Los Angeles Times reports Angeles Crest damage

The Los Angeles Times reported on May 21 that damage and partial closures continue to disrupt Angeles Crest Highway, the 66-mile mountain road that many Southern California hikers use to reach the San Gabriel Mountains. Caltrans says an active closure on State Route 2 now stretches from 3.3 miles east of Newcomb’s Ranch to Big Pines Highway, affecting nearly 30 miles of the route. The agency says the work is tied to storm-related damage and is being handled through three emergency repair projects. Parts of the highway remain open, but access now depends on which segment travelers are trying to reach. ### Which part of Angeles Crest Highway is closed right now? Caltrans says the closed stretch runs from 3.3 miles east of Newcomb’s Ranch to Islip Saddle and from Islip Saddle to Big Pines in Los Angeles County. Its road-conditions page listed those segments as closed because of emergency repairs in updates posted this week. The agency’s project page describes the broader closure as extending to Big Pines Highway and affecting nearly 30 miles within Angeles National Forest. (latimes.com) The Los Angeles Times described the broader road as a 66-mile scenic route through the San Gabriel Mountains. That means the entire highway is not shut, but a long central section remains unavailable to through traffic while repairs continue. ### What caused the latest disruption? Caltrans says the current work is part of winter storm repairs on SR-2. The agency said it is carrying out three emergency repair projects to address storm-related damage on the highway inside Angeles National Forest. (roads.dot.ca.gov) A Caltrans news release from August 2025 said earlier repairs had reopened more than 10 miles of the road after damage from the 2022-2023 winter season, showing that the route has faced repeated weather-related closures and reopenings. (latimes.com) The Forest Service says road conditions across Angeles National Forest can change suddenly because of weather, mudslides, fallen rocks, debris flows and landslides. It tells visitors to check local road conditions and alerts before leaving home. ### What does this mean for hikers heading into the San Gabriels? Angeles National Forest says road conditions can directly affect access to recreation sites across the forest and the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. (dot.ca.gov) The Los Angeles Times said the closures matter because Angeles Crest Highway is a key approach road for hikes in the range, especially on a busy holiday weekend. The Forest Service also has separate closures in place in parts of the forest. (fs.usda.gov) A Williamson Rock area closure remains in effect through Dec. 31, 2026, and an Eaton Fire area closure remains in effect through Dec. 31, 2027, according to agency alerts. Those orders are distinct from the SR-2 repair zone, but they add to the patchwork of access limits hikers may encounter. ### Can drivers still use any part of the highway? Caltrans said in 2025 that Angeles Crest Highway was open between Interstate 210 and State Route 138 after earlier emergency repairs, but its current conditions pages now show the closure reimposed across the Newcomb’s Ranch-Islip Saddle-Big Pines section. That means some western and eastern approaches remain usable, while the damaged middle section is not open to through travel. (fs.usda.gov) The practical effect is that travelers can no longer assume a continuous drive across the crest. Access to trailheads, campgrounds and scenic stops depends on which side of the closure they are approaching from, and whether a destination lies inside a separate forest closure area. ### Where should travelers check before leaving? Caltrans says current SR-2 conditions are posted on its highway information pages and can also be checked by phone at 1-800-427-7623. (dot.ca.gov) The Forest Service says visitors should also review Angeles National Forest alerts and current conditions before travel because restrictions can change with weather or fire activity. For Memorial Day weekend trips, those two sources are the agencies naming the next update point. (dot.ca.gov) (roads.dot.ca.gov)