Just 30 minutes from downtown Los Angeles skyscrapers and just south of Pasadena, the urban jungle provides way to the Angeles National Forest forests, rugged slopes and rocky canyons. Surrounding the San Gabriel Mountains with terrain ranging from the elevated desert to the lofty 10,064-foot peak of Mount Baldy, Angeles National Forest is L.A.'s next door wilderness— a place for hikers, mountain bikers, and campers.
The hills of Angeles National Forest appear near enough to touch on clear winter days when the San Gabriels peaks are dusted with snow. And from parks in Altadena, Monrovia, and Sierra Madre's foothill communities, you can hike paths that lead rapidly to the front nation of San Gabriel.
Follow a 28-mile section of the Gabrielino National Recreation Trail along the sycamore-shaded Arroyo Seco for an simple day hike to Gould Mesa Campground or more difficult mountain treks. The eastern trailhead for the Gabrielino Trail is at Chantry Flat and leads up to the amazing Sturtevant Falls of Big Santa Anita Canyon, one of several waterfalls in front.
Farther east, drive from Claremont into the hills and into the Inland Empire to reach Mt. Baldy Resort for winter snow play and skiing, as well as excellent hiking in hotter months. Ride the ski lift to the top of the Notch for 15 minutes, then follow the tight Devil's Backbone Trail to the top of Mount Baldy on a 6,6-mile round-trip walk that involves 2,350 feet of climbing.
Also part of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, which was created in 2014, is an almost 350,000-acre section of Angeles National Forest. Starting at La Cañada Flintridge, drive along the 66-mile Angeles Crest Highway serpentine and into the high country of the monument. Take a docent-led tour of the historic Mount Wilson Observatory on weekends from April to November to learn about one of the most important landmarks in the astronomy world.
Approximately 50 miles from La Cañada Flintridge, challenge yourself on the 8-mile round-trip hike through shaded forests on the way to Mount Baden-Powell's 9,399-foot top. For 360-degree panoramas that take in the Mojave Desert, the approximately 2.900-foot climb to the bare summit is worth it. After the hike, refuel at the Grizzly Café in Wrightwood with a stack of sandwiches or an Ortega cheeseburger.
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