Angeles National Forest near Palmdale in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

West Fork Ranger Station

Old Short Cut

Photographed By Craig Baker, November 24, 2019

1. West Fork Ranger Station Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Built in 1900 alongside the West Fork of the San Gabriel River and north of Mt. Wilson, the historic cabin was the first ranger station built in California with federal government funds — $75. In the late 1920's, new roads into the mountains changed both the method of travel into the forest and the choice of main travel routes, leaving the cabin in relative isolation. The cabin was moved in 1983 to protect it from decay and vandalism. (Marker Number 632.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.

Location. 34° 19.618′ N, 118° 0.368′ W. Marker is near Palmdale, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Angeles National Forest. Marker can be reached from Angeles Crest Highway (California Route 2) 26 miles north of Interstate 210. The marker is located behind the Chilao Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Moccasin Trail, Palmdale CA 93550, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured

West Fork Ranger Station and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Baker, November 24, 2019

2. West Fork Ranger Station and Marker

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as the crow flies. Vetter Mountain Fire Lookout (approx. 2.4 miles away); Cogswell Dam (approx. 6.3 miles away); The Mount Wilson 100 Inch Telescope (approx. 7.6 miles away); The 100-Inch Hooker Telescope (approx. 7.6 miles away); Michelson Pier on Mount Wilson (approx. 7.8 miles away); Harvard’s Mount Wilson Station (approx. 7.8 miles away); Benjamin Davis Wilson (approx. 7.9 miles away); Adams Pack Station (approx. 9.2 miles away).

Regarding West Fork Ranger Station. California Historic Landmark No. 632 — Old Short Cut.
This is California’s first ranger station, built in 1900 by Louie Newcomb and Phillip Begue, early Forest Service men. The cabin took its name from the “Short Cut Canyon Trail,” as the cabin was one of the main stopping points on this trail.

Also see . . . Chilao Visitor Center. Open 10-4 most weekends during the summer, closed in winter. The historic Vetter Mountain Fire Lookout, rebuilt in 2019, is five miles from the Visitor Center. (Submitted on December 2, 2019.)

West Fork Ranger Station image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Baker, November 24, 2019

3. West Fork Ranger Station

Photographed By Craig Baker, November 24, 2019

4. West Fork Ranger Station

Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress), circa 1933

5. West Fork Ranger Station

Credits. This page was last revised on February 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 25, 2019. This page has been viewed 286 times since then and 31 times this year. Last updated on August 11, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 25, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.