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Forest Status

Closure: Big Pines Visitor Center and other USFS offices in the Angeles National Forest will be closed from January 8th – 23rd due to the upswing in Covid, at which time the closure will be reevaluated.

It is now winter  in our area.

Be prepared for changing weather conditions. Dress appropriately and bring chains, emergency warm clothes/blankets, food and drink.

Contact CalTrans for up-to-date road conditions, including chain requirements: 800-427-7623. (Check State Routes 2 and 138.)

Snowplay areas (and bathrooms) near Wrightwood:  Off Hwy 2: 1) Big Pines -port-a-potties, Inspiration Point – vault toilets, Grassy Hollow – vault toilets, and Vincent Gap – vault toilets; Off N-4: 1) Arches Picnic Area – vault toilet, Peavine Campground – vault campground, and Apple Tree Campground – vault campground.

Parking – park in lots (Adventure Pass required) or in legal areas on side of road. Obey “no parking” signs.  If you find legal parking on side of road, your car must be completely outside of fogline (white lane line on exterior of lane).  Fines begin at $150.

Trash – please take your trash home with you!  (There is not enough staff to keep the forest clean; we must all do our part.)

Thank you for protecting our forest.

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BIG PINES VISITOR CENTER

Located in a historical stonework building, the visitor center is located at the intersection of Hwy 2 and N-4, four miles west of the town of Wrightwood.

Staffing the visitor center on Saturdays, Sundays, and some holidays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., VANF members are here to help with hiking, camping, and other suggestions; Adventure Passes are for sale.

Staffing the visitor center on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8:30 to 4 p.m., a USFS information officer can also sell federal passes – including interagency and senior – and issue wood permits.

Couched within this 1920’s facility, are a selection of great interpretive items – including a taxidermied mountain lion and bear.

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COME, JOIN US, BE A PART OF THE VOLUNTEERS OF THE ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST

The Volunteers of the Angeles National Forest are staffing the Big Pines Visitor Center – located 4 miles west of Wrightwood – on Saturdays, Sundays, and some holidays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

While answering questions about hiking and camping, and selling Adventure Passes, they invite visitors to enjoy their historic building including displays of local animals and birds, maps, and pictures of the area.  In addition, VANF members run a school/youth group fieldtrip program and a summer interpretive program.

As a volunteer, you may choose to work with the school program, staff the center, or do both!  When working at the center, you are committing to one weekend day a month.  If you choose to work with the schools program, you can determine your work schedule.

Initial training is provided and ongoing training occurs at the monthly membership meeting at 7pm on the 4th Tuesday of each month in Wrightwood.

We welcome volunteers 18 years and older.

If you would like to join our team or would like more information, please email vanf.big.pines@gmail.com .