Angeles National Forest 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.
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 in Angeles National Forest, California, in Los Angeles County. It 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.

Regionally,

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this marker is in Greater Los Angeles,

in the High Desert,

and in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: D.A.R. Society’s Fiftieth Anniversary (approx. 1.9 miles away); 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); Eaton Saddle (approx. 7.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Angeles National Forest.

Regarding West Fork Ranger Station.
California Historic Landmark statement of significance:
CHL No. 632 — Old Short Cut.
This is California’s first

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

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. The visitor center is open 10-3 most weekends during the summer, closed in winter. (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 December 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 25, 2019. This page has been viewed 1,021 times since then and 41 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.