This is the currently-closed road that extends north from Azusa all the way to Angeles Crest Highway (Highway 2) at Islip Saddle. Although the road is currently closed by a locked gate from just north of the junction of the West and North Forks of the San Gabriel River, there were car tours during 2008 led by the U.S. Forest Service, starting from San Gabriel Canyon Environmental Center at Rincon, about 7 miles north of Azusa. From there, a caravan of cars was escorted all the way up Highway 39 to Highway 2.
The first part of the closed road, leading to Crystal Lake (we did not visit the lake) is under repair, and we were told that it should be open within a few years. Beyond that, the road is maintained for emergency access purposes only.
All of the following pictures were from a trip up Highway 39 on 30 August 2008. It was the peak of summer, but there were still some flowers, especially at the higher elevations.
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San Gabriel River, North Fork
Ascending towards Crystal Lake
Chaparral mallow (Malacothamnus fasciculatus)
Holly leaf cherry (Prunus ilicifolia)
California brickellbush (Brickellia californica)
San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa var. bernardina)
San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa var. bernardina)
Black poplar (Populus nigra)
Scarlet monkeyflower (Erythranthe cardinalis)
Jerusalem oak (Dysphania botrys)
Prickly poppy (Argemone munita)
Prickly poppy (Argemone munita)
Davidson's buckwheat (Eriogonum davidsonii)
Rock buckwheat (Eriogonum saxatile)
Rock buckwheat (Eriogonum saxatile)
Sulphur flowered buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum)
California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum)
California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum)
Giant blazingstar (Mentzelia laevicaulis)
Giant blazingstar (Mentzelia laevicaulis)
California fuchsia (Epilobium canum subsp. latifolium)
California fuchsia (Epilobium canum subsp. latifolium)
Parish's wild buckwheat (Eriogonum parishii)
Parish's wild buckwheat (Eriogonum parishii)
Curl-leaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius)
Twin Peaks and Mt. Waterman
Twin Peaks
Nearing the top of Hwy 39
Thanks to Jane Strong for assistance in identification of plants and flowers.
A chapter of the California Native Plant Society, 2707 K Street, Suite I, Sacramento, California 95816-5113
CNPS San Gabriel Mountains Chapter, 1750 North Altadena Drive, Pasadena, California 91107-1046
All text on this page is Copyright © 2010-2020 CNPS San Gabriel Mountains Chapter unless otherwise indicated. All photos are Copyright by the authors.
