Agency: Angeles National Forest (built with assistance from Pasadena)
Dates: 1927-1935
Tower: S10’- Steel 10 ft
Cab: C3- USFS Region 5 1934 standard 14′ X 14′ wood cab (BC-301 series)
Status: Demolished/Relocated
Elevation: 6,164 ft
Topo Map: Mount Wilson
Coordinates: 34.2433, -118.0984
Trail reports: Hikespeak, Hundred Peaks Section
Dates: 1927-1935
Tower: S10’- Steel 10 ft
Cab: C3- USFS Region 5 1934 standard 14′ X 14′ wood cab (BC-301 series)
Status: Demolished/Relocated
Elevation: 6,164 ft
Topo Map: Mount Wilson
Coordinates: 34.2433, -118.0984
Trail reports: Hikespeak, Hundred Peaks Section
Lofty San Gabriel Peak (6161′) is one of the highest summits in the front range of the San Gabriel Mountains. The first mention of plans to build a fire lookout on San Gabriel Peak appeared as early as 1922. However, it was until November of 1927 that the Forest Service asked the city of Pasadena for assistance in building a much needed fire lookout on San Gabriel Peak. The U.S. Forest Service constructed the lookout on a 10-foot steel tower with a white 14’ by 14’ observation cabin. The lookout commanded grand views of the front range including the Arroyo Seco, Mt. Wilson, Mt. Lowe, Strawberry Peak, the LA skyline, the Pacific Ocean and beyond. Lookout staff included Herb Hickam, Glenn Moore, and Archie Edwards.
Ranger’s Lookout – San Gabriel Peak, Photographed by Louis Fleckenstein in 1932
Sierra Club party at San Gabriel Peak fire lookout, 1930. Credit: Sturdevant Collection, Sierra Club-Angeles Chapter Archives
San Gabriel Peak fire lookout, 1930. Credit: Sturdevant Collection, Sierra Club-Angeles Chapter Archives
Urban smog created poor visibility for the lookout so the structure was relocated to Vetter Mountain by 1937 where it stood until it was burnt down in the 2009 Station Fire. D. Von Schmausen explains its removal in The Reconstruction and Renovation of Vetter Mountain Fire Lookout:
Today, all that remain from the lookout tower are the concrete footings but with the same sweeping vistas.
On the summit, view of Mt. Wilson
Concrete footings of the tower, steel plank strewn across for a bench.
Leftover remains of the lookout tower
Sun setting over the San Gabriels, with another former lookout site (Mt. Lukens) in view.
Great info, I didn’t know there was a look out on the San Gabriel mountain when we hike it a few years back.
It is astounding to know how bad was the air pollution even back that early, I thought it was a problem in the mid 50’s, but not in the 30’s.
I remember living in the San Fernando Valley in the 80’s and not be able to see the mountains ranges around us!
While many people still complain about environmental government regulations, they don’t realize that without them our quality of life and health would be greatly undermined.