National Forest Foundation Community Collaborative San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Reference Maps from Peer National Monuments & National Recreation Areas Mojave National Preserve Fort Tejon Barstow State Historic Park Lancaster Los Padres National Palmdal Forest National Angeles Forest e Victorvill Chambles e s Apple Valley Hesperi Ventur National Angeles a a TreasuredForest Landscape San Gabriel Big Tahunga Watershed National San Bernardino Oxnar Monument USACE LA River Forest d Restoration Area Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Los Riversid Channel Islands e Angeles Joshua Tree National Anahei Palm Park m Long Beach Cleveland Spring Palos Verdes National s Forest San Irvin Bernardin e o Forest Santa Ana Mountains Temecul Catalin a a Island Cleveland Vist National a Forest Carlsba d REGIONAL MAP OF PUBLICLY MANAGED Cleveland 10 San N LANDS 30m National i Diego Forest 1 in 20 Americans live w/in 1 hour of the San Gabriel & Los Angeles Rivers 3 4 Current MAP SGMNM 5 San Gabriel Mountains Components of a National Monument Informational Graphic:Map Written Information: • Clear, recognizable title bar • 5-paragraph “summary” • Iconic image – Welcome, History, Ecology, Community, and information about the • Iconographic Map guide – Main icons: • Wildlife and plantlife information • Camping – Animals/Birds • Parking – Amphibians/reptiles • Ranger stations – Fish • Picnicking – Foliage – Scale and compass • Tours • Illustrations of Wildlife • “Know before you go” • People/Community 6 7 8 Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument 9 10 Other Inclusions: • Multi- lingual kiosks • Trailheads • Parking • Hiking trails • Motorized/non-motorized trails • Interpretive sites • Scenic byways • Archeological sites 11 San Gabriel Mountains Welcome One in twenty Americans live within ninety minutes of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, a 346,000-acre stretch of wilderness that crowns the Los Angeles basin. For Angelenos overwhelmed by the claustrophobic urban sprawl of their hometown, the Monument provides refuge. For tourists seeking easy access to the famed grandeur of the West, the Monument provides adventure. For every one of its 4 million and counting yearly visitors, the Monument provides the antithesis to all things artificial and mundane. Welcome to the backyard you never knew you had—we are so glad you’re here! History 5 million years before President Barack Obama established the San Gabriel National Monument in 2014, the San Andreas Fault forged the first peaks of the San Gabriel Mountains. In time, the mountains would see history written on its slopes. Native Americans cherished the mountains as early as 8,000 years ago, and as such, the Monument contains the best-preserved examples of Gabrielino rock paintings. Gold prospectors clambered through the area in the mid-19th century, setting up mining towns like Eldoradoville along the San Gabriel River’s east fork. And in the 1920s, Edwin Hubble peered out into the night sky from the observatory atop Mt. Wilson and discovered the first galaxy distinct from the Milky Way. In total, more than 600 archaeologically and culturally crucial sites lie within the Monument’s boundaries. Ecology A biodiverse collection of flora and fauna call the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument home. From celebrity species like the California condor and Nelson’s bighorn sheep to rare endemics like Pierson’s lupine and the least Bells’ vireo, nature is on full display throughout the Monument. The varied terrain allows chaparral and woodland biomes to flourish in the Monument’s four unique wilderness areas—San Gabriel, Sheep Mountain, Pleasant View Ridge, Magic Mountain—that, taken collectively, constitute a portion of the rare and precious Mediterranean ecosystem. Green corridors connected to the Monument enable migrating and broad-territory species, including the mountain lion, to roam more freely. Community Miles upon miles of hiking, equestrian, and motorized trails trace through valleys and bend up summits in the San Gabriel National Mountains National Monument. Recreational activities aren’t bound by the width of the trail, though; skiing, picnicking, kayaking, canoeing, and regulated hunting are all encouraged in the Monument. The San Gabriel Mountains represent 70% of accessible open space for citizens of Los Angeles, and the rivers, tributaries, and perennial streams extending out from the watershed within the Monument provide the county with 30% of its drinking water. About this Guide This guide features several maps to help you explore the Monument. On the maps, one can explore the natural and cultural resources and amenities available in the Monument and in surrounding areas. Along with the maps, we have outlined three tours below that will acquaint you with the Monument and some of its classic sights. Use the wildlife guide to identify the animals and plants you spot during your trip. 12 SAN GABRIEL RIVER Children Need Time Outdoors American Children spend 9 minutes on