Arroyo Seco Official

Arroyo Seco Official Official guide to Arroyo Seco, California & the Santa Lucia Mountains. Hiking, swimming holes, local history, and exclusive Arroyo Official merchandise.

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🔥 TIMBER FIRE FOREST CLOSURE NOW IN EFFECTA large portion of the Los Padres National Forest is now closed under Forest O...
08/16/2026

🔥 TIMBER FIRE FOREST CLOSURE NOW IN EFFECT

A large portion of the Los Padres National Forest is now closed under Forest Order 05-07-51-26-08. The closure took effect August 16, 2026, and will remain in place until the Timber Fire is declared out.

Important clarification for the Arroyo Seco and Indians areas:

• Escondido Campground is within the shaded closure area and is closed to public access.

• Arroyo Seco Campground and the Memorial/Indians area appear to be outside the mapped closure boundary. However, visitors should confirm their current operating status before traveling.

• Many surrounding backcountry routes are closed, including the (14 miles out on) Arroyo Seco, Lost Valley, Carrizo, Rodeo Flat and San Antonio trails. A campground being outside the closure does not mean all nearby hiking and wilderness access is open.

• Pfeiffer Beach is included in the closure.

• Closed roads include Sycamore Canyon Road, North Coast Ridge Road and Central Coast Ridge/Cone Peak Road.

This is a legally enforceable closure. Please do not enter the gray-shaded area on the official map. Existing campground reservations do not override the order.

View the official order and map: InciWeb Timber Fire closure information⁠

Conditions and access can change quickly.

🔥 TIMBER FIRE FOREST CLOSURE — IMPORTANT CLARIFICATIONLos Padres National Forest Order 05-07-51-26-08 is now in effect a...
08/16/2026

🔥 TIMBER FIRE FOREST CLOSURE — IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION

Los Padres National Forest Order 05-07-51-26-08 is now in effect and will remain active until the Timber Fire is declared out.

This is a large area, road and trail closure covering much of the Ventana Wilderness. Entry onto National Forest lands inside the closure is prohibited.

The developed campgrounds in the Arroyo Seco and Indians/Memorial/Escondido areas are not specifically listed as closed and appear to be outside the described closure boundary. However, many surrounding backcountry trails are closed, including the Arroyo Seco, Lost Valley, Carrizo, Rodeo Flat and San Antonio trails.

In other words: a campground may remain accessible while the wilderness and trails beyond it are closed. A reservation does not authorize entry into the closure area.

Anyone planning to camp should confirm the campground’s operating status immediately before leaving and carefully review the signed order and map. Conditions, smoke and access can still change quickly.

Highway 1 also remains closed through the affected Big Sur corridor.

🔥 TIMBER FIRE UPDATE — AUGUST 15• The Timber Fire is now mapped at 4,655 acres and remains 12% contained.• Unmanned airc...
08/15/2026

🔥 TIMBER FIRE UPDATE — AUGUST 15

• The Timber Fire is now mapped at 4,655 acres and remains 12% contained.

• Unmanned aircraft detected remaining heat in heavy vegetation above homes. The greatest concentration was around Castro Canyon, where crews are focusing today.

• Aircraft reinforced and connected incomplete containment lines yesterday.

• Successful firing operations were conducted along Partington Road to remove vegetation between the active fire and containment lines. Operations stopped when conditions were no longer favorable.

• On the northern flank, dozer and handline are complete through the steep drainage toward the Big Sur River. Burning material continues to roll downhill, but the fire made little progress across the Pine Ridge Trail system yesterday.

• The eastern side was more active because of drier conditions. Heavy equipment has been moved into the area, and fire lines from previous fires are being reopened and strengthened.

There are still no evacuation orders or warnings listed for Arroyo Seco, Indians, Memorial or Escondido Campground. However, evacuation status and recreational access are two different things. A separate Forest Service closure may restrict access to portions of the surrounding backcountry, so visitors should verify the official closure map before traveling.

Continue monitoring Watch Duty, Ready Monterey County, InciWeb, Los Padres National Forest and Caltrans QuickMap for changes.

The Birdbath is one of the beautiful places found along the Santa Lucia Trail on the way toward Last Chance Falls. This ...
08/14/2026

The Birdbath is one of the beautiful places found along the Santa Lucia Trail on the way toward Last Chance Falls. This quiet swimming hole is tucked between the rocky canyon walls, surrounded by oaks, native vegetation and clear water reflecting the forest above. 🌿💧

The Santa Lucia Trail is currently receiving much needed attention from the Big Sur Recreation Crew, who are working to restore access toward Last Chance Falls. There is still work to be done, but every cleared section helps bring this historic trail back to life.

Please travel prepared, respect current trail conditions, pack out everything you bring and leave this special place better than you found it. For information about the location or current access, message Big Sur Rec Crew directly.

🔥 TIMBER FIRE UPDATE — AUGUST 14, 2026The Timber Fire is now mapped at 4,545 acres. The most recently reported containme...
08/14/2026

🔥 TIMBER FIRE UPDATE — AUGUST 14, 2026

The Timber Fire is now mapped at 4,545 acres. The most recently reported containment remains 7%.

Encouraging progress was made overnight:

• On the southern edge, crews completed containment line from DeAngulo Ridge to Partington Road and along the Coast Ridge Trail toward Highway 1.

• Firefighters continued building handline behind homes east of Highway 1, connecting it into a continuous containment feature. Very little fire activity has been observed in this area for several days.

• On the northern side, the fire has crossed the Pine Ridge Trail system and burning material has rolled toward the Big Sur River. The fire remains south of the river, which is an important containment objective. Dozer and handline have been completed to help secure that boundary.

