The Angeles is surrounded on all sides by a sprawling, urban metropolis. Add to that the easy access by state and county highway systems, and the growing trends for residents to recreate close to home, and the Angeles enjoys the unique designation of a truly "urban" national forest. The Angeles hosts over 3.2 million visitors each year, making it the second most visited national forest in the nation. The urban proximity also places many demands on forest resources outside of recreation. Land uses range from important telecommunication sites, utility corridors, and mining operations, to providing locations for the local Hollywood film industry. "Local community" for an urban forest is as encompassing as that forest's vision.
The Angeles National Forest contributes to the local communities in many ways, including participating in Southern California programs that provide employment and job training to urban residents from as far away as South Central Los Angeles. U.S. Forest Service officials said all ignition sources, such as campfires and gas stoves, will be prohibited across national forest system lands in California. Developed campgrounds and day-use sites in national forests throughout the state will also be closed until further notice. Due to these conditions, the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region announced temporary closures and fire restrictions to provide for public safety and reduce the potential for human caused fire starts. Other California national forests closed to visitor use include; the San Bernardino, Cleveland, Los Padres, Sequoia, Inyo, Sierra and the Stanislaus.
Wildfires also temporarily shuttered public lands last summer. Forest Service officials closed the state's 18 national forests on Sept. 9, citing "unprecedented and historic fire conditions." Thirty state parks and parts of California 1, affected by the Creek fire in Sierra National Forest, also were closed. "We do not take this decision lightly but this is the best choice for public safety," said Regional Forester Jennifer Eberlien in a news release.
"It is especially hard with the approaching Labor Day weekend, when so many people enjoy our national forests." As a visitor to the national forest, you are asked to follow certain rules designed to protect the forest and the natural resources and to provide for the public safety of visitors. Forest officers are empowered to enforce the Federal Regulations which the rules listed in the brochure are taken from. If you have additional questions please call your local Forest Service Office for clarification.
Arcadia, Calif. – The Angeles National Forest will be closed to all general activity for one week, from Monday, Sept 7, to Monday, Sept 14, 2020. This includes all US Forest Service roads, trails, campgrounds and day-use sites. This is a temporary, one-week closure for public safety, until Monday, September 14. "We do not take this decision lightly but this is the best choice for public safety," said Regional Forester Jennifer Eberlien. The Forest Service says the closure order will decrease the potential for new fire starts at a time when the West Coast's firefighting resources are stretched thin.
The closure order also stated, "By temporarily reducing the numbers of people on national forests, we hope to minimize the likelihood that visitors could become entrapped" in these forests if a fire breaks out. "The wildfire situation throughout California is dangerous and must be taken seriously. ``The wildfire situation throughout California is dangerous and must be taken seriously. The Forest Service thanks our partners and the public for their cooperation and understanding of this monumental fire threat.
It is critical that all Californians and national forest visitors follow these important closures and restrictions for their own safety and the safety of our firefighters. All national forests in California were closed to visitors last week because of the wildfire concerns brought on by the hot and dry conditions. The Angeles National Forest will remain closed through at least Sept. 17. The Forest Service said is critical that all Californians and national forest visitors follow these important closures and restrictions for their own safety and the safety of firefighters. In addition, all developed campgrounds and day-use sites on national forests in California will be closed until conditions change.
As fires continue to rage across much of the state, the Forest Service has announced it is temporarily closing national forests as extreme heat, wind and dry conditions continue. Other forests ordered closed were the San Bernardino National Forest, Cleveland National Forest, Los Padres National Forest, Inyo National Forest, Sequoia National Forest, Sierra National Forest and the Stanislaus National Forest. Restrictions were also imposed on national forest lands throughout the state that were not ordered to close. With wildfires burning across California and the Labor Day holiday approaching, the U.S. Forest Service announced Tuesday that all national forests in the state would shut for several weeks — but the closure does not directly affect state and national parks, including Yosemite.
The combination of intense heat, high winds, dry conditions and limited firefighting resources has caused the U.S. Forest Service to close many national forests across the state. Lassen National Forest is one of five national forests in Northern California that have been temporarily closed to most camping starting today due the high risk of wildfires in the region. Stretching 28.8 miles through the heart of Angeles National Forest, the Gabrielino Trail covers not only some of the most popular areas, but also some of the most remote. And not only is it a beautiful hike, but it's also got historical significance.
