Campaigns > California Wild Heritage Campaign > California Wild Heritage Act:   Clickable Map |  Printable Map |  Proposed Wilderness - List |  Statewide Bill Text |  North Coast Bill Text |  Volunteer

Castaic Mountains Proposed Wilderness

Managing agency: Angeles National Forest

Size: Approximately 56,320 acres

Trail access : 1) Fish Canyon from Cienaga Campground (Forest Service road number 6N32). 2) Atmore Meadows (Forest Service road number 7N23) to Gillette Mine.

Highway access: From Hwy 5, Castaic exit, take Lake Elizabeth Road north. Southern border is along road 6N32, west of Lake Elizabeth Road. From Antelope Valley, travel Pine Canyon Road to Lake Elizabeth; road 7N23 is northern border.

Description:

• 4 units: Salt Creek, Fish Canyon, Tule, Red Mountain
• Species of concern: arroyo toad (endangered), California red legged frog (threatened), unarmed threespined stickleback (endangered), California spotted owl (sensitive), historical range of California condor (endangered), thread-leaved Brodiaea (listed), slender horned spineflower (listed)
• Stream corridor units are "Areas of High Ecological Significance"
• Black bear, mountain lion, bobcat, chaparral, oak, alder, willow, sycamore, spruce, pine
• Excellent backcountry opportunities and solitude
• Key wildland linkage between the Coastal, Tehachapi and the San Gabriel ranges

The proposed Castaic Mountains Wilderness connects the Coastal, Tehachapis and San Gabriel ranges. This wild place is characterized by its long meandering canyons featuring steep vertical walls and flowing streams year round. As the gentle slopes give way to the steeper canyons, occasional stands of spruce and pine give way to dense chaparral that in turn gives way to oak, alder, willow and sycamore as you reach the canyon bottoms. John Robinson describes a section of Fish Canyon, which runs along the base of Burnt Peak (5788’), as "almost Grand Canyon like…" and "the most spectacular in the range." The Fish Canyon Roadless Area has been recommended for wilderness designation in the past.

For more information, please contact:
Tim Allyn
Sierra Club
3435 Wilshire Blvd. #302
Los Angeles, CA 90010-1901
Phone: (213) 387-6528 x202
Email: tim.allyn@sierraclub.org