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San Gabriel Mountains

 

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San Gabriel Mountains


 
 

The San Gabriel Mountains are located in northern Los Angeles County Los Angeles County, California

Los Angeles County is a county in California, and the most populous county in the United States, with 9,758,886 residents....
 and western San Bernardino County, CaliforniaSan Bernardino County, California

San Bernardino County is the largest county in the contiguous United States by area, containing more land than nine states....
, USAUnited States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., and America, is...
. The mountain range forms a barrier between the Greater Los Angeles AreaGreater Los Angeles Area

The Greater Los Angeles Area is the agglomeration of urbanized area around the city of Los Angeles, California....
 and the Mojave DesertMojave Desert

The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southern California and smaller parts of southwestern Utah, southern Nev...
. This Transverse Range lies in and is surrounded by the Angeles National ForestAngeles National Forest

The Angeles National Forest was established by executive order on December 20, 1892 as the San Gabriel Timberland Reserve....
 with the San Andreas FaultSan Andreas Fault

The San Andreas Fault is a geological fault that runs a length of roughly 800 miles through western and southern California...
 as the northern border to the range. The highest peak in the range is Mount San AntonioMount San Antonio

Mount San Antonio, better known to most in Los Angeles as Old Baldy or Mount Baldy, is the highest peak...
, commonly referred to as Mt. Baldy. Mount WilsonMount Wilson (California)

Mount Wilson is one of the more prominent peaks in the San Gabriel Mountains, part of the Angeles National Forest in Los Ang...
 is another famous peak, famed for the Mount Wilson ObservatoryMount Wilson Observatory Overview

The Mount Wilson Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Los Angeles County, California....
. The observatory may be visited by the public.

Transportation

The main road that runs through the San Gabriel Mountains is the Angeles Crest HighwayAngeles Crest Highway

The Angeles Crest Highway is a two-lane segment of California State Route 2....
, State Route 2. It starts in the southwest at the city of La Canada FlintridgeLa Caņada Flintridge, California

La Caada Flintridge is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States....
 and ends at its junction with State Route 138California State Route 138

State Route 138 is an east-west highway generally following the northern foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains of southern ...
 just past WrightwoodWrightwood, California

Wrightwood is a census-designated place located San Bernardino County, California....
 near the Victor Valley. Past its junction with Angeles Forest Highway traveling east, Angeles Crest Highway suffers from blind curves, and 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 HighMountain High

Mountain High resort is a winter resort in the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County in California....
 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 HighwayAngeles Forest Highway

The Angeles Forest Highway traverses the Angeles National Forest and connects the Los Angeles basin to the Antelope Valley b...
. Angeles Forest Highway begins 11 miles northeast of La Canada Flintridge at its Angeles Crest Highway junction. Ending near ActonActon, California

Acton is an unincorporated Census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California near the Antelope Valley....
, it allows easy access to the central Forest and the fast growing Antelope ValleyAntelope Valley Summary

The Antelope Valley in California is located in northern Los Angeles County and the southeastern portion of Kern County, Ca...
. 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

In the winter snowboarding and snow skiing is quite popular in the San Gabriels at Mountain HighFacts About Mountain High

Mountain High resort is a winter resort in the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County in California....
, and Mt. Baldy. There are two other resorts but they 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.

Winter resorts

The San Gabriel Mountains accommodate a few winter resorts which are:
  • Mountain HighMountain High Overview

    Mountain High resort is a winter resort in the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County in California....
  • Mt. Baldy
  • Mount WatermanMount Waterman Summary

    Mount Waterman is a ski area in the Angeles National Forest in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, California....
  • Kratka RidgeFacts About Kratka Ridge

    Kratka Ridge or Snowcrest is a skiable area in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, California....


