SAN DIEGO COUNTY
SANTA MARGARITA PEAK
Cleveland National Forest
T8S-R5W-27
T8S-R5W-27
October 14, 1938: "Lookout Charlton on Santa Margarita Peak on the Cleveland is anxious to know whether the Forest Service measures maturity by birthdays. He has had only five birthdays, but claims that he has reached maturity. He was a leap year baby." (California Ranger)
August 23, 1969: "A fire in Devil's Canyon, in the northeast corner of the huge base (Camp Pendleton), had spread into the Cleveland National Forest. The Santa Margarita lookout tower was completely surrounded by the blaze and the garage burned down, but the forest service employe in the tower was unharmed and the tower did not burn." (Eugene Register-Guard)
March 2, 1988: A Marine CH-46E helicopter on a combat evasive maneuver training exercise collided with the lookout tower. The four man crew of the aircraft escaped with only minor injuries. The lookout tower, however, was heavily damaged and had to be removed.
Removed