Unfortunately, this picnic site has been a victim of the priviatization of public lands. It is a…read morecrime that we, the American people, are being asked to pay to park on OUR LANDS. And in this case, pay twice! If you already payed for your Adventure Pass for Angeles National Forest, guess what? You have to pay the business owners of Mountain High Ski Resort AGAIN to park at this run-down picnic site that is part of the Angeles National Forest. To me, this is theft. First off, you can park on the highway and avoid the "Big Pines" parking fee of $5. Second of all, if Mountain High Ski Resort is being paid by American citizens, you'd think they would keep up the picnic sites a bit better than they have been. Things look really run down here, to be honest. I, for one, am sick and tired of "concessionaires" profiting from public lands. Thank you for listening. "This land is your land, this land is my land......" -Woody Guthrie. Don't forget. (PS: this is not a partisan post, because this policy went into effect under the previous administration.) Stand up for your rights or they will disappear.

Great group site. There are 6 running toilets with a hose bib outside to wash hands. The site has…read moretons of shade and picnic tables and a fire pit. There is a 3.5 mile downhill bike to Jackson lake. The observatory is a 10 minute walk from the campsite and offers great views.

I would agree with everything the previous reviewer said. This place is is private since you have…read moreto unload your stuff and then go park your car in the lot 250 yards away. The group sites are for 40 people but realistically can fit about 20 people comfortably. There is a BBQ, Fire pit, huge long tables and flush toilets. There are a couple of short hikes from the site that offer great views, but nothing too hard core, so if you're looking to hike through, this probably would not be the place for you. The host is a nice old man who is good about enforcing quiet hours, but is lenient at the same time. Quiet doesn't mean complete quiet :) This place is good for one or two nights, but anything more would be a stretch.

The park is aimed towards children aged 5 to 12. There's picnic tables, bbq grills, books, a…read morebaseball field, volleyball court, and playground. Women's restroom was clean and stocked. Men's restroom had a lot of sketchy guys coming in and out smoking weed and drinking. Overall there isn't much to do as far as bringing your younger children.

The time trials are fun to watch and this weekend weather was perfect for it!…read moreA lot more motorcycles racing for times on a 1.3 track!

Went out there to try out a photo idea but was turned off by the ATV's and that we couldn't drive…read moreon the lake bed.

Ahhh the San Gabriel Mountains...this range will forever hold a special place in my heart! It's…read morebeen an absolute privilege and completely transformative experience to call this place home. One of the most joyous surprises of my life has been discovering the hundreds of incredible hiking trails the SG mountains have to offer! I never expected somewhere so close to a crazy city like LA to have so much nature. I've seen more species of all kinds of creatures just in my SGM backyard alone in my short 5+ years here than I ever did growing up in the south. My words and photos could never do this range justice! I was ecstatic to discover that the SG mountains are now a protected national wilderness area!! 342,177 acres of the Angeles National Forest and 4,002 acres of neighboring San Bernardino National Forest have now been marked as a protected National Monument! And the people - I've met the most wonderful people in the SGV - many of you fellow Yelp elites as well! I've traveled the world and I can honestly say you don't find better folks! I've only scratched the surface too - I hope to spend the rest of my days exploring all the trails and capturing the natural magnificence of this fantastic range to the best of my ability! If anyone ever wants to hit the trails with me, I can make some great recommendations and would be thrilled to join you! Highly recommend exploring this place!

Nice little park. It has a ball park, playground, grass area and bmx track. No hobos and/or…read moreundesirables. Stores and food nearby for a picnic.

Los Angeles County had the foresight to set aside parcels of land such as this sanctuary to…read morepreserve native habitat of the county for future generations. Mescal Wildlife Sanctuary contains a beautiful stand of Joshua tree, as well as juniper and wildflowers. It's located in the eastern portion of the Antelope Valley, accessible by unpaved road. Gorgeous views of the San Gabriel Mountains form the background for the sanctuary. Look out for snakes, take plenty of sunscreen and water, and probably a hat. Spring seems to be the best time to visit. Free parking and no admission for this adventure!

In the far northern reaches of L.A. County you can find a number of open space preserves and…read morewildlife sanctuaries where you can walk undisturbed, encounter rare desert plants and animals, or just experience sublime silence. Unique among the constricted corridors of Los Angeles, these spaces remain quietly, defiantly Open. Of the eight county sanctuaries in the high desert, 320-acre Theodore Payne probably has the most Joshua trees. It is also one of the most difficult to reach, as it is located on an unimproved dirt road in an area crisscrossed by a number of such roads. View the county website shown here for more information on north county wildlife sanctuaries.