For the past 4 years, the San Gabriel Mountains stole my heart. Its no wonder they are now designating it as a National Monument. On October 10, President Obama set aside 346,000 acres of the San Gabriels to declare a National Monument in effort to link communities east of Los Angeles with the wild. With the San Gabriels lying in the Angeles National forest in Los Angeles county, this gives communities access to hiking, camping fly fishing, cycling, and panning for gold- all of which will not be affected. The monument boasts Alpine peaks and several endangered animals such as the California Condor, Nelson Bighorn sheep, and mountain yellow-legged frogs. As a national monument, the San Gabriels will honor existing property and water rights, public access and rights-of-way for roads and utility infrastructure, administration officials said.