Aerial survey · USDA NAIP · public domain42-Acre Donated Wilderness Park in the San Jose Hills
1620 Aroma Drive, West Covina, CA 91791
Research updated May 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Free. Park is open daylight hours, 7 AM to 7 PM daily.
Access
Limited Access
Hillside trails, uneven; some sections steep
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1971 · Galster Family Donation · West Covina Wilderness Park · San Gabriel Mountains Regional Conservancy
Galster Wilderness Park was donated to the City of West Covina in 1971 by Emil and Gladys Galster. The 42-acre property occupies the north slope of the San Jose Hills in the San Gabriel Valley. The Galsters' donation deed stipulated that the land remain in wilderness use and be made available for educational programming, particularly for scouting organizations.
The park is operated jointly by the City of West Covina and the San Gabriel Mountains Regional Conservancy. A nature center building exists on the site but is typically closed; trails and outdoor areas are open daily from 7 AM to 7 PM.
The property has acquired an urban-legend reputation in West Covina over decades. Local researchers writing for community publications have examined these claims and found no historical record of the specific violent crimes alleged in online accounts; the park's dilapidated nature center and isolated hillside trails appear to have generated the folklore rather than any documented case.
Sources
The folklore surrounding Galster Park developed primarily through community paranormal sites and oral student tradition rather than through documented incidents. The recurring stories include violent crimes against children at a residence said to have stood inside the park boundary, threatening figures encountered by visiting paranormal investigators, and a scarred boy observed at one of the park entrances inviting visitors inside.
Local researchers, including student journalists writing for SAC.Media and community ghost-history bloggers, have examined the claims and identified no historical record of the specific crimes alleged in the most-circulated versions. The park's seclusion, its hillside terrain, and the dilapidated state of the nature center appear to drive the impression rather than any documented case.
Hauntbound presents the park primarily as a wilderness preserve with an unusually persistent local folklore tradition. Visitors should respect the donors' original educational intent and the park's posted hours.
Notable Entities
Media Appearances
Walk the trails of this 42-acre wilderness park on the north slope of the San Jose Hills. The nature center is typically closed; trails are open during daylight hours. The park's urban-legend reputation has been largely debunked by local historians.
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