Angeles National Forest reopens half of area closed by Station Fire

For the last year and a half, an immense area of the San Gabriel Mountains has been off limits. Now it’s back! Incredible news from the US Forest Service who announced:

Effective May 16, [2011] the Angeles National Forest will reopen about half of the areas that have been closed due to the Station Fire.

Hikers have battled stunning crowds in pockets of the forest that remained open, like Santa Anita Canyon. Now foot traffic can dissipate and spread to the over 100 miles of trail that are back on the table. Switzer Falls, San Gabriel Peak, Mount Waterman, and Cooper Canyon Falls can all be visited again. The open areas are sure to look different, but national forest employees and volunteers have gone to great lengths to jump-start the recovery of the San Gabriel Mountains.

The Forest service released a map depicting the area that is still closed, which includes the trails to Millard Canyon Falls and Trail Canyon Falls. While parts of Angeles National Forest are still off limits, the reopening of so many trails is exciting news for outdoor enthusiasts around Los Angeles.

Update: More areas of the national forest opened in May of 2012, including the trail to Trail Canyon Falls

Trail	Description	Distance	Location
038	Los Pinetos Waterfall This out and back hike in Placerita Canyon Natural Area follows Canyon Trail to the ruins of Walker Ranch and Waterfall Trail to an elusive falls in a sylvan canyon.	5.33 miles 560 feet	34.377866, -118.467675
040	Ecology Trail This lollipop loop in Placerita Canyon Natural Area will introduce you to numerous local plants along with views of Placerita Canyon.	0.65 miles 100 feet	34.377866, -118.467675
525	Trail Canyon Falls This hike ascends a mountain-framed canyon to a 30-foot beauty on the east side of the range.	4 miles 700 feet	34.30533, -118.25536
530	Gould Mesa Trail Camp via Gould Mesa Road This road descends from Angeles Crest Highway to Gabrielino Trail alongside Gould Mesa Trail Camp, a hike-in campground in a canyon in Angeles National Forest.	2.4 miles 525 feet	34.22295, -118.1906
531	Gould Mesa Trail Camp via Gabrielino Trail This hike follows the Arroyo Seco, a mountains stream, up to a trail camp just inside Angeles National Forest.	5.1 miles 300 feet	34.1943, -118.168
535	Switzer Falls This out and back hike starts out above and finishes below a 50-foot tall waterfall.	4.5 miles 650 feet	34.26624, -118.1457
537	Colby Canyon Trail to Josephine Peak This out and back hike ascends an infrequently visited canyon off Angeles Crest Highway up to a saddle below Strawberry Peak and then to a scenic summit in the front range of the San Gabriel Mountains with 360-degree over Big Tujunga Canyon and cities to the south.	8.7 miles 2,050 feet	34.2696, -118.1407
537	Strawberry Peak This out and hike to the highest summit in the front range of the San Gabriel Mountains starts out gradual and becomes steep, presenting grand views of surrounding mountains and the cities below.	7.5 miles 1510 feet	34.2581, -118.1049
538	Strawberry Meadow This though hike or out and back hike goes around Strawberry Peak to a remote and scenic flat below a massive cliff on the north side of the mountain, offering views of Big Tujunga Canyon and surrounding peaks along the way.	9 - 11 miles 800 - 1,600 feet	34.2907, -118.10789
540	Millard Falls This out and back hike visits a 50-foot waterfall up one of the most scenic canyons in the range.	1 mile 150 feet	34.2162, -118.1463
545	Dawn Mine This out and back hike leads past Millard Falls to an old gold mine.	6 miles 1,300 feet	34.2162, -118.1463
550	San Gabriel Peak from Mount Disappointment Road This out and back hike reaches a peak with great views of the San Gabriels, and you can summit nearby Mount Disappointment for an extra half mile.	4 - 4.5 miles 1,400 feet	34.25455, -118.1021
553	San Gabriel Peak from Mount Lowe Road This out and back hike reaches a peak with great views of the San Gabriels, and you can summit nearby Mount Disappointment for an extra half mile.	3.2 - 3.7 miles 1,050 feet	34.2393, -118.0934
557	Inspiration Point & Mount Lowe Trail Camp This out and back hike descends Mount Lowe Road into the San Gabriel Mountains to a historic scenic overlook and a trail camp built on interesting ruins.	7.25 miles 900 feet	34.2393, -118.0934
565	Cape of Good Hope via Mount Lowe Road & Sunset Ridge Trail This pair of trails combine for a hike to a historic viewpoint called Cape of Good Hope. Follow the old route of Mount Lowe Railway to the ruins on Echo Mountain to extend the hike by two miles round.	5.2 - 7.5 miles 1,425 feet	34.2148, -118.1476
570	Echo Mountain via Sam Merrill Trail This out and back hike visits a historic railway and ruins from a century old resort overlooking Pasadena.	5.8 miles 1,400 feet	34.20405, -118.1306
573	Inspiration Point via Castle Canyon Trail This trail ascends from the ruins on Echo Mountain to a historic viewpoint that still offers hike-worthy panoramas. See more on a loop back to Echo Mountain that visits Mount Lowe Trail Camp, Cape of Good Hope, and other landmarks on Mount Lowe Railway.	11.45 - 11.7 miles 2,440 - 2,715 feet	34.20405, -118.1306
575	Rubio Canyon Trail This out and back hike ventures into a rustic canyon to a double waterfall.	1.3 miles 350 feet	34.203038, -118.122354
