California Highway 39 Road Trip Points of Interest

California State Route 39 originally ran from Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach to Angeles Crest Highway in the San Gabriel Mountains. The route for this road trip starts in Azusa, California, and ends at Crystal Lake Recreation Area.

Forest Adventure Pass

The first stop before driving into San Gabriel Canyon is the Canyon Gateway Center. Here, you can purchase a National Forest Adventure Pass. Visitors will need a pass if they plan on parking in a developed day-use area. Adventure Passes are only $5.00 for a day. 

Morris Reservoir Dam

Continuing into the Canyon, you will see the Morris Reservoir Dam on your right. The dam was built in 1934 and is used for flood control. There is no public access to the dam. However, several overlooks allow you to pull off the highway and view the dam. During World War 2, the Morris Reservoir was used as a Naval Weapons Test Site for testing torpedoes.

San Gabriel Dam

Next up is the 500-foot-high San Gabriel Dam. The reservoir behind the dam is used for groundwater recharge, flood control, and power of a small hydroelectric plant. Again, no public access to the reservoir is allowed, but there are several overlooks where you can pull off the highway.

East Fork Road

At the end of the San Gabriel Dam Reservoir, there is a turnoff for the San Gabriel River East Fork Road. This road follows the river for five miles and ends at the Heaton Flats day-use area and Campground. East Fork Road is also the access point to the trendy Bridge to Nowhere Trail: Shoemaker Canyon Road, the Road to Nowhere, branches of East Fork Road.

Bridge to Nowhere

The Bridge to Nowhere requires a ten-mile roundtrip hike to an abandoned 1936 concrete bridge. Parking for the Bridge to Nowhere hike is at Heaton Flats. The trail to the bridge requires several river crossings and may not be accessible during the rainy season—bridge to Nowhere Bungee jumping. 

Gold Prospecting

In the mid-1800s, there was a gold rush along the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. Several mining camps in the canyon, including “Prospect Bar” and “Eldoradoville.” Most of the placer gold had been mined within a few years, and the rush was over. Today, recreational gold panners can find a few flakes of gold along the river’s East Fork.

San Gabriel Canyon OHV

The San Gabriel Canyon OHV is about half a mile past the East Fork turnoff. The OHV features 160 acres of river bottom open for use by on and offroad vehicles. Trails feature sand, mud, and river crossings. San Gabriel Canyon OHV is open on weekends and holidays.

West Fork Day Use Trail Head

If racing around on an ATV is not for you, there are plenty of places to hike in the canyon. The West Fork Trail is a seven-mile paved pathway to the Cogswell Reservoir. The route is popular with hikers and bicyclists. The trail runs along the west fork of the San Gabriel River. During the summer, the first mile of the river is jam-packed with people cooling off in the creek. An adventure pass is needed to park here.

Highway 39 North Fork 

From the west fork parking area, Highway 39 twists and turns adjacent to the river’s north fork. Several trails along Highway 39, including Bichota Canyon Trail, Pigeon Ridge Fire Road, Upper Bear Creek Trail, and the Lewis Fall Trail.

Crystal Lake Recreation Area

The final stop on this trip is the Crystal Lake Recreation. Here you will find a small water hole called Crystal Lake. The lake is snow and spring-fed and occasionally stocked with small trout. Crystal Lake campground features 50 Campsites, an open-air amphitheater, a small visitor center, and Crystal Lake Cafe & Trading Post. Crystal Lake is a one-mile hike from the campground. 

End of the Road

About a quarter-mile past, the Crystal Lake turnoff is the end of Highway 39. A gate here blocks access to the last 4.5 miles of the road to Angeles Crest Highway. A giant rock slide in 1978 closed the road to the public. Emergency vehicles are allowed to use this section.

The mileage from the San Gabriel Canyon Gateway Center to Crystal Lake is just under 45 miles. We suggest purchasing an Adventure Pass, and it’s only five dollars. San Gabriel Canyon is a popular escape from the heat during the summer and gets very crowded. Spring or Fall is the best time to visit.

Southern California Road Trip Ideas

Crystal Cove State Park

Northern California U-Pick Farms