121 miles with 13,300 feet of elevation gain*
Locate ride on interactive map.
[Interactive Course | enlarge]
[Route Profile]
Angeles Crest Highway - Counties Visited:
Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County
Angeles Crest Highway - Cities/Towns Visited:
La Cañada Flintridge and Wrightwood
Angeles Crest Highway - Climbs:
Mile 1 (cat. 2), 12 (cat. 3), 18 (cat. 3), 22 (cat. 4), 28 (cat. 2), 36 (cat. 4), 41 (cat. 3), 52 (cat. 3), 61 (cat. 3), 70 (cat. 3), 85 (cat. 4), and 103 (cat. 4)
Angeles Crest Highway - Stops (Self-Supported):
Mile 28 (Newcomb's Ranch), 61 (Wrightwood), and 94 (Newcomb's Ranch)
Angeles Crest Highway - Description:
Angeles Crest Highway (Highway 2) is a scenic mountain-rural ride through the San Gabriel Mountains in the Angeles National Forest. This super century offers plenty of climbing, but always on moderate grades (around five percent).
The ride starts in La Cañada Flintridge (near Glendale), the beginning of the Angeles Crest Highway. The route follows Highway 2 for about 60 miles to Wrightwood, the turnaround point. On the way it passes Red Box (the turnoff to Mount Wilson), Newcomb's Ranch, Cloud Burst Summit, two tiny ski resorts (Mount Waterman and Kratka Ridge), two tunnels, Islip Saddle, Dawson Saddle (the highest point at 7,901 feet), Vincent Gulch Divide, Blue Ridge (Inspiration Point), and Big Pines. The way out requires over 9,000 feet of climbing, the way back over 4,000 feet.
Angeles Crest Highway - Pictures:
[View from Red Box]
[Newcomb's Ranch]
[Cloud Burst Summit]
[View of San Gabriel Canyon]
[Dawson Saddle]
[View of Mount Baldy]
[Wrightwood Cyclery]
Angeles Crest Highway - Personal Notes:
John L., Johnny U., and I went for this ride. John forgot to bring his shorts and jersey and had to ride in his street clothes. In Wrightwood, we checked out Wrightwood Cyclery, but it focuses on service and repair. Eric N., the owner, was kind enough though to give John a pair of his own cycling shorts.
Newcomb's Ranch and Wrightwood were the only locations with water and food on the ride (the water fountains at Red Box and in Big Pines did not work). On weekends, these two locations are popular with motorcyclists. It was cool listening to outlaw country playing from a custom Harley at the last stop of the day.
Angeles Crest Highway - Current Weather:
See also Angeles Crest Century and Dawson Saddle.