Devils Punch Bowl County Park:: Angles National Forest

We have been meaning to go here for years (SIX YEARS!), and we finally did!

A beautiful area of high-desert-goodness on the northern-side of the Angles Nation Forest. There are a couple of short hiking options (1/2 mile and 1 mile trails), and other long trails that can connect you to the high-country of the Angles. We took JW on his first mile long hike and he did pretty good considering he is a year and a half. A good rule we learned is for every year of age that's how many miles is a decent distance for them. There is no way he could have walked the whole thing himself, and he wouldn't let us hold him the whole time - because seriously, there was too much to explore! So, the loop took us a while to get through. We had a great time and it doesn't get much better then watching JW blaze his own trail trying to clamor up the hillside with a hugh smile on his face.

The mile long trail drops down 300 feet into Devil's Punchbowl creek. Its pretty easy going for the most part, a little steep and rocky here and there. The rock formations are what give the park the appeal that is has.

The desert, especially the high desert has a special little place in our hearts.

Be sure to check out their nature center!

Blue Ridge :: Angeles National Forest

(Amanda:) This last weekend we did another one-nighter at Blue Ridge campground, near Wrightwood. Last time we tired to camp up there I was about 38 weeks pregnant and was not very excited about the bumpy 3 mile dirt road that lead to the campground (didn't seem right!). I made Justin take me to another near by campground that had easy access (Table Mountain).

The dirt road to the campground

But I am no longer pregnant and am ready for the road! We showed up on a Saturday morning hoping to get a spot (they don't take reservations and there are only 7 spots). Much to our surprise the campground was only half full! A couple of day hikers parked in the campsites (annoying!) but they weren't staying for the night, so it seemed like there weren't many open spots, but there were!

This is the campground, it's pretty level so you can see everyone, but it's so quiet and peaceful!

The campground was "you-could-hear-a-pin-drop" quiet. The loudest noise was coming from little JW. Such a different story then the last two campgrounds we went to, and so refreshing.

The only non-refreshing part of this trip was the fact that JW was having such a hard time. He missed a nap on Saturday and was thrown off for the rest of the trip. He was up a lot that night, and because I didn't want him crying in the oh-so-quiet campground I quickly nursed him each time he woke to get him to fall back asleep, and once I start that little JW ends up waking every 30 mins, so painful! I am going to try not to let this one bad night scare me from camping, you win some, you lose some. We've had plenty of good nights to make up for it!

The pack-n-play is a must for camping! I don't know what else JW would do beside crawl around and eat dirt all day. I let him do that for a little bit (and ohmygod does he get filthy!) but not all day.

One great thing about this trip was we were able to do a little bit of hiking. The PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) runs right through the campground and we hiked it in both directions. Justin was enjoying the bird watching, JW enjoyed napping in the ergo, I enjoyed the exercise and beauty of it all, it was a win-win-win. Oh, and then there's Lucky - she doesn't seem to be cut out for this camping/hiking thing... on our hikes she often gives up and she ends up spending most of the time camping in the car or tent ! While hiking she will plop on the ground, in a shady spot, and not move. Poor Lucky. But we drag her along anyway...

The Pacific Crest Trail

View of Mt Baden Powel on our hike.

I have no idea how to make panoramic photos! Here is my attempt. From left to right you can see Mt Baldy, Iron Mountain, and just out of view on the right is Mt Baden Powel

(Justin:) 'Blue Ridge' is by far one of our favorite campgrounds in the Angles National Forest. This gem sits atop Blue Ridge, just out of bounds of the Mountain High ski resort near Wrightwood at an elevation of 8,000 feet . One of the great perks of this camp is that it's free, although vehicles must display a Angles national forest adventure pass. There are vault toilets and fire rings and tables are provided at each sight. The small campground, only eight sites, (although we could only find seven) lies in a pine grove in a flat area atop the ridge with the ski resort to one side and a deep canyon to the other.

Blue Ridge slops down into the West Fork of the San Gabriel river, same canyon that Inspiration point over looks, making it a great place for specular views of the Angles Crest high range. Old Baldy, rugged Iron Mountain and Mount Baden Powell lie with in view of the campground. At night the bustling San Gabriel valley can be seen in the distance on the other side of the range glittering with all its lights.

