Web Encyclopedia News Blogs Forums

San Gabriel Mountains

The San Gabriel Mountains are located in northern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, California, USA. 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. The observatory may be visited by the public.

Transportation

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 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 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

In the winter snowboarding and snow skiing is quite popular in the San Gabriels at Mountain High, and Mt. Baldy. There are two other resorts (Mount Waterman and Kratka Ridge) 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:

Significant peaks

Sorted by elevation from highest to lowest:

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 (8985 ft)

Cucamonga Peak 2,721 m (8,599 ft)

Mount Islip 2,515 m (8,250 ft)

Iron Mountain 2,441m (8,007 ft)

South Mount Hawkins 2,372 m (7,783')

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

Mount Lowe 1,707 m (5,603 ft)

* Site of Mount Lowe Railway

Echo Mountain 977 m (3,207 ft)

Volunteer organizations

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

Photos

Image:San Gabriel panorama 2.jpg|Panorama of the range, from Ontario Peak looking west and north, Mount Baldy in the center.
Image:Telegraph Peak.jpg|Telegraph Peak as seen from Devils Backbone ridge in Mount San Antonio.
Image:SanGabrielMountains.jpg|The San Gabriel Mountains from the south (Rowland Heights in the Puente Hills) On the left the snow-covered peaks are Mount Waterman, Twin Peaks, and Mount Baden-Powell. The barely-visible peak left of center is Iron Mountain. Mount Baldy is the high point to its right, followed by the "three Ts", Ontario, and Cucumonga Peaks.
Image:Throop Peak Mount Hawkins 033.jpg|Mount San Antonio from Throop Peak.
Image:Monrovia CA San Gabriel Mountains i210.JPG|View of the range from Monrovia, California.

External links

Outdoor LA Hiking Trails - Hiking trails in the area with maps and directions to the trailheads.

Geographic, Biological, and Geological information

This section is sponsored by:
Colorado Mountain Land For Sale
Mountain Land from $800/Acre; Land with trees from $1500/Acre; Surrounded by 14,000' Peaks in southern Colorado; Owner Financing ; Most parcels are 5+ Acres
www.colomtland.com

Laptops
Find a great deal on a Laptop Computer by browsing our Laptop Computer listings.
www.LaptopComputersInfo.com

Laptops
Best Prices. Search Smart. Compare and Save More with OXY.
www.oxysearch.com

Extreme Laptop Sale
Ultra Performance Notebook Systems Save up to $2000 on special units!
www.notebookchoice.com

laptops
Don't just search for laptops, find results.
www.ask.com

laptops
Search for laptops here.
www.aywoh.com

Laptop
Laptop At Huge Discount! Free Shipping On Laptop.
www.insights1.com

Best Rated Laptops
Looking To Buy A Laptop? Which Are The Best Laptop Brands?
BestRatedLaptops.info