• The eastern flank remained active overnight around Olmstead Mountain. Crews are reopening older fire lines and looking for safe opportunities to build line closer to the active edge.

Residents in Carmel Valley and communities near previously used fire lines may see additional equipment entering the backcountry today. This is part of contingency and suppression work and does not, by itself, indicate a new evacuation.

🔥 TIMBER FIRE MORNING UPDATE — AUGUST 13The Timber Fire has grown to approximately 4,245 acres and is now reported at 7%...
08/13/2026

🔥 TIMBER FIRE MORNING UPDATE — AUGUST 13

The Timber Fire has grown to approximately 4,245 acres and is now reported at 7% containment.

Favorable overnight conditions helped firefighters make important progress. Humidity reached nearly 90% beneath the heavy marine layer, and very little fire activity was observed at lower elevations. However, the fire continued burning actively above the marine layer.

OVERNIGHT PROGRESS:

• On the southern end, firefighters worked down Partington Ridge toward Highway 1, connecting handline with completed dozer line to limit further spread toward the south and southeast.

• Engines remained positioned behind structures west of Highway 1 throughout the night as a precaution.

• On the northern side, crews completed fireline from Coast Ridge Road down to the Big Sur River to help prevent additional northward spread.

• Crews are reopening older firelines as contingency lines and looking for safe places to construct new line as close as possible to the active eastern edge.

🔥 TIMBER FIRE EVENING UPDATE — AUGUST 12The Timber Fire has grown to 4,044.7 acres and remains 5% contained.Cooler tempe...
08/13/2026

🔥 TIMBER FIRE EVENING UPDATE — AUGUST 12

The Timber Fire has grown to 4,044.7 acres and remains 5% contained.

Cooler temperatures, rain and higher humidity reduced fire activity in some lower-elevation areas and gave crews an opportunity to make progress. However, officials emphasize that the rain was not enough to extinguish a fire that has been burning for several days in heavy vegetation.

⛈️ THUNDERSTORM IMPACTS

A large thunderstorm produced cloud-to-ground lightning and erratic winds over the fire Wednesday afternoon. Firefighters briefly withdrew to safe locations until the storm passed.

Poor visibility and inclement weather also limited aircraft operations for much of the day. Helicopters were able to resume work along the upper and eastern portions of the fire after conditions cleared later in the day.

🔥 CURRENT FIRE ACTIVITY

• The fire has burned nearly to Highway 1 at Grimes Canyon.

• It continues backing slowly toward structures along Highway 1 between Ventana and Partington Ridge Road.

• Structure defense remains a priority in those areas.

• Higher elevations and the eastern side remained clear and active despite clouds and moisture at lower elevations.

• The fire has progressed southeast across Logwood Creek.

• Crews are searching for safe opportunities to directly engage the active eastern edge.

🌤️ WEATHER OUTLOOK

Thunderstorms and showers are expected to taper off overnight. A heavy marine layer should settle into lower elevations, with partial clearing Thursday afternoon.

Elevations above approximately 2,000 feet are expected to remain clearer and drier. Much warmer temperatures are forecast to arrive this weekend, meaning the fire could become more active again as vegetation dries.

TIMBER FIRE UPDATE — AUGUST 12The Timber Fire burning near Coast Ridge Road in Big Sur has grown to approximately 3,150 ...
08/12/2026

TIMBER FIRE UPDATE — AUGUST 12

The Timber Fire burning near Coast Ridge Road in Big Sur has grown to approximately 3,150 acres and remains 5% contained.

The fire increased by about 161 acres from the previous 2,989-acre estimate. It continued backing downhill toward structures near Ventana and along Grimes and Stoney ridges while spreading south toward Partington Ridge. More than 500 firefighters are assigned, and approximately 259 structures remain threatened. No injuries or structural damage have been officially reported.

Evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect throughout portions of Big Sur, and Highway 1 is closed to public travel between Fernwood Resort and the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park Vista Point.

Weather is an additional concern today. Forecasters are monitoring a slight possibility of dry thunderstorms, lightning and erratic winds this afternoon into early Thursday. The marine layer is helping at lower elevations, but conditions remain warmer and drier above it.

There are currently no evacuation orders or warnings for Arroyo Seco, Indians or Memorial Campground. The fire remains on the Big Sur side of the Santa Lucia Mountains and has not entered the Arroyo Seco watershed. However, with containment still low and the eastern side remaining active, conditions should be monitored closely.

Follow CAL FIRE, Ready Monterey County and Watch Duty for official updates.

This is a significant new update. At 12:27 p.m. today:* MRY-F023 was upgraded to an Evacuation Order — leave now.* MRY-F...
08/11/2026

This is a significant new update. At 12:27 p.m. today:

* MRY-F023 was upgraded to an Evacuation Order — leave now.
* MRY-F021-B, MRY-F022 and the very large MRY-F029 zone were placed under Evacuation Warnings.
* The Timber Fire has been mapped at 2,478 acres and remains 5% contained.

The large yellow MRY-F029 area stretches well into the Ventana Wilderness. That does not mean the entire yellow area is burning—it means officials believe conditions could create a potential threat there and people should be prepared to evacuate.

For anyone asking about camping around Indians, Memorial Park or the Arroyo Seco backcountry, I would now advise postponing the trip. Even if a particular campground is not presently under an evacuation order, this is an expanding incident with changing warnings, smoke, possible road or forest closures, and considerable emergency activity.

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47600 Arroyo Seco Road
Greenfield, CA
93927

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