577	Henninger Flats via Mount Wilson Toll Road This out and back hike ascends to a pine-covered landing with a trail camp, tree nursery, lookout tower, and visitor center operated by the Los Angeles County Fire Department.	6 - 8.7 miles 1,325 - 1,700 feet	34.191714, -118.105506
580	Eaton Canyon Falls This out and back hike up Eaton Wash reaches a narrow stretch of Eaton Canyon containing a pleasant 40-foot waterfall.	3.5 miles 375 feet	34.17832, -118.09663
585	Vetter Mountain This out and back hike ascends from Charlton Flats Picnic Area to Vetter Mountain, where the site of an old fire lookout tower offers exceptional 360-degree views.	3.8 - 4.4 miles 525 - 650 feet	34.296502, -118.006956
588	Mount Hillyer This 6,215-foot summit can be reach from two trailheads, including the nearest starting point at Horse Flats Campground.	3 - 6.25 miles 575 - 1,000 feet	34.330998, -118.011882
590	Upper Winter Creek Trail This 2.75-mile long trail can be used to extend Santa Anita Canyon Loop or create a loop with Lower Winter Creek Trail.	4.85 miles 1,000 feet	34.196194, -118.02265
595	Hoegees Camp This out and back hike follows Lower Winter Creek Trail through a beautiful wooded canyon to a backcountry campground with fourteen first-come first-serve sites.	4.25 miles 700 feet	34.1955, -118.0225
600	Sturtevant Falls This out and back hike visits a 60-foot waterfall in a lush cottage-lined canyon.	3.3 miles 400 feet	34.1955, -118.0225
605	Spruce Grove Camp This out and back hike follows the canyon above Sturtevant Falls to a backcountry campground with seven first-come first-serve sites.	8 miles 1,350 feet	34.1955, -118.0225
610	Santa Anita Canyon Loop This loop visits two peaceful creeks in sylvan canyons, passing a 60-foot waterfall and plenty of beautiful wilderness.	9.5 miles 1,800 feet	34.1955, -118.0225
615	Hermit Falls This out and back hike heads down Santa Anita Canyon's babbling creek away from Sturtevant Falls toward a 30-foot waterfall.	2.6 miles 750 feet	34.1955, -118.0225
630	Monrovia Falls This out and back hike in Monrovia Canyon Park follows an enchanting canyon up to the base of the 30-foot waterfall.	1.6 - 3 miles 350 - 600 feet	34.176584, -117.98952
635	Winston Ridge and Winston Peak This partial loop bags a summit and a scenic ridge in the high San Gabriel Mountains.	4.85 miles 875 feet	34.35132, -117.934352
645	Mount Waterman This summit can be reached on an out and back hike or a loop, going up through a pine forest to a round mountaintop.	5.5 - 6 miles 1,265 feet	34.350328, -117.925213
646	Twin Peaks & Mount Waterman This hike extends a loop over Mount Waterman by dropping across a saddle and ascending Twin Peaks East, a panoramic summit at the center of the San Gabriel Mountains.	11.65 miles 3,640 feet	34.350328, -117.925213
650	Cooper Canyon Falls This out and back hike leaves from Buckhorn Campground and visits a short waterfall in an enchanting glen of tall pines.	3 miles 745 feet	34.3475, -117.9110
660	Fish Canyon Falls This out and back hike leaves from an active rock quarry and progresses up a beautiful canyon to a mesmerizing multi-tiered waterfall.	4.8 miles 650 feet	34.15676, -117.92368
670	Azusa Peak (and Glendora Peak) via Garcia Trail This 2 2/3-mile or 4 2/3-mile hike ascends Garcia Trail to "the A" and one or two picturesque summits along Glendora Ridge Motorway.	4.66 1,800 feet	34.14686, -117.890387
680	Crystal Lake This short paved hike visits the only naturally occurring lake in the San Gabriel Mountains.	1.33 miles 150 feet	34.32087, -117.842642
685	Smith Mountain This out and back hike follows a gradual trail to a steep scramble to a 5,111 foot summit with panoramic views over the San Gabriel Mountains.	7 miles 1,800 feet	34.28738, -117.84267
695	Bridge to Nowhere This adventurous out and back hike requires several river crossings to reach an out-of-place bridge with a unique history.	10 miles 900 feet	34.23696, -117.765119
700	Heaton Flats Trail This hike starts from the same trailhead as the Bridge to Nowhere and climbs toward Iron Mountain and panoramic views.	3.6 - 6 miles 1,000 - 2,000 feet	34.23696, -117.765119
710	Mount Baden-Powell This out and back hike climbs one of the tallest summits in the San Gabriel Mountains and a monument to Lord Baden-Powell, a BSA icon and the founder of the Scout Movement.	8.25 miles 2,834 feet	34.372947, -117.752282
725	San Antonio Falls This out and back hike on a paved road visits a multi-tier waterfall below Mount Baldy.	275 feet	34.266172, -117.62684
730	Baldy Bowl - Ski Hut This out and back hike offers a steep but scenic ascent up the south side of Mt. Baldy.	9 miles 3,900 feet	34.266172, -117.62684
735	Devil’s Backbone This ridge-top trail between Baldy Notch and the summit of Mount Baldy is probably LA's greatest ridge hike, with incredible views over the San Gabriel Mountains and the Mojave Desert.	6.6 - 13.6 miles 2,350 feet	34.266172, -117.62684
740	Mount Baldy Loop This loop incorporates Devil’s Backbone and Baldy Bowl - Ski Hut Trail to reach the highest summit in the San Gabriel Mountains.	11.3 miles 3,900 feet	34.266172, -117.62684
750	Icehouse Canyon to Icehouse Saddle This out and back hike travels through a picturesque canyon to a saddle with panoramic views and extended hiking opportunities.	7.2 miles 2,600 feet	34.25018, -117.6360