Bird Watching is amazing at and around this campground. One of the great things about having a baby in camp is all the extra time we spend in camp, making it great for bird watching. I have recently found great joy in bird watching camping while sitting with JW for a day or two's time, we have been able to see up close what goes on and it's been a real treat. At Blue Ridge we saw Mountain Chickadee in camp and just outside the camp lies a large open chaparral covered area where the violet-green swallows fly by day and as dusk falls the bats take flight. Both very awe inspiring to watch. On our hike along the PCT we spotted some Hairy woodpeckers also really fun to watch. One bird that I really want to see is the Mountain quail and i believe I might have seen one on my morning hike with JW. I saw the bird for a split second but it was about the same size as a Mountain Quail and what looked like a blue chest and head over a white striped brown and gray body. Next time I'll walk with lighter steps and keep my eyes peeled!

The campground was very quite compared with others we have visited in the Angles National Forest. The people in the camp all seemed to want to enjoy the peaceful setting and tried their best to keep it that way, maybe it had to do with the 3 miles of dirt road that it takes to get there. With all the peace, great views, hiking and birdwatching we really enjoyed ourselves at this camp and will defiantly be back again.

View of the valley at night from our campsite

Directions:
Travel Interstate 15, take Highway 138 west. Turn left (west) on Angeles Crest Highway and drive 5 miles to Wrightwood. Continue for 3 miles to Big Pines. Bear left and continue on Angeles Crest Highway for 1. 5 miles. Turn left (opposite Inspiration Point) on Blue Ridge Road and drive 3 miles to the campground.

Manker Flats :: Angeles National Forest

(Amanda:) This was our second weekend in-a-row camping, and since we were only able to pull off another one-nighter we headed to Mt. Baldy.

Last time we camped here was in the summer of '09 and that time we were one of the only ones there, it-was-amazing! We woke up the next morning and hiked the ski hut which is a great hike. This time around we were laid back and enjoyed camp-JW style.

It being the first weekend of summer we expected it to be crowded, and that it was!  We love Baldy, and Manker Flats, but perhaps the best time to come would be the off season or on a weekday. Unless you don't mind people everywhere, and the noise... OH GOD, THE NOISE!

For the second weekend in a row we had to deal with LOUD campgrounds. This time there was a huge family that started playing this crazy game around 10pm where they blasted a song and everyone screams and tries to guess the name of the song? At least that's what I thought was going on... whatever it was, they were LOUD! They even woke up JW once... you don't mess with my baby's sleep!

Once again little JW was a champion camper. He can't walk yet so we keep him in his pack-and -play and when he gets bored of that we let him crawl around in the tent. Every once-in-a-while I will let him play in the dirt... but most campsites end up having broken glass in them.... such a bummer. It takes a while for me to comb the area to make it safe. 

One thing I love about camping is that JW sleeps in later! A whole whopping 30mins to an hour! May not seem like much, but it's like gold!

This is the life! Napping in the tent on a warm Saturday afternoon.

(Justin:) I grew up going up to Mt. Baldy as a kid. Back in '86 I remember driving up just out side of Mt. Baldy village to see Halie's comet with my family. It was a magical place back then and still is today. Over the years I have become so familiar with the area that I began to take it for granted, but recently I have been looking at the area with new eyes, seeing afresh the beauty that is up there. The steep granite canyon walls, the sparely covered mountain sides with pines disfigured by the elements and altitude, the elusive big horn sheep that still roam the mountain... the place seems a world away from the millions of people in Los Angeles (until you get there on a busy Saturday and realize all of Los Angeles is there.)

The campground itself was very full that night with a few very large parties - what did we expect?! It was the first weekend of Summer. So, if you like your campground nice a quite at night this is not the place for you on busy weekends. The campground has suffered the fate of all campgrounds this close to a very large population. But come here during the week or during the off season and you're in for a peaceful treat.

The campground is most widely known for its proximity to Mt. Baldy which towers over the campground to its north. The Sierra Club's Ski hut, where southern Californians skied for the first time in 1930's lies just south of the bowl on the upper reaches of San Antonio creek and can be seen if one takes a short walk up the old ski runs directly behind the campground.

The campground lies on the site of "movie slope" which was a part of the first incarnations of the Mt. Baldy ski resort. The area got the name from the 1930's era movie stars that frequented the slopes.  This is the old ski lodge turned snack shack that was recently damaged by a rock slide.

