Angeles National Forest
Best Things To Do in Los Angeles
In about a half-hour, travelers can trade in busy downtown LA for the
serenity of nature at the Angeles National Forest. The almost 700,000-acre
forest is an easily accessible place for locals and visitors to hike, bike,
ski, ride horses, swim, fish and even camp. Encompassing the San Gabriel
Mountains, terrain ranges from desert to dense forest. Perhaps one of the
most visited sites is Mount Baldy, which is the highest peak in the San
Gabriel Mountains at 10,064 feet. The 28-mile Gabrielino National Recreation
Trail offers a variety of hikes, from moderate to challenging. Recent
visitors loved the views and found the range of trail options perfect for
different types of hikers.
Visitors to the Angeles National Forest must purchase a National Forest
Adventure Pass. It’s $5 for a daily pass or $30 for an annual pass; the pass
is good at other national forests in the area. There are visitor and
information centers in different areas of the forest, which offer general
information, activities and education events. Visit the forest's website for
specific hours and details.
Forest Fire Restoration Program
The Angeles National Forest is located within one of the driest, most
fire-prone areas in the United States – where human-caused wildland fires
are becoming larger and more frequent - significantly damaging natural
resources as well as the important human infrastructure on these invaluable
public lands.
Not all areas and resources impacted by these fires will recover naturally,
so forest managers and partners have launched a number of restoration
efforts intended to produce ecosystems that are able to adapt and thrive
over time. Projects located within the areas burned by the Copper Fire
(2002), Ranch Fire (2007), and Sayre Fire (2008) focus on forest or upland
vegetation and stream or riparian ecosystem restoration, sensitive wildlife
species management, infrastructure improvements, and other beneficial
projects.
Contact Information
Angeles National Forest
701 N. Santa Anita Ave.
Arcadia, CA 91006
(747) 322-6574
Los Angeles Gateway Ranger District
12371 N. Little Tujunga Canyon Road
San Fernando, CA 91342
(818) 482-8937
San Gabriel Mountains National Monument
110 N. Wabash Avenue
Glendora, CA 91741
(747) 322-6643