Crystal Lake Recreation Area and Campground

There are more trails in the surrounding area than within the forest, but with over 500 miles of trails, there’s no need to complain. The Strawberry Peak Loop is pretty sweet, at 15 miles on a singletrack that is steep and fast. The Gabrielino Trail is an easy 8 miler, perfect for hot sunny days, because of the ample canyon shade, and you can douse yourself when you reach the waterfall over the debris dam. Check out a huge list of trails in the area on Mountain Bike Project.

When the Los Angeles sun is beating down on you, you definitely need an escape into nature; make the most of the beautiful day by getting out on a boat! You can only use a motorized boat on the (really cool) Pyramid Lake, a pristine reservoir with a pyramid-shaped rock carved out. There, you can jet ski, water ski, kayak, canoe, etc. Non-motorized boating is allowed at Crystal Lake and Elizabeth Lake, two spots perfect for paddling.

Tired of work and waiting for the fish to bite? No worries, your opportunity to fish doesn’t involve driving hours up the coast-- just head up to Angeles NF! You can often find trout during the summer months in rivers, streams, and small lakes. The San Gabriel Canyon is famous for its trout, and you can also find bass, bluegill, and catfish. Castaic Lake has pretty massive bass, and Pyramid Lake offers rainbow trout and striped bass. You can also try Crystal Lake, Elizabeth Lake, Littlerock Reservoir, and Jackson Lake. Just make sure you have a CA fishing license!

Who knew that you could climb steep mountains in Los Angeles? Well, now you know! In fact, there are over 500 miles of trails for you to explore. Hikers of all experience levels should head over to this national forest. You can check out the list on ModernHiker, but the one trail that sounds really intriguing is Devil’s Canyon… As you descend, the canyon walls creep closer and closer together, until you reach the incredible 20 foot waterfall at the end! Especially during a hot day, you can cool off by the creek and you’ll have plenty of shade in this lush canyon. Equally as cool is the Bridge to Nowhere, a fun trek that leads to a really cool bridge, bungee jumping and swimming holes!

Equestrians will love exploring the 557 miles of trails; riding is permitted on all trails except nature trails. There’s also horse camping, so you can stop for the night and head out on another ride in the morning! You’ll truly be immersed in the beauty and nature of the Angeles National Forest while on horseback! Check out a list of trails here.

The perfect place to kayak is Pyramid Lake, a beautiful reservoir located away from the bustle of Los Angeles. All of your boating opportunities are answered at this lake; there’s also motor boating, jet skiing, and other non-motorized boating. If you don’t want to be disturbed by any nearby motor boating, you can kayak (and fish from your kayak) at Crystal Lake and Elizabeth Lake. See the boating section for more info!

Tired of LA highway traffic? Yeah, so are we, just thinking about it. Instead of sitting on the interstate, come cruise over 300 miles of backcountry road. While listening to the song Cruise. There’s a whole lot of 4x4 trails, you can find a list of OHV trails in the area here.

There are quite a few classic climbs in the forest for boulderers and mountain climbers to try out. Check ‘em out on the Mountain Project!

Winter in LA doesn’t really feel like winter, but it can if you head up to the mountains! There, you’ll find a snow-covered forest. You can snowboard and ski at Waterman Mountain, Snowcrest Snowpark, Mt. Baldy, Mt. High, and Ski Sunrise, within view of the expansive Mojave Desert. How crazy is that? You can also snowmobile, snowshoe, build snowmen, etc… You can call to find out what’s happening for winter snow sports here.

Heat too much for you? Don’t want to go to the beach where the water’s a little too cold and the sand a little too hot? No problem, you can swim in Pyramid Lake, although the designated area is a bit small. There are also two picnic areas along the river above Pyramid Lake that allow swimming: Emigrant Landing and Vacquero Boating and Picnic Sites. Not to mention all of the secret swimming holes located throughout the forest, like Switzer Falls/Bear Canyon Trail, Buckhorn Falls and Cooper Canyon Falls, Hermit Falls, and the Bridge to Nowhere.

Angeles has its fair share of wildlife, with the general motley crew of bears, raccoons, and mountain lions. If you’re camping here, you’re sure to see some animal friends, just make sure to keep your food in the lockers. Rare bighorn sheep also make their home here, as well as kangaroo rats, gray fox, mule deer, and rattlesnakes (definitely be on the watch for those). You can also head to the three interpretive sites, the Chilao Visitor Center, Big Pines Visitor Center, and Grassy Hollow Visitor Center to learn more about the forest and its inhabitants.