Lamel Spring
Lamel Spring is a small but important water source in the Mount Baden-Powell area of the Angeles National Forest. Reached by a short spur off the Pacific Crest Trail from Vincent Gap, the spring emerges from beneath a large boulder roughly 1.9 miles from the trailhead. At times the water flows freely; at other times it only trickles, but it has long served as a useful stop for hikers moving through this high country.
Because reliable water can be scarce in the San Gabriel Mountains, Lamel Spring holds practical value well beyond its modest size. It is especially important to Pacific Crest Trail hikers and to those climbing Mount Baden-Powell, offering a chance to refill and rest just off the main route. Though small, it is part of the old mountain pattern where springs, seeps, and shaded drainages shaped travel through otherwise dry terrain.
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The setting around the spring reflects the transition between mountain forest and the drier country visible below. This part of the range supports mixed conifer woodland, chaparral, and montane plant communities adapted to steep slopes, seasonal snow, and long summer drought. The presence of water also makes the immediate area more attractive to birds and other wildlife than the surrounding dry hillsides.
Lamel Spring is not directly on the main trail, but the short side path makes it an easy and worthwhile detour. For hikers on the Baden-Powell route, it remains one of those small landscape features that can make a real difference: modest in appearance, but dependable enough to matter.
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