The Crescenta Valley is located between the San Gabriel Mountains on the northeast and the Verdugo Mountains and San Rafael Hills on the southwest. It opens into the San Fernando Valley on the northwest and the San Gabriel Valley on the southeast. The Verdugo Wash runs down the center of the Crescenta Valley.

The following communities are located in the Crescenta Valley:

• Sunland-Tujunga (City of Los Angeles)
• La Crescenta-Montrose (Unincorporated)
• Montrose (city of Glendale)
• La Canada-Flintridge (Incorporated)
• Verdugo City (city of Glendale)

 

The following communities located within the Crescenta Valley are part of the City of Los Angeles: (1) La Tuna Canyon, (2) Lakeview Terrace, (3) Shadow Hills, and (4) Sunland - Tujunga.

Verdugo Wash

The Verdugo Wash is a 9.4 mile long tributary of the Los Angeles River that originates just south of Interstate 10 in the Crescenta Valley. The wash flows south along the eastern edge of the Verdugo Mountains through a pass between the Verdugos and the San Rafael Hills to join the Los Angeles River. The entire wash is located within the city of Glendale.

 

Verdugo Mountains

The Verdugo Mountains, also known as the Verdugos, is a mountain range located south of the western San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County. The mountains provide recreational opportunities and provide an important wildlife habitat. The highest peak is Verdugo Peak which reaches to 3,126 feet. Tongva Peak, which rises to 2,656 feet, was named after the Tongva People who inhabited the Verdugo Mountains before the area was. claimed by Spain and later by Mexico.

 

Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley

The Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley is a non-profit membership organization. Its stated purpose is to investigate, record, and celebrate the history of the Crescenta Valley. The organization offers free educational programs for the community, plus ongoing community service activities which include tours of local historical sites, as well as the archiving of historic documents and photos, and the recording of oral histories. Memberships are available and donations are always welcome. The Historical Society covers La Crescenta, Montrose, La Canada, and parts of Glendale. Some of the historical sites in the Crescenta Valley include St. Lukes of the Mountain Episcopal Church (1924), La Crescenta Women's Club (1911), Spar Heights Community Center (1930), The Old School Bell (1890), La Crescenta Presbyterian Church (1923), and the Bathey House (1883).

 

Rancho San Rafael

Rancho San Rafael was a 36,403-acre Spanish land grant given in 1784 to Jose Maria Verdugo. The land grant was located primarily in the San Rafael Hills and was bordered by both the Los Angeles River and Arroyo Seco. It included the present day cities of Glendale, La Canada-Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, Eagle Rock, and parts of Los Angeles, including Highland Park, Glassel! Park, and Mount Washington.