San Gabriel River

From its headwaters high atop Mount San Antonio to its debouchment with the Pacific Ocean at Seal Beach, the San Gabriel River is one of the L.A. basin's most cherished and vital waterways. During its 60 mile trajectory the San Gabriel River flows through more than 19 cities, largely within concrete encased flood channels. The Azusa Canyon portion of the river has become a favorite destination for millions of Southern Californians, while the West, East and North Forks of the river drain the largest watershed in the mountain, and provide millions of residents with clean drinking water.

Recreational opportunities abound in the San Gabriel Mountains near the top of the river. The East Fork of the river provides a gateway to hiking within the Sheep Mountain wilderness, and in recent years many hikers have even taken to bungee jumping at the end of the 7-mile long hike to the Bridge to Nowhere. The West Fork offers a National Scenic Bike trail and access to a catch and release trout stream.

Currently, there are efforts underway to designate large portions of the river and the San Gabriel Mountains as a National Recreation Zone. The Emerald Necklace Project envisions connecting more than 1,500 acres of parks and open spaces along an interconnected greenway around the Rio Hondo, San Gabriel, and lower Los Angeles rivers.

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The San Gabriels: The Remarkable History of L.A.'s Threatened National Monument

An exploration of the rich history and culture of the San Gabriel Mountains and its eponymous river.

Monuments of Eternity: The San Gabriels in the Cultural Imagination

Moments of danger, innovation, and wonder in the San Gabriels are reminders of Los Angeles' place at the edge of the sublime.

Boundary of the San Gabriel Wilderness on Three Points trail | Photo: Daniel Medina

Spirits of the Wilderness: The 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act

Wilderness protection advocate Ann Olander reflects on the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act of 1964 and its impact on the wilderness of the San Gabriels.

Women playing in the RÃo Hondo | Photo: La Historia Historical Society Museum

The Other River that Defined L.A.: The San Gabriel River in the 20th Century

Often overshadowed by the L.A. River, the San Gabriel River had a major impact on the cultural and economic development of Los Angeles in the 20th Century.

Driven Out: Louis Newcomb, the Last Mountain Man of the San Gabriels

Pioneer and early forester Louis Newcomb saw the mountains change drastically after the birth of the Angeles National Forest.

When Los Angeles Abandoned its Mountain Frontier

The gradual abandonment of frontier exploits in the San Gabriel Mountains left behind ruins of lost enterprise and enchantment.

Civilian Conservation Corps, Racial Segregation, and the Building of the Angeles National Forest

African-Americans faced discrimination in the Civilian Conservation Corps, an agency that helped develop the infrastructure of the Angeles National Forest in the 1930s.

Higher Beauties: The Discovery of the Speed of Light in the San Gabriels

One of the most famous scientific experiments in human history was performed in the San Gabriels during the 1920s.

Peering into the Chasm: Vanished Canyon Resorts of L.A.

Once thriving resorts offered early 20th Century Angelinos the chance to trade the ever expanding city for the cloistered confines of mountain canyons.

Photographs of L.A.'s 'Great Hiking Era' in the Early 20th Century

During the "Great Hiking Era," Angelenos flocked to the San Gabriel Mountains to enjoy its boundless recreational opportunities.