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West Fork Proposed Wilderness
 Managing
agency: Angeles National Forest
Size: Approximately 3,200 acres.
Location: Los Angeles County, near Duarte.
Description:
- Key watershed for the San Gabriel River
- West Fork area is an Area of High Ecological Significance
- Threatened species and species of Concern: San Gabriel Mountain salamander, American dipper, Santa
Ana sucker, Santa Ana speckled dace, mountain and yellow legged frog, and Arroyo chub
- Outstanding opportunities for hiking, fishing, horseback riding and solitude just beyond the
urban boundary
- Area of High Ecological Concern - Big cone douglas fir, endemic to southern California, are in
decline
- West Fork is core habitat for California spotted owl and San Gabriel mountain
salamander
The West Fork San Gabriel River is a high-quality rainbow trout
stream that also supports a significant pond turtle population. Rare in southern
California, the American dipper occupies steep canyons along clear streams such
as those found in the West Fork area. Additionally, the river provides key habitat
for the Santa Ana sucker, Santa Ana speckled dace, mountain and foothill yellow
legged frog, and arroyo chub. The reportedly diminishing Nelson bighorn sheep
use this area. Researchers have suggested that recent fires in the area (i.e.,
Brown's Gulch) may create improved vegetation resources for the diminishing
population of Nelson bighorn sheep.
The addition of West Fork, Silver Mountain and
Pleasant View will create a nearly
seamless swath of wilderness stretching north to south.
This possibility doesn't exist anywhere else in the Angeles.
Access: Out of Azusa, take San Gabriel Canyon Road. Follow past reservoirs
and continue west. West Fork is on your right. Hike up along the
Rincon Truck Trail or ride the West Fork National Scenic Bikeway.
For additional 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
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Just three miles off of Interstate 80, 
