The Angeles National Forest (ANF) of the U.S. Forest Service is located in the San Gabriel Mountains and Sierra Pelona Mountains, primarily within Los Angeles County in southern California. The ANF manages a majority of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.
The national forest was established in 1908, incorporating the first San Bernardino National Forest and parts of the former Santa Barbara and San Gabriel National Forests. Angeles National Forest headquarters are located in Arcadia, California.
Geography
Angeles National Forest / Angeles Crest Highway A7SII / Phantom 4 / California HD - The Angeles National Forest (ANF) of the U.S. Forest Service is located in the San Gabriel Mountains and Sierra Pelona Mountains, primarily within Los Angeles County in southern California....
The Angeles National Forest covers a total of 700,176 acres (1,094.0 sq mi; 2,833.5 km2), protecting large areas of the San Gabriel Mountains and Sierra Pelona Mountains. It is located just north of the densely inhabited metropolitan area of Greater Los Angeles.
While primarily within Los Angeles County, a small part extends eastward into southwestern San Bernardino County, in the Mount San Antonio ("Mount Baldy") area, and a tiny section also extends westward into northeastern Ventura County, in the Lake Piru area.
The San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, established in 2014 and managed by the U.S. Forest Service, is largely within the Angeles National Forest.
Wilderness areas
The Angeles National Forest contains five nationally designated wilderness areas. Two of these also extend into neighboring San Bernardino National Forest:
- Cucamonga Wilderness â€" mostly in San Bernardino NF
- Magic Mountain Wilderness
- Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness
- San Gabriel Wilderness
- Sheep Mountain Wilderness â€" partially in San Bernardino NF
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.
Angeles National Forest is registered as California Historical Landmark #717, for being the first National Forest in the state.
The campgrounds at Broken Blade, Twisted Arrow and Pima Loops were closed on July 26, 2013 after squirrel infected with bubonic plague was discovered.
Wildfires
- Station Fire
In the Station Fire, 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. Although the fire scorched one side of the outhouse at amateur-owned Stony Ridge Observatory, six miles northeast of Mt. Wilson, aside from minor damage from smoke and ash infiltration, the remainder of the observatory and its historic 30-inch Carroll telescope survived.
- 2012 fires
Several 2012 wildfires occurred, burning hundreds of acres across the forest-covered mountain range.
Natural history
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. The land within the forest is diverse, both in appearance and terrain. Elevations range from 1,200 to 10,064Â ft (366 to 3,068Â m). The Pacific Crest Trail crosses the forest.
Flora
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. Subsequent to the fire there was a heavy growth of "poodle dog bush" ("Eriodictyon parryi"), apparently triggered by the fire's effect on dormant seeds, that lasted for several years. The plant produces prolific lavender flowers. Unfortunately, as visitors to the Forest discovered, contact with it may cause a poison-oak-like rash.
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 (12,000Â 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.
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. 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.
