The Whittier Narrows is a narrows or water gap in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County, California, United States, between the Puente Hills to the east and the Montebello Hills to the west. The gap is located at the southern boundary of the San Gabriel Valley, through which the Rio Hondo and the San Gabriel River flow to enter the Los Angeles Basin. The Narrows is located near the convergence of Interstate 605 and California State Route 60.
Aerial view of Whittier Narrows Dam from downstream looking upstream through the gap.
View north of the Whittier Narrows Dam
The San Gabriel Valley, often referred to by its initials as SGV, is one of the principal valleys of Southern California, with the city of Los Angeles directly bordering it to the west, and occupying the vast majority of the southeastern part of Los Angeles County. Surrounding landforms and other features include the following:the San Gabriel Mountains to the north;
the San Rafael Hills to the west, with the Los Angeles Basin beyond;
the Crescenta Valley to the northwest;
the Puente Hills to the south, with the coastal plain of Orange County beyond;
the Chino Hills and San Jose Hills to the east, with the Pomona Valley and Inland Empire beyond; and
the city limits of Los Angeles, bordering its western edge.
Looking north from the Puente Hills above Rowland Heights
Los Angeles River, highlighted in red (on the left). The San Gabriel River is highlighted in red on the right.
Whittier, California, late 19th century
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory complex in La Cañada Flintridge. Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech.