Backpacking camp

Gabrielino Lower Backcountry Zone camp area

San Gabriel Wilderness, California

About this place

Gabrielino Lower Backcountry Zone is an official itinerary area, permit zone, or source-backed named overnight reference represented by a reachable point on the pinned agency trail network in San Gabriel Wilderness.

The marker is a route-access reference, not a tent pad. Move off the trail only where travel is permitted, remain inside the authorized zone, and choose a legal durable site under every current setback and closure.

Water planning

Water at this camp

Natural water at or near this camp area

Availability

Santa Anita Wash is mapped at or near the camp-area marker. This is map evidence, not a real-time flow report.

Drinking safety

Natural water is not verified potable. Filter and disinfect it or boil it according to the linked land-manager guidance before drinking.

Seasonality

Santa Anita Wash is classified as perennial in USGS hydrography, but current flow still must be confirmed.

  • Santa Anita WashRiver or stream · at the camp areaMapped perennial source — verify current flow · Treat before drinking
    Official source

Fire planning

Campfire & stove rules

No backcountry wood or charcoal fire unless expressly allowed

Campfires

Angeles fire-danger rules limit wood and charcoal fires to designated developed sites; this backcountry zone is not a developed fire site.

Backpacking stoves

Gas or petroleum-jelly stove with permit. When the current fire-danger level allows dispersed use, use only a gas or petroleum-jelly stove and keep a valid California Campfire Permit. Extreme restrictions can prohibit stove fire.

Permit

Carry a valid California Campfire Permit; it does not exempt you from an emergency prohibition.

Current restrictions

The last published order expired October 1, 2026. Check Angeles alerts for a replacement order and the current fire-danger level before departure.

Seasonal access

Closures & seasonal access

San Gabriel routes do not share a single annual closure season

Place closure

No recurring date-based closure of Gabrielino Lower Backcountry Zone is published. The source-connected approach conditions below and temporary emergency orders still control access.

Seasonal access

Source-connected approaches: Mount Waterman Trailhead, Red Box Trailhead, Shortcut Saddle Trailhead. San Gabriel routes do not share a single annual closure season. Wildfire recovery, storm damage, snow, heat, and forest orders can close individual roads, trails, or areas.

Before driving

Check Angeles National Forest alerts and the exact route before departure; an expired closure order is not evidence that a trail has reopened.

Mapped approaches

Choose a trailhead for Gabrielino Lower Backcountry Zone camp area

Each option has a sourced trail route to this camp area. Choose one to open its itinerary builder with this destination in context.

Map

Loading map
Latitude
34.209236° N
Longitude
118.019861° W

Sources

Official overnight record NFS Gabrielino National Recreation Trail lower corridor; mapped to the nearest reachable agency trail pointSan Gabriel Wilderness no-permit policySan Gabriel Wilderness overnight regulationsSan Gabriel Wilderness current conditionsOpenTopoData public API — SRTM 90 mUSGS NHDPlusV2 flowline — Santa Anita WashUSDA Forest Service — Backcountry Safety: Water & SanitationAngeles National Forest — fire danger and restrictionsAngeles National Forest — current alertsCalifornia — California Campfire Permit