10/12/2020
It’s time to make the announcement many of you have been waiting for. When will the Forest reopen? The answer is today!
But… there will be some prohibitions, as fire danger remains present.
- Camping is only allowed in a small number of developed campgrounds. Dispersed camping and camping at Yellow Post Sites, for example, will not be allowed at this time.
- For those camping at the open sites, campfires will not be allowed, including propane campfire rings/pits. Propane stoves and lanterns will be allowed.
- Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the forest, including developed campgrounds and recreation sites.
- The San Gorgonio Wilderness, its inbound trails and associated parking lots (including Big Falls and Falls Picnic Area) will remain closed due to the El Dorado Fire, which still has active smoke and flame in areas (a 100-acre interior spot is burning today). Crews remain throughout the wilderness working on the fire.
- Other areas effected by the El Dorado Fire will also remain closed, including Thurman Flats Picnic Area and the adjacent Forest Service creekbed area, a portion of the Santa Ana River Trail and Thomas Hunting Grounds Road (1N12).
- The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) will be closed between Black Mountain Road (4S01) and Snow Creek Village due to the Snow Fire.
- All other closures and prohibitions that were in effect before the full forest closure remain in place, such as the Aztec Falls closure and the recent introduction of permits for some wilderness areas.
For open/closed statuses on specific sites, please visit their individual pages.
As always, feel free to ask questions in the comments section!
