Angeles Linkage Open Space

Standing in Los Angeles, there’s a wall of rugged hills filling up the northern skyline. That wall-of-wild is the San Gabriel Mountain range, part of the Angeles National Forest and a vital green space for millions of L.A. residents living in its shadow.

TPL, in partnership with the Mountain Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is expanding this vital landscape by safeguarding 138 adjacent acres of undeveloped, high desert land in Los Angeles County. The Angeles Linkage Open Space will strengthen the region’s wildfire and climate resilience, protect critical habitats, and expand public access to nature’s benefits.

Closing an unprotected gap between two sections of the National Forest, this land plays a vital role in connecting wildlife between the coast and the high desert. The property includes a stretch of the seasonal Santa Clara River, whose waters flow through some of the healthiest native habitats in the region. Native plants thrive along the floodplain and the hills are home to diverse wildlife, including sensitive species that will benefit from this permanently protected corridor.

In an area prone to urban sprawl and development, this open space will serve as a critical buffer between foothill communities and the National Forest – reducing wildfire danger while also expanding recreational opportunities for millions of L.A. residents who want to hike, bike, and connect with nature close to home. The MRCA will oversee restoration, potential cultural easements, and the development of new trails linking into existing routes in the Angeles National Forest.

Permanently protecting this land contributes to California’s climate initiatives, safeguards water resources, and bridges a gap between nature and community – creating a space where both can thrive for generations to come.