General information
- Acres of land: 700,176 (2652Â km2)
- Wilderness areas acres: 80,284 (324.9Â km2)
- Miles of roads: 1,032 (1661Â 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
Ranger Districts
- Santa Clara/Mojave Rivers District
- Station: Santa Clarita, California
- Los Angeles River District
- Station: San Fernando, California
- San Gabriel River District
- Station: Glendora, California
Trails
- Trailheads: 53
- Trail miles: 697 (1122Â km)
- Off highway vehicle areas: 3
- Off highway vehicle route miles: 261 (420Â km)
Natural features
- Wilderness areas: 5
- Lakes and reservoirs: 10
- Rivers and stream miles: 240
Sensitive species
- Sensitive plants: 22
- Sensitive wildlife: 23
- Threatened & endangered species: 16
Mountain peaks
San Gabriel Mountains peaks within the Angeles National Forest include:
- Mount San Antonio 10,064 ft (3,068 m) â€" also known as "Mt. Baldy"
- Pine Mountain 9,648Â ft (2,941Â m)
- Dawson Peak 9,575Â ft (2,918Â m)
- Mount Harwood 9,556Â ft (2,913Â m)
- Mount Baden-Powell 9,407Â ft (2,867Â m)
- Throop Peak 9,142Â ft (2,786Â m)
- Mount Burnham 9,001Â ft (2,744Â m)
- Telegraph Peak (California) 8,989Â ft (2,740Â m)
- Mount Islip 8,250 ft (2,510 m) â€" site of historic Mt. Islip fire lookout tower
- Waterman Mountain 8,041Â ft (2,451Â m)
- Iron Mountain (Los Angeles County) 8,010Â ft (2,440Â m)
- South Mount Hawkins 7,783Â ft (2,372Â m) Lookout destroyed in Curve Fire 2002
- Mount Gleason 6,502Â ft
- San Gabriel Peak 6,164Â ft (1,879Â m)
- Mount Disappointment (California) 5,963Â ft (1,818Â m)
- Vetter Mountain 5,911 ft (1,802 m) ) â€" site of historic Vetter Mountain fire lookout tower
- Burnt Peak 5,788Â ft (1,764Â m)
- Mount Wilson 5,710 ft (1,740 m) â€" location of the Mount Wilson Observatory
- Mount Lowe (California) 5,606Â ft (1,709Â m)
- Mount Lukens 5,074Â ft (1,547Â m)
- Echo Mountain 3,210Â ft (980Â m)
Water recreation
- Pyramid Lake is located next to Interstate 5 (take Smokey Bear exit), 20 miles (32Â km) north of Magic Mountain Amusement Park in Valencia, California.
- Castaic Lake is located 7 miles (11Â km) north of Magic Mountain Amusement Park in Valencia, California, 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 (16Â km) west of Palmdale, California, on Elizabeth Lake Rd.
Volunteer organizations
- Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association: Restoration and operation of fire lookout towers in the ANF
- Altadena Mountain Rescue Team: Saving lives through mountain rescue and safety education
- Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association: Restoration and maintenance of multi-use trails in the ANF
- Sierra Madre Search & Rescue: A group of dedicated volunteers committed to saving lives in the wilderness
- San Gabriel Mountains Trailbuilders: California's hiking and nature trail repair group
- West Fork Conservancy: Maintains the West Fork of the San Gabriel River and Beer Creek
- Angeles Volunteer Association: Organizes Visitor Center information, trail repair, and a broad spectrum of forestry efforts
- Fisheries Resource Volunteer Corps: works with the Forest Service, helping with various projects during the year
- San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team: Highly trained mountain rescue team http://www.savetheeastfork.org/
- Los Angeles County Sheriff's Air Rescue 5: Volunteer Reserve Deputy Sheriffs are paid $1 a year for their work
- Save The East Fork Association: Works along the East Fork of the San Gabriel River
- Helping Our Mountain Environment: HOMEâ€"Glendora Mountain Road (GMR) trash and spray paint cleaning
Gallery
See also
- San Gabriel Mountainsâˆ'related topics
- San Gabriel Mountains National Monumentâˆ'related topics
- Henninger Flats
- Los Padres National Forest â€" adjacent northwest
- San Bernardino National Forest â€" adjacent on east
References
Further 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 websiteâ€"at National Forest Service (Accessed 05/Dec/14)
- Crystal Lake Recreation Areaâ€"Largest campground in the Angeles National Forest (Accessed 05/Dev/14)
- Southern California Trails at Local Hikes (Accessed 05/Dev/14)
- Hiking Trails around Wrightwood, in the Angeles National Forestâ€"Wrightwood Hiking Trails (Accessed 05/Dev/14)
- Mountains around Wrightwood, in the Angeles National Forestâ€"San Gabriel Mountains (Accessed 05/Dev/14)
- Canyons and Valleys around Wrightwood, in the Angeles National Forestâ€"Canyons and Valleys in the Angeles National Forest (Accessed 05/Dev/14)
- Photograph of Angeles National Forest fire bulldozer transport December 2017 - saved at archive.org