Angeles National Forest

The Wildwood Picnic Area, located about five miles into the Angeles National Forest along Big Tujunga Canyon Road, is starting to look like its old self again. A dozen freshly painted picnic benches are neatly positioned in the shade, and thick green vegetation lines Big Tujunga Creek. The scene here now stands in stark contrast to two years ago, after the popular spot was consumed by the Station fire. The revitalization is due, in part, to collaboration between the U.S. Forest Service and the Student Conservation Assn., the nonprofit group that taps youth for paid summer jobs to protect and restore national parks.

Yes, there are more coyotes -- and no, there's not much that can be done about it. In fact, a county official told the Altadena Town Council: “This is a kind of a dangerous place for small pets --- there's nothing that's going to change that.” Raymond Smith told the Altadena Town Council Tuesday night that Altadena's coyotes are not necessarily refugees from the Station Fire, as is commonly assumed: Altadena's coyotes are “wild, but...

The U.S. Forest Service has tapped Thomas Contreras to be supervisor of Angeles National Forest, where he has been serving on an interim basis for several months. “I welcome the opportunity to manage one of the most heavily used urban forests within the nation,” Contreras said in a statement. The park recently reopened campgrounds and more than 100 miles of hiking trails after months of rehabilitation following the massive Station fire, which scorched wide swaths of landscape.

Los Angeles County firefighters were responding to a brush fire Monday night in the Angeles National Forest near Azusa. _________________________ FOR THE RECORD: This version corrects the headline. _________________________ Arriving fire crews reported about half an acre of brush burning as flames moved uphill near 22550 E. Fork Road, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.  L.A. NOW

In the second fatality in as many days, a woman died after her car went over the side of a road in the Angeles National Forest early Sunday, authorities said. A witness at the Coldwater Campground reported seeing a blue Honda go off the road near mile marker 32 on San Gabriel Canyon Road at about 2:27 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. The name of the victim, a woman between 40 and 50 years old, has not been released. CHP Officer Jennifer Connolly said she could not say whether the car had any other occupants.

Unseasonably cool temperatures and penny-pinching may be drawing more hikers to local mountains and trails, triggering an uptick in mountain rescues this year, officials said. So far this year, there have been 50 mountain rescues for the Verdugo region, which includes Pasadena, Burbank, Glendale and nine other foothill cities, said Glendale Fire Battalion Chief Greg Godfrey. There were 56 rescues in all of 2010. He said there is a correlation between the number of hikers rescued and the economic recession.  “People are staying closer to home,” Godfrey said.

When I moved to Pasadena two years ago I was so happy to find a few walking trails that I could explore. I'm not a seasoned hiker by any means but I do enjoy walking, being outdoors and taking in great scenery. My husband and I have spent many weekends on some of the great trails that the Arroyo Seco has to offer. So if you're ever in the mood to head out into the great outdoors, here are a few of the most popular trails in Pasadena that you might like to check out:  Angeles National Forest: The Gabrielino Trail in Angeles National Forest is a favorite spot for many hikers.

L.A. County sheriff’s deputies rescued a female hiker Monday after she fell 20 feet over a waterfall in the Angeles National Forest, authorities reported. The hiker, whose condition was unknown, could not move and had to hoisted out of Hermit Falls by a search-and-rescue helicopter. The incident occurred about 12:10 p.m. Deputies said there have been seven rescues in the Hermit Falls area this year, including one on Friday.

GLENDALE — With sweltering heat in the forecast this weekend, crews will be on high alert in Angeles National Forest, where officials warned that fireworks of any kind could set off potentially disastrous fires. “Just know before you go what the restrictions are,” said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Nathan Judy. While the higher elevations have retained some moisture — likely due to the recent marine layer — tall, ground-level grass is much drier and will light up quicker, he said.