907, and they were combined on July 1, 1908, with all of the San Bernardino forest and portions of San Gabriel forest and Santa Barbara forest composing the new Angeles National Forest. On September 30, 1925, portions of the Angeles National Forest and the Cleveland National Forest were detached to re-establish the San Bernardino National Forest.^[4]

The PBS series Reading Rainbow was shot its episode "And Still the Turtle Watched" here in 1993.

Station wildfire

More than 161,000 acres (650 km²) of the forest were burned by an arson fire that began on August 26, 2009, near Angeles Crest Highway in La Cañada and quickly spread, fueled by dry brush that had not burned for over 150 years. The fire burned for more than a month and was the worst in Los Angeles County history, charring one-fourth of the forest (250 square miles), displacing wildlife, and destroying 91 homes, cabins and outbuildings and the family-owned Hidden Springs cafe. During the fire, two firefighters died after driving off the Mt.Gleason County Road looking for an alternate route to get the inmates out at Camp 16.

The "Station Fire" threatened the Mount Wilson Observatory atop Mt. Wilson. The site includes two telescopes, two solar towers, and transmitters for 22 television stations, several FM radio stations, and police and fire department emergency channels.

Ranger Districts

• Santa Clara/Mojave Rivers District
  • Station: Santa Clarita

• Los Angeles River District
  • Station: San Fernando

• San Gabriel River District
  • Station: Glendora

Statistics and general information

General

• Acres of land: 655,387 (2652 km²)
• Wilderness areas acres: 80,284 (324.9 km²)
• Miles of roads: 1,032 (1661 km)
• Visitor centers: 4
• Information centers: 4
• Fire lookout towers: 2
• Recreational residences: 505
• Picnic areas: 36
• Campgrounds: 66
• Ski areas: 2
• Entrance stations: 2

Trails

• Trailheads: 53
• Trail miles: 697 (1122 km)
• Off highway vehicle areas: 3
• Off highway vehicle route miles: 261 (420 km)

Natural features

• Wilderness areas: 5
• Lakes and reservoirs: 10
• Rivers and stream miles: 240

Sensitive species

• Sensitive plant: 22
• Sensitive wildlife: 23
• Threatened & endangered species: 16

Mountain peaks

Mountain peaks within the National Forest include:

• Mount San Antonio 3,067 m (10,064 ft) also known as "Mt. Baldy"
• Pine Mountain 2,940 m (9,648 ft)
• Dawson Peak 2,918 m (9,575 ft)
• South Mount Hawkins 2,372 m (7,783') Lookout destroyed in Curve Fire 2002
• Vetter Mountain 1,800 m (5,908 ft) Site of historic Vetter Mountain Fire lookout tower
• Mount Wilson 1,740 m (5,710 ft) also providing the location of the Mount Wilson Observatory
• Mount Islip 2,514m (8,250 ft) Site of historic Mt. Islip fire lookout tower [1]
• Mount Baden-Powell
• Mount Burnham
• Throop Peak
• Mount Disappointment (California)
• Echo Mountain
• Mount Harwood
• Iron Mountain (Los Angeles County)
• Mount Lowe (California)
• San Gabriel Peak
• Telegraph Peak
• Mount Lukens 1547 m (5,074 ft)
• Mount Gleason (6,502 ft)
• Waterman Mountain

Water sports

• Pyramid Lake is located next to Interstate 5 (take Smokey Bear exit), 20 miles (32 km) north of Magic Mountain Amusement Park in Valencia, CA.
• Castaic Lake is located 7 miles (11 km) north of Magic Mountain Amusement Park in Valencia, CA just off Interstate 5 (take Lake Hughes exit.) The lake is managed by the L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation
• Elizabeth Lake is located approximately 10 miles (16 km) west of Palmdale, CA on Elizabeth Lake Rd.

Volunteer organizations

• Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association
• Altadena Mountain Rescue Team
• Sierra Madre Search & Rescue
• San Gabriel Mountain Trailbuilders - California's elite trail repair group
• Angeles Volunteer Association - Organizes Visitor Center information, trail repair, and a broad spectrum of forestry efforts
• Fisheries Resource Volunteer Corps
• San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team - Highly trained mountain rescue team

Gallery

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  Jackson Lake

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  Mount Hardwood from Devils Backbone

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  Mount Islip

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Angeles National Forest

Los Angeles portal

• Henninger Flats
• Los Padres National Forest - adjacent northwest
• Los Padres National Forest - adjacent southeast

References

Additional reading

• Russ Leadabrand, A Guide o the San Gabriel Mountains of California (L. A.: Ritche Press, 1963).
• John W. Robinson, The San Gabriels: Southern California Mountain Country (San Marino: Goldwest Books, 1977).
• W. W. Robinson, The Forest and the People: The Story of the Angeles National Forest (LA: Title and Trust Insurance co., 1946).

External links

• Official Angeles National Forest website - at National Forest Service
• Outdoor LA Hiking Trails - Hiking trails in the area with maps and directions to the trailheads.
• Crystal Lake Recreation Area - Largest campground in the Angeles National Forest
• Southern California Trails at Local Hikes
• Dark Behind It Rose the Forest - Article highlighting crime in the Park
• Hiking Trails around Wrightwood, in the Angeles National Forest - Wrightwood Hiking Trails
• Mountains around Wrightwood, in the Angeles National Forest - San Gabriel Mountains
• Canyons and Valleys around Wrightwood, in the Angeles National Forest - Canyons and Valleys in the Angeles National Forest

Coordinates: 34°18′34″N 117°57′32″W / 34.30941°N 117.95883°W / 34.30941; -117.95883