Angeles National Forest

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cleanup = March 2008
prose = March 2008

The Angeles National Forest (ANF) 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 convert|655387|acre|sqmi km2|1 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.Fact|date=July 2008

The land within the Forest is diverse, both in appearance and terrain. Elevations range from 365-3,067 m (1,200-10,064 ft). Much of the 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.

Species for which the forest is important include Bigcone Douglas-fir ("Pseudotsuga macrocarpa"), Coulter Pine ("Pinus coulteri") and California Walnut ("Juglans californica").

The ANF contains three designated wilderness areas: Cucamonga Wilderness, San Gabriel Wilderness, and 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 may be obtained online [cite web|publisher=Angeles Permits|url=http://www.angelespermits.com|title=Angeles Passes and Permits|accessdate=2008-02-14] or from visitor centers and local merchants. Los Angeles County has declared that they are not required on county-maintained roads. There are also many areas that do not require the pass.

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 were combined on July 1, 1908, with all of San Bernardino and portions of San Gabriel and Santa Barbara comprising the new Angeles National Forest. On September 30, 1925, portions of Angeles and Cleveland National Forest were detached to re-establish San Bernardino National Forest. [citation|title=PDFlink| [http://www.foresthistory.org/Research/usfscoll/places/National%20Forests%20of%20the%20U.S.pdf National Forests of the United States] |341 KB|date=September 29, 2005|author=Davis, Richard C.|publisher=The Forest History Society]

Ranger Districts

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

* Los Angeles River District
** Station: Flintridge

* San Gabriel River District
** Station: Glendora

tatistics 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

ensitive species

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

Mountain peaks

Peaks within the 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 housing the Mount Wilson Observatory
* Mount Islip 2,514m (8,250 ft) Site of historic Mt. Islip fire lookout tower [http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles/recreation/hike-islipsad2littlejimmy-mtislip.shtml]
* Mount Baden-Powell
* Mount Burnham
* Cucamonga Peak
* Mount Disappointment (California)
* Echo Mountain
* Mount Harwood
* Iron Mountain (8007)
* Mount Lowe (California)
* San Gabriel Peak
* Telegraph Peak
* Verdugo Mountains
* 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
* [http://www.smsr.org/ Sierra Madre Search & Rescue]
* [http://www.sgmtrailbuilders.org/ San Gabriel Mountain Trailbuilders] - California's elite trail repair group
* [http://www.angelesvolunteers.org/ Angeles Volunteer Association] - Organizes Visitor Center information, trail repair, and a broad spectrum of forestry efforts
* [http://www.frvc.org/ Fisheries Resource Volunteer Corps]
* [http://www.sdmrt.com/ San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team] - Highly trained mountain rescue team

Gallery

ee also

*Henninger Flats
*Los Padres National Forest

References

External links

* [http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles/ Angeles National Forest] at National Forest Service
* [http://outdoorla.org/trails/ Outdoor LA Hiking Trails] - Hiking trails in the area with maps and directions to the trailheads.
* [http://www.crystallake.name/ Crystal Lake Recreation Area] - Largest campground in the Angeles National Forest
* [http://www.localhikes.com/MSA/MSA_4472.asp Southern California Trails] at Local Hikes