San Gabriel Mountains

San Gabriel Mountains
Range
Summits in the eastern San Gabriel Mountains, Angeles National Forest, San Bernardino County, California. The main peaks are: Telegraph Peak 8985' (left), Cucamonga Peak 8859' (center), Ontario Peak 8693' (center right). As seen from Baldy Bowl on Mount Baldy.
Country	United States
State	California
Counties	Los Angeles, San Bernardino
Coordinates	34°17′20″N 117°38′48″W / 34.28889°N 117.64672°W / 34.28889; -117.64672
Highest point	Mount San Antonio
- elevation	10,064 ft (3,068 m)

The San Gabriel Mountains are located in northern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, California, United States. ^[1] The mountain range forms a barrier between the Greater Los Angeles Area and the Mojave Desert. This Transverse Range lies in and is surrounded by the Angeles National Forest with the San Andreas Fault as the northern border to the range. The highest peak in the range is Mount San Antonio, commonly referred to as Mt. Baldy. Mount Wilson is another famous peak, famed for the Mount Wilson Observatory and the antenna farm that houses many of the transmitters for local media. The observatory may be visited by the public.

Transportation

Telegraph Peak as seen from Devils Backbone ridge in Mount San Antonio.

The main road that runs through the San Gabriel Mountains is the Angeles Crest Highway, State Route 2. It starts in the southwest at the city of La Canada Flintridge and ends at its junction with State Route 138 just past Wrightwood near the Victor Valley. Past its junction with Angeles Forest Highway traveling east, Angeles Crest Highway features blind curves, various bumps, and potholes. This section of the "Crest" is closed during the winter due to rockfall and avalanche hazards. State Route 2 just past Mountain High is called the Big Pines Highway all the way to the 138 junction.

Another key county route which connects Angelenos to and through the mountains is Angeles Forest Highway. Angeles Forest Highway begins 11 miles northeast of La Canada Flintridge at its Angeles Crest Highway junction. Ending near Acton, it allows easy access to the central Forest and the fast growing Antelope Valley. Because the "Forest" and the 11 mile "Crest" portion leading to La Canada Flintridge is well traveled by Antelope Valley commuters, its road maintenance is much better, and is open much of the winter.

Recreation

The San Gabriel Mountains from the south.

In the winter snowboarding and snow skiing is quite popular in the San Gabriels at Mountain High, and Mt. Baldy. The two other resorts, Mount Waterman and Kratka Ridge, are rarely open. In the summer, canyoneering, hiking, backpacking, picnicking and camping are some of the activities of its visitors. From time to time, a hiker gets lost or stuck on a mountain ledge, or may fall downhill. Some of the more extreme cases of emergency search and rescue will often be given air time on Los Angeles television and radio newscasts.

Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association has rebuilt and operates Vetter Mountain Lookout, and Slide Mountain Lookout. Organization is rebuilding South Mount Hawkins Lookout.

Major peaks

Mount San Antonio aka Mt. Baldy 3,067 m (10,064 ft) Pine Mountain 2,940 m (9,648 ft) Dawson Peak 2,918 m (9,575 ft) Mount Harwood 2,911 m (9,552 ft) Mount Baden-Powell 2,865 m (9,399 ft) Mount Burnham 2,742 m (8,997 ft) Throop Peak 2,785m (9,138 ft) Telegraph Peak 2,739 m (8,985 ft) Cucamonga Peak 2,721 m (8,859 ft) Ontario Peak 2,650 m (8,693 ft) Mount San Antonio from Throop Peak.

View of the range from Monrovia, California. Mount Islip 2,515 m (8,250 ft) Iron Mountain 2,441m (8,007 ft) South Mount Hawkins 2,372 m (7,783 ft) Strawberry Peak 1,878 m (6,164 ft) San Gabriel Peak 1,877 m (6,161 ft) Vetter Mountain 1,800 m (5,908 ft) (site of active fire lookout tower) Mount Wilson 1,740 m (5,710 ft) (site of Mount Wilson Observatory) Mount Disappointment 1,817 m (5,960 ft) Mount Lowe 1,707 m (5,603 ft) (site of Mount Lowe Railway) Mount Lukens 1,544 m (5,066 ft) Echo Mountain 977 m (3,207 ft)

Nearby ranges

• San Bernardino Mountains
• Santa Susana Mountains
• Santa Monica Mountains
• Sierra Pelona Mountains
• Tehachapi Mountains

Panorama of the range, from Ontario Peak looking west and north, Mount Baldy in the center.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: San Gabriel Mountains

• Outdoor LA Hiking Trails - Hiking trails in the area with maps and directions to the trailheads.
• Geographic, Biological, and Geological information