Kagel Canyon Ca

This San Fernando Valley canyon community, tucked into the Angeles National Forest, emerged in the late 1880s as a mining town. A spirit of rugged individualism continues today as residents brave threats from fires and floods in exchange for tranquillity and isolation. Away but accessible Kagel Canyon, an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, seems far removed from civilization, but is less than a mile from the 210 and 118 freeways.

In the foothills of the San Fernando Valley sits a quiet retreat studded with low-slung buildings and lushly landscaped walkways. Birds chirp from swaying branches of sycamores and oaks and a multilevel koi pond near the entrance gurgles softly. It once was home to senior citizens who could live out their final years in nature's embrace. Now a homeless agency in downtown Los Angeles wants to convert the wooded, 71-acre property into transitional housing for 275 homeless women and children.

In the foothills of the San Fernando Valley sits a quiet retreat studded with low-slung buildings and lushly landscaped walkways. Birds chirp from swaying branches of sycamores and oaks and a multilevel koi pond near the entrance gurgles softly. It once was home to senior citizens who could live out their final years in nature's embrace. Now a homeless agency in downtown Los Angeles wants to convert the wooded, 71-acre property into transitional housing for 275 homeless women and children.

This San Fernando Valley canyon community, tucked into the Angeles National Forest, emerged in the late 1880s as a mining town. A spirit of rugged individualism continues today as residents brave threats from fires and floods in exchange for tranquillity and isolation. Away but accessible Kagel Canyon, an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, seems far removed from civilization, but is less than a mile from the 210 and 118 freeways.