average outdoors CONNECTING FAMILIES TO NATURE 13 THE CONSERVATION FUND 14 Los Angeles Basin – Major Rivers & Protected Lands San Gabriel Mountains/Angeles National Forest Alternative D Rim of the Valley Santa Monica San Gabriel Los Angeles Mountains River River 15 Our Backyard - Angeles National Forest 16 Languages of Los Angeles CHINESE 1 AFRIKAANS 21 41 HAITIAN CREOLE 61 LITHUANIAN 81 PORTUGUESE 101 TAHITIAN (MANDARIN) 2 ALBANIAN 22 CORSICAN 42 HAWAIAN 62 LOW SAXON 82 ROMANI 102 TAMIL 3 ALSATIAN 23 CROATIAN 43 HEBREW 63 LUXEMBOURGEOIS 83 ROMANIAN 103 TATAR 4 APACHE 24 CZECH 44 HINDI 64 MACEDONIAN 84 RUSSIAN 104 TELUGU 5 ARABIC 25 DANISH 45 HUNGARIAN 65 MALAGASY 85 SARDINIAN 105 THAI SCOTTISH 6 ARMENIAN 26 DUTCH 46 ICELANDIC 66 MALAY 86 106 TURKISH GAELIC 7 AZERI 27 ENGLISH 47 INDONESIAN 67 MALAYALAM 87 SERBIAN 107 UDMURT 8 BAMBARA 28 ESPERANTO 48 IRISH GAELIC 68 MALTESE 88 SESOTHO 108 UKRAINIAN 9 BASQUE 29 ESTONIAN 49 ITALIAN 69 MAORI 89 SHIMAORE 109 URDU MAPUCHE 10 BELARUSIAN 30 FAROESE 50 JAPANESE 70 90 SHONA 110 VIETNAMESE (MAPUDUNGUN) 11 BENGALI 31 FINNISH 51 KABYLIAN 71 MARATHI 91 SINDHI 111 WALOON 12 BERBER 32 FRENCH 52 KANNADA 72 MONGOLIAN 92 SINHALA 112 WELSH WEST INDIAN 13 BOBO 33 FRISIAN 53 KHMER 73 MORÉ 93 SLOVAK 113 CREOLE 14 BOSNIAN 34 FRIULAN 54 KINYARWANDA 74 NORWEGIAN 94 SLOVENIAN 114 XHOSA 15 BRETON 35 GALICIAN 55 KOREAN 75 OCCITAN 95 SOBOTA 115 YIDDISH 16 BULGARIAN 36 GALLO 56 KURDISH 76 ORIYA 96 SONINKÉ 116 YORUBA 17 BURMESE 37 GEORGIAN 57 LAO 77 OSSETIAN 97 SPANISH 117 ZULU 18 CATALAN 38 GERMAN 58 LATIN 78 PAPIAMENTU 98 SWAHILI 19 CHECHEN 39 GREEK 59 LIGURIAN 79 PERSIAN 99 SWEDISH 20 CHEROKEE 40 GUARANÍ 60 LINGALA 80 POLISH 100 TAGALOG 17 Our Diversity is our unique character as a Collective Cultural & Natural Heritage is Beauty of LA 18 OLMSTED BARTHOLOMEW 1930 Comprehensive trail & greenway network to connect key natural areas throughout the LA BASIN and beyond ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST - EXISTING PARKS PROPOSED GREENWAYS – URBAN RIVER CORRIDORS BEACHES & COASTAL TRAIL ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST SCHOOLS OVER 5 ACRES 19 Disparity of Access to Natural Areas & to Recreation - 2011 report from The City Project EQUITY ISSUES 20 21 Ubiquitous Fires - Resilience Station Fire of 2009 22 Carrizo Plain National Monument 23 Los Angeles Basin’s Biodiversity – Endangered species MOUNTIN YELLOW LEGGED FROG 24 Nelson’s Bighorn Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog Bigcone Douglas-Fir SheepOne of the two species of mountain sheep in the USA, they These frogs are endangered due to changes in climate This fir is only found in Southern California. It has the travel in small herds and the males have distinctive curved and the introduction of predatory nonnative trout into largest cones of all Douglas firs. They are an “indicator horns. Bighorn sheep populations have been dev- astated by their habitats. They are marked by many variable spots and species” - a sign of a healthy ecosystem and a habitat for hunting, livestock grazing, and climate change. a yellow underside. many rare wildlife species like the Spotted Owls. Mountain Lion Arroyo Toad California Walnut Although they have a massive range across the Americas, An endangered species of toad due to habitat destruc- This large shrub can have 1-5 trunks and thick, furrowed mountain lions are secretive and elusive.They are solitary tion, the Arroyo Toad is nocturnal and spends most of the bark. It flowers from April through early May. California and territorial animals that prefer areas with dense un- day underground. Its warty skin is green, gray, or salmon, Walnuts are vulnerable to endangerment due to develop- derbrush for hunting purposes. with a light stripe between its eyes. ment and overgrazing. Bobcat California Newt Coast Live Oak These smaller wild cats can survive in a range of areas, The red skin of this newt contains glands that secrete a This member of the Beech family is the most widespread from urban edges to wetlands. Bobcats are important for deadly toxin. Like most amphibians, the newt lives mostly in oak species of Los Angeles County. Its leaves are curled limiting the pest population.There is a small population of water. California newts can live up to 20 years and have few downwards to decrease water loss. Their acorns were used bobcats in Griffith Park in addition to the national forest. predators due to their toxicity. as a great source of protein by Indians and pioneers. Gray Fox Juniper Tree San Gabriel Mountains Slender Salamander These foxes are characterized by their surprising abili- Junipers are short trees often conical in shape that pro- This salamander can only be found in the San Gabriel ty to climb trees using their strong hooked claws. They duce sharp, needle-like leaves.Their leaves and berries are Mountains region. It has a wormlike body and a long tail often make their dens in hollow stumps or trees. Gray quite fragrant when crushed. Unlike most trees, individual Foxes are abundant throughout lower North America. with copper skin.