Angeles National Forest (ANF) is located in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles County California, and was established on July 1, 1908, incorporating the first San Bernardino National Forest and parts of Santa Barbara and San Gabriel National Forests. It covers 655,387 acres (1,024.0 sq mi; 2,652.3 km2) and is located in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, just north of the metropolitan area of Los Angeles, California. 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 watersheds within its boundaries to provide valuable water to Southern California and to protect surrounding communities from catastrophic floods.[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). Much of this National Forest is covered with dense chaparral which changes to pine and fir-covered slopes as you reach the majestic peaks of the higher elevations. The Pacific Crest Trail crosses the forest.
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, Sierra Nevada mixed conifer forests (Coast Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii), Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa), and White Fir (Abies concolor)), and Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta) forests the most abundant types.[2]
The Angeles National Forest does contain three nationally-designated wilderness areas: the Cucamonga Wilderness, the San Gabriel Wilderness, and the Sheep Mountain Wilderness.
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.
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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]
Station wildfire
More than 161,000 acres 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 40 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 102 homes, cabins and outbuildings. During the fire, two firefighters died when their vehicle went over a cliff.
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: 3
- 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
- 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 (32.2 km) north of Magic Mountain Amusement Park in Valencia, CA.
- Castaic Lake is located 7 miles (11.3 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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See also
References
- ^ Lockman, Ronald F., 1981. Guarding the Forests of Southern California: Evolving Attitudes Towad Conservation of Watershed, Woodlands, and Wilderness (Glendale: A. H. Clarke).
- ^ Warbington, Ralph; Beardsley, Debby (2002), 2002 Estimates of Old Growth Forests on the 18 National Forests of the Pacific Southwest Region, United States Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/rsl/publications/oldgrowth/oldgrowth2002.html
- ^ "Angeles Passes and Permits". Angeles Permits. http://www.angelespermits.com. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
- ^ Davis, Richard C. (September 29, 2005) ([dead link] – Scholar search), National Forests of the United States, The Forest History Society, http://www.foresthistory.org/Research/usfscoll/places/National%20Forests%20of%20the%20U.S.pdf
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 Moutain 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
- Angeles National Forest 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
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Coordinates: 34°18′34″N 117°57′32″W / 34.30941°N 117.95883°W
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