History of the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park

The hills of Claremont have a long history of providing open space for outdoor activities. Dating as far back as the 1800s, college students were known to hike in the foothills of present-day Claremont. From 1900 to 1950, the 180-acre area known as Johnson’s Pasture belonged to the Johnson family, who used the area primarily for picnicking, hiking, and planting trees, shrubs, and wildflowers with family and friends. The hillsides were reserved for agriculture and irrigation, as well as recreation. Gale Ranch was used to raise goats for mohair.

The Claremont Hills Wilderness Park opened in 1996 with 1,440 acres and was dedicated as a City Nature Park in 1997. The 2008 incorporation of Johnson's Pasture increased the park to 1,620 acres. Park boundaries include Marshall Canyon to the West, Angeles National Forest to the North, and San Bernardino County line to the East. Park elevation varies from 1,800 to 3,000 feet.

Since 1996, the City of Claremont, in cooperation with several non-profit organizations, has been purchasing and conveying hillside properties for permanent open space protection along the lower foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. These properties, now under ownership of the City of Claremont, are collectively known and managed as the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park.  

The Claremont Hills Wilderness Park Management Plan was created to provide general guidelines concerning park management for City officials with the goal of preserving the natural characteristics of the park while providing visitors the opportunity for passive and recreational enjoyment of the park.