The Angeles National Forest offers so much that only a visit (or a Web-site sneak peek) will reveal all. The Mount Waterman ski resort, for example, substitutes for mountain-bike trails in the off-season, while the Mountain High resort hosts the growing popularity of disc golf, where players throw Frisbee-like discs into chainlink cages for points. The high-altitude highways also are ideal for motorcycle riding. You'll note bikes of all types buzzing by like mosquitoes as you work your way up the winding roads, searching for your next photo op. Don't be surprised if you come upon a fleet of new Porsches, either, as the twiny routes and frame-worthy vistas make for ideal auto-magazine test-drive locales.
If you do plan on stopping at attractions that don't require a fee, even if it's for the camera, purchase a National Forest Roadside Adventure Pass (you'll be fined if you're caught without one) from Forest Service offices, Grassy Hollow Visitors Center, Big Pines Information Center, or local venders.
Finally, grab a bite at Newcomb's Ranch (open seven days a week, off Highway 2, 27 miles north of La Canada). Here, you'll munch with national forest sport aficionados--hunters, climbers, bikers, and campers--and the food ain't bad, either.
Angeles National Forest Info
www.r5.fs.fed.us/angeles
www.angelesforest.net
Careful Where You Wander
Prefer dusty trails to slick asphalt? Several dirt roads in the ANF can provide a spontaneous one-day adventure. But it's important to understand the legal and common-sense limitations of straying from the pavement. To ensure a safe and enjoyable visit to your National Forest, it's important to:
→ Obey forestry regulations, particularly those in place during fire season.
→ Be vigilant of all warning signs, including notices of private property, to avoid altercations.
→ Be mindful that many dirt roads are wide enough for only one vehicle to pass down the center. Proceed with caution, keeping a vigilant eye open for signs of oncoming traffic.
→ Be prepared. Bring lots of water and snacks. Make sure you have enough gas, a structurally sound spare tire and tools, a flashlight with fresh batteries, a charged cell-phone, a loud whistle, and proper clothing for the range of weather conditions.
→ Keep a healthy distance from the native wildlife. And don't feed the bears.--T.V. |
Forest Supervisor's Office
701 N. Santa Anita Ave.
Arcadia, CA 91006
818/574-1613
District Office
4600 Oak Grove Dr.
La Canada/Flintridge, CA 91011
818/790-1151
Grassy Hollow Visitors Center
P.O. Box 566
Wrightwood, CA 92397 Fees for campgrounds and picnic areas: $5 -$12
Editor's Note:
Mud on your windshield give you chills? Four-wheeling your weekends away? Got a good story to tell about it? Send us all the gear-popping seatbelt-tightening dust-kicking details in 500 words or less, along with your best photos (slides, preferably). Truck Trend, c/o "On the Road," 6420 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048. We might publish your adventures and pay you $100.
Be Advised:
The information presented in this column is, to the best of our knowledge, correct and accurate at the time of publication. However, because of our lengthy lead time, we recommend calling the proper authorities or local experts for confirmation before visiting.