San Gabriel Wilderness

San Gabriel Wilderness

The San Gabriel Wilderness is a wilderness area created in 1968 of more than 36,118 acres within the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. The area lies on the southern slopes of the San Gabriel Mountains, between the Angeles Crest and the West Fork of the San Gabriel River.

Over 36,000 acres within the Angeles National Forest are designated as the San Gabriel Wilderness Area and have been set aside to preserve their wilderness character. The area encompasses some extremely rugged terrain, ranging in elevation from 1,600 to 8,200 feet. The lower elevations are covered with dense chaparral which rapidly changes to pine and fir-covered slopes and majestic peaks with glimpses of wildflowers and a variety of wildlife as you enter the upper elevations.

For a detailed description of the San Gabriel Wilderness area with associated maps, please follow this link to wilderness.net .

• Wilderness Permits are not required for the San Gabriel Wilderness Area. You can enter the San Gabriel Wilderness on the following trails:
• Bear Creek Trail – An eleven-mile trail, with trailheads near Rincon and Coldbrook Ranger Stations, both on Highway 39.
• Mt. Waterman Trail – A ten-mile trail, from Three Points to Buckhorn, with a one-mile side trail to Twin Peaks Saddle.
• Devil’s Canyon Trail – A four-mile trail down into rugged Devil’s Canyon.

If you have questions about the San Gabriel Wilderness, please contact any of the following Forest Service offices. Information concerning the 44,000 acre Sheep Mountain Wilderness Area, which is also within the Angeles National Forest – San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, may be obtained from these offices also.