LA-94 Newhall/ Los Pinetos Nike Missile & Radar Site  (1955-1968)

        Perhaps the best preserved Nike Missile site in the Los Angeles area, LA-94 is located in the Angeles National Forest off of Sand Canyon Road above the town of Newhall. With the radar and launch areas within a couple of miles from one another, and barracks situated between them on the same road, the site is also one of the most contained of all the missile sites.  Like LA-55 (Pt. Vicente) near the coast, LA-94's preservation is in large part due to its reuse.  The Administrative area and barracks have been converted into office space and house equipment for the LA County Fire Department.  

        The radar and launch areas are used as radar sites for ITT Gilfillon, and are fenced off, but buildings can still be seen from the road nearby the launch area, or by walking around the perimeter of the radar area.  The launch magazines, however, are situated behind a small hill, and blocked from view.  Across from the admin area (Fire Station), the building adjacent to the missile magazines can also be seen sitting on top of the hill (pictured above), as well as the road that leads to the radar station for the Nike site at Magic Mountain.

        In addition to being an excellent spot to hike around historical buildings, the hills that descend on either side of the site are an excellent source of botanical specimens and geological formations.  At such an elevation, looking out from the admin area supplies visitors with a complete view of the San Fernando Valley on one side, and the Santa Clarita Valley on the other.  The elevation also creates sweeping cloud formations across the hills. 

Map of L.A. Missile Sites

*Special thanks to Ron Kraus from the Placerita Canyon Nature Center for providing us with a tour of the site.