Crystal Lake

Map Satellite

Crystal Lake is the only natural lake in the San Gabriel mountains. The main plant communities surrounding the lake are the yellow pine forest, with ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa, sugar pine, Pinus lambertiana, and white fir, Abies concolor, the dominants and a mixed evergreen forest with canyon oak, Quercus chrysolepis, and big-cone Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga macrocarpa, prominent.

This is the only station in the San Gabriels for several plant species, including Potamogeton nodosus and Ceratophyllum demersum. It is also the type locality for Descurainia richardsonii ssp. incisa (= Descurainia incisa ssp. incisa) and Descurainia obtusa ssp. adenophora. Other unique species occurring here include Limosella acaulis and Eleocharis parvula var. coloradoensis.

Crystal Lake was formed by a morainal dam and there is other evidence of glaciation, particularly in the unstratified heterogeneous mixtures, varying from a fine, sandy material to large, angular boulders in the adjacent Pine Flats. The glacier probably formed on the west face of Mount Hawkins.

Integrity: Classified as a recreation area, the site is heavily used.

Use: Research, educational, observational, light recreation.

Ref: Wilier, W. J. 1926. Glaciation in the San Gabriel Mountains, California. Jour. Geo. 34, pp. 74-82.

July 1976