Point of Interest: Angeles Crest Highway

The Angeles Crest Highway is a two-lane segment of State Route 2 that offers a scenic, secluded getaway. The road is 66 miles in length, with its western terminus at the intersection at Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada Flintridge. The highway, as it winds along the San Gabriel Mountains, offers spectacular views of nearby mountains and valleys. Several vista points along the road offer the traveler expansive views of the Mojave Desert, the San Gabriel Mountains, and the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys.


The highway climbs from around 1,500 feet at one end in La Canada, to 7,901 feet at its highest point at Dawson Saddle. Many travelers consider the drive the most scenic in Southern California. Mt. Wilson and the Mt. Wilson observatory are accessible from the byway, offering fantastic views of the Los Angeles Basin on those rare, clear days. The byway also provides access to many trails and camping areas in the forest. For the traveler who has yet to experience the many natural wonders around Los Angeles, the Angeles Crest Scenic Highway offers rewarding proof that wilderness and natural beauty are only minutes from the Los Angeles metropolis.

Newcomb’s Ranch, located approximately 27 miles up Angeles Crest, boasts delicious casual cuisine with impeccable service that defines "unique dining" in Greater Los Angeles. Open 7 days a week, Newcomb’s Ranch is a favorite stop and a social gathering place for hikers, bicyclists, motorcyclists, skiers, campers, and day-trippers during a visit to the Angeles National Forest.

Points of Interest: Vasquez Rocks Natural Park

The Vasquez Rocks Natural Park, a 745-acre area in northern Los Angeles County, has served as a location for several sci-fi television and motion picture productions.


The rocks were formed during the Cenozoic Era, approximately 25 million years ago when the sandstone rocks were uplifted at a picturesque angle, showing their jagged red features. The rock formations are part of the San Andreas Fault.


Tiburcio Vasquez, one of California's most notorious bandits, used these rocks to elude capture by law enforcement. His name has since been associated with this geologic feature.

This is a tremendous place to take the family for an outing. Wild, sandstone slabs jut out of the ground at a 45 degree angle, rising almost 150 feet in the air. The rocks are easy to climb, if you bring a good pair of hiking shoes. Parking and use of the park is free.