The remains of the old tow rope lie just behind the campground a short way up the slope.

A very short walk down the road to the west of the campground lies the Snow crest lodge. A "mountain style" lodge equipped with private cabins, restaurant, full bar, swimming pool, and a reception hall. On our most recent visit the Snow Crest was holding a large party and the music of choice was anything with a house beat and they played it loud until about 11pm that night. Once again JW did not seem to mind all the noise but the ever so consistent thud thud thud of a house beat is not what I want as a sound track to my campfire.

To the east of the campground at the top of the canyon lies the Baldy Notch, home of Mt. Baldy Ski resort's main lodge which can also be seen from the old ski slopes behind the campground.

The campground lies in a sparsely filled pine grove on the floor of a small canyon. This is a view from our tent. The campsites are spread out but it's very open and you can see everyone in the campground.

Directions:
In Claremont, CA, at the intersection of Foothill Blvd and Mills Ave, take Mills Ave north 2.1 miles to an intersection (Mt. Baldy Rd). Turn right onto Mt. Baldy Rd and go 9.8 miles to a "Y" intersection. Bear left, staying on Mt. Baldy Rd. and go 2.3 miles to campground sign. Turn right at sign into campground.

Chilao :: Angeles National Forest

This weekend the family and I headed up the newly opened Highway 2 in the Angles National Forest to behold the beauties at Buckhorn Campground, but when we got to the campground the gate was locked! A small sign said it was billed to open the summer of 2011 (we talked with a park ranger and found it will most likely open early next year, maybe late this year - we hear it's getting a makeover!).
That threw a wrench in our plans, but we knew we would find somewhere to camp up there. We made a quick stop at Newcombs Ranch for a couple of pints of Fat Tire and to discuss our options. Newcombs Ranch is a nice little bar in the middle of hwy 2 with a good vibe. Little JW had a great time flirting with our waitress and the only other couple at the place. That little man has a way of making strangers utterly happy with his little smile, and he isn’t shy with it either!
After discussing our options we ended up staying in the Manzanita loop of Chilao Campground, about 8 miles down the road from Buckhorn. Little Pine is the other loop in this campground and it's closed at the moment due to fire damage. The campground is set among Coulter pine and chaparral mainly consisting of large manzanita and scrub oak, a magical combination in my opinion. And due to the Station Fire, which grazed the campground, the wildflowers are in full glory! It's a sign of the wonder of life re-birthing itself from the devastation.
We arrived at the campground around 3:00pm and it didn’t take us long to find a nice spot over looking the canyon under the shade of a few Coulter pines with a picturesque 20 foot Manzanita right in the center of it. As we put little buddy peacefully to bed, drank our beers and cooked our dinner it looked like we were in for a great night. I should have taken the Sheriff’s rolling through at 10pm with spotlights shining into camps and looking around as a little foreshadow of what was to come, but I didn’t.
Shortly after 10:00pm a few new groups showed up and had a really good time that night until 3:00am. JW didn’t seem to mind, but Amanda and I had a hard time sleeping to say the least. The campground was really loud in general, a lot of people playing music and a few really large really loud groups, so the alone-in- the-woods feeling was a little lost on this campground. Other then that it was a great place! During the week the place is almost empty, making it an ideal time to come. Were going to head back up then a give her another try some time.

Amanda and JW enjoying the morning sun at our campsite.

About half of the campsites were right on top of each other. This is a really good thing if you have a group larger then 8 people because the campsites are so close that you feel like the two sites are one, but not so good for privacy.

This is a group campground right in between the Little Pine and Manzanita loops. There was a large group there that had the whole place to themselves. The campground can accommodate a group with up to 50 people.

A little further up the road from the Manzanita Loop is a meadow. It used to be a campground but it looks like it has been closed for years.

Poodle dog bush beautiful but is not to be trifled with, touching it or even inhaling to close to it can cause poison oak like reactions.

The view looking down canyon from the edge of the campground.

Directions:
In La Canada, CA, at the intersection of I-210 and Angeles Crest Hwy. (Hwy 2), take Hwy 2 east
25.6 miles to campground sign.
If you reach Newcomb's Ranch you've gone too far!
Turn left at sign and go 0.1 miles to a "Y" intersection. Contine another 0.6 miles to Manzanita Loop on the left.