Significant peaks

Sorted by elevation from highest to lowest:

  • Mount San AntonioMount San Antonio

    Mount San Antonio, better known to most in Los Angeles as Old Baldy or Mount Baldy, is the highest peak...
     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 HarwoodMount Harwood

    Mount Harwood is the first summit east of Mount San Antonio....
     2,911 m (9,552 ft)
  • Mount Baden-PowellMount Baden-Powell (California)

    Mount Baden-Powell is a peak in the San Gabriel Mountains of California named for the famous English Lord Robert Baden-Powel...
     2,865 m (9,399 ft)
  • Mount BurnhamMount Burnham

    Mount Burnham is one of the highest peaks in the San Gabriel Mountains named for the famous American scout, Frederick Russel...
     2,742 m (8,997 ft)
  • Throop Peak 2,785m (9,138 ft)
  • Telegraph PeakTelegraph Peak

    Telegraph Peak, standing tall, is a summit in the Cucamonga Wilderness area of the Angeles National Forest....
     2,739 m (8985 ft)
  • Cucamonga PeakCucamonga Peak Summary

    Cucamonga Peak is one of the highest peaks in the San Gabriel Mountains in the U.S....
     2,721 m (8,599 ft)
  • Mount IslipMount Islip

    Mount Islip is a 2,514 m peak in the Angeles National Forest....
     2,515 m (8,250 ft)
  • Iron MountainIron Mountain (8007)

    Iron Mountain is a remote peak located in California's San Gabriel Mountains....
     2,441m (8,007 ft)
  • South Mount HawkinsSouth Mount Hawkins Summary

    South Mount Hawkins, elevation 2,372 m...
      2,372 m (7,783')
  • Vetter MountainVetter Mountain

    Vetter Mountain is located in the San Gabriel Mountains and within the Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County, Californ...
     1,800 m (5,908 ft)
    • Site of active fire lookout towerFire lookout tower

      A Fire Lookout Tower, Fire Tower or Lookout Tower, provides housing and protection for a person known as a "Fire...
  • Mount WilsonMount Wilson (California)

    Mount Wilson is one of the more prominent peaks in the San Gabriel Mountains, part of the Angeles National Forest in Los Ang...
     1,740 m (5,710 ft)
    • Site of Mount Wilson ObservatoryMount Wilson Observatory

      The Mount Wilson Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Los Angeles County, California....
  • Mount DisappointmentMount Disappointment (California)

    Mount Disappointment is a mountain peak in the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County, California with a summit elevati...
  • Mount LoweMount Lowe (California)

    Mount Lowe is a mountain on the southern fold of the San Gabriel Mountains....
     1,707 m (5,603 ft)
    • Site of Mount Lowe RailwayMount Lowe Railway

      The Mount Lowe Railway was the third in a series of scenic mountain railroads created as a tourist attraction on Echo Mounta...
  • Echo MountainEcho Mountain

    Echo Mountain is a promontory above Altadena, California....
     977 m (3,207 ft)

See also

Nearby mountain ranges:
  • San Bernardino MountainsSan Bernardino Mountains

    The San Bernardino Mountains are a short transverse mountain range northeast of Los Angeles in southern California in the Un...
  • Santa Susana MountainsSanta Susana Mountains

    The Santa Susana Mountains are a transverse range of mountains in southern California, north of the city of Los Angeles, in ...
  • Santa Monica MountainsSanta Monica Mountains

    The Santa Monica Mountains are a low transverse range in southern California in the United States....
  • Sierra Pelona MountainsSierra Pelona Mountains

    The Sierra Pelona Mountains, also known as the Sierra Pelona Range, are a rocky transverse range in Southern Californi...
  • Tehachapi MountainsTehachapi Mountains Overview

    The Tehachapi Mountains are a short transverse range in southern California in the United States, running SW-NE to connect t...


Volunteer organizations

Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout AssociationAngeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association

The Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association is a non-profit 5013 organization of citizen volunteers dedicated to th...
 has rebuilt and operates Vetter Mountain Lookout, and Slide Mountain Lookout. Organization is rebuilding South Mount Hawkins Lookout.

Photos

External links

  • - Hiking trails in the area with maps and directions to the trailheads.