Angeles Crest Highway in Los Angeles 2024

The Angeles Crest Highway is one of the best drives in Southern California. But the 106-km (66-mi) road, which is part of the California State Route 2, is also very dangerous as there are many blind spots along the sharp turns. The two-lane paved road was constructed in 1929-1956. It starts at Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada Flintridge in the west and ends at the Pearblossom Highway (State Route 138) northeast of Wrightwood in the east. The most elevated point of the road is Dawson Saddle 2,409 m (7,903 ft)—The Angeles Crest Highway is the highest road in Southern California.

The scenic highway features many beautiful landscapes: the Angeles National Forest, San Gabriel Range, alpine meadows and montane forests—all of it in just minutes from urban Los Angeles. The route features a few forest service campgrounds and visitor centers as well as the Mountain High and Mt. Waterman ski resorts. There is also a Mount Wilson Observatory on Mount Wilson. On a clear day, the road offers impressive views of the greater Los Angeles area.

The Angeles Crest Highway is closed in the wintertime from Islip Saddle to Vincent Gap due to frequent avalanches and rockfall. There have been a few landslides on the road in the early 2000s. However, it was fully repaired in 2009. Cell phones have poor reception in many mountain sections of the highway. Drivers have to be prepared for sudden changes in weather and presence of wildfires.