The Angeles Crest Highway offers a scenic, secluded getaway, the entrance of which is only minutes from the city of Los Angeles. The other end of the highway is less than 10 miles from interstate 15, offering a scenic alternative for navigating to the big city. The highway, as it winds along the San Gabriel Mountains, offers spectacular views of nearby mountains and valleys. Several vista points along the road offer the traveler expansive views of the Mojave Desert, the San Gabriel Mountains, and the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys.

The highway climbs from around 1,500 feet at one end in La Canada, to 7,901 feet at its highest point at Dawson Saddle. Many travelers consider the drive the most scenic in Southern California. Mt. Wilson and the Mt. Wilson observatory are accessible from the byway, offering fantastic views of the Los Angeles Basin on those rare, clear days. The byway also provides access to many trails and camping areas in the forest. For the traveler who has yet to experience the many natural wonders around Los Angeles, the Angeles Crest Scenic Highway offers rewarding proof that wilderness and natural beauty are only minutes from the Los Angeles metropolis.