Today you can enjoy the Gabrielino Trail as a backpacking trip or an ambitious day hike. All 20 million acres encompassing the state's national forests will be closed to camping, hiking and all other activities, except the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, which is in Nevada but has a smaller portion in eastern California. In Southern California, the closure includes the Angeles, San Bernardino, Los Padres and Cleveland national forests.
Besides its effects on local hikers, the closures halt foot traffic on long-distance routes that cross national forest land, including the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail. "If you are out there now, it's time to start walking out to the trailhead," the Pacific Crest Trail Assn. posted in its online closure alerts. Statewide, many roads through national forests remain open if there's no immediate fire danger. "If it's a state or county road, we don't have jurisdiction to close it," said Deb Schweizer, public affairs officer for Inyo National Forest. WASHINGTON — Nearly half of California's national forests will be temporarily closed starting at 5 p.m.
Monday due to a mixture of extreme heat and dangerous fire conditions, the U.S Forest Service announced Monday. With these extreme conditions, these temporary actions will help us do both," Moore said. The rugged San Gabriel and Sheep Mountain Wilderness areas cover more than 125 square miles , with elevations ranging from 2,400 ft. to over 10,000 ft. The Cucamonga Wilderness lies on the border of Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests. It is jointly managed and offers another 13,000 acres of natural, unspoiled beauty.
Despite the incredible numbers of people who visit this national forest, you do not have to walk far to elude the crowds. Wilderness areas provide islands of solitude for those seeking to escape the noise and chaos of urban life. I was also not provided the forest orders necessary to close these roads, which I requested. Under all USFS forest plans, including the Angeles National Forest Plan, there must be a forest order for any temporary road or access closure (a "forest order" signed by the district ranger or superintendent).
A closure lasting more than a few months would require a public scoping process and an amendment to the Forest Plan. The managers of the four Southern California national forest units are increasingly closing roads and even walk-in access to vast areas of public lands, often in direct conflict of their own forest plans and policy guidelines. Hunters are frequently the most impacted by fall-winter restrictions. The temporary closures of developed campgrounds, recreation sites, dispersed camping and the temporary fire ban prohibiting all campfires regardless of ignition source or location will be reevaluated as conditions change. The safety measure reflects the unprecedented and dangerous fire conditions within the region. This is a combination of extreme heat, dry conditions, significant wind events, and firefighting resources that are stretched to the limit.
By temporarily reducing the number of people in the national forests, the Forest Service is hoping to reduce the likelihood of visitors getting trapped by blazes—and to decrease the potential for new fires. LOS ANGELES -- All national forests in California will close to the public because of wildfire danger starting Tuesday, federal officials said. By temporarily reducing the numbers of people on national forests, we hope to minimize the likelihood that visitors could be trapped on National Forest System lands during an emergency. The U.S. Forest Service imposed the closures to "provide public and firefighter safety due to the ongoing California wildfire crisis," its order said. It also underscored the need to prevent new fires rom starting and keep people out of areas that suddenly may become unsafe or need to be evacuated.
Four of the Golden State's recently closed national forests — Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres and San Bernardino — are in Southern California and are popular for camping and recreation. All have been under "very high" or "extreme" fire danger for weeks. By temporarily reducing the numbers of people on national forests, we hope to minimize the likelihood that visitors could become entrapped on National Forest System lands during emergency circumstances. The Angeles is the backyard playground to residents of Los Angeles and surrounding communities. The forests offers year-round opportunities for camping, hiking, swimming, boating, picnicking, and sightseeing.
Over 500 miles of forest trails lead hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians and off-highway vehicle riders across rugged backcountry, along high, scenic ridges, and through shady, tree-lined canyons. Fire management is an important part of maintaining the watershed. Firefighting in Southern California has become very specialized in order to deal with the explosive chaparral environment. It requires sophisticated fire suppression techniques, and a massive fire prevention campaign. In addition to protecting the land, fire managers must also contend with the growing number of homes and other structures, as development continues to press against the borders of the national forest.
Fire prevention efforts must reach homeowners, as well as be heard by the massive numbers of visitors who come to camp, to cook, and play on their local national forest. Closures because of fires usually revolve around the excuse of public safety and/or resource protection after a burn. In the San Bernardino National Forest, the entire 31,000-acre Lake Fire and adjoining areas in and around the San Gorgonio Wilderness was closed for two years to all public access using those two excuses. The fire was in 2015 and the area was finally reopened to the public this year after being closed for over two years — including two entire hunting seasons. We can avoid preventable deaths by following orders from the fire management team and local governments. I am urging residents to stay away from the Angeles Forest, which remains closed through this week, and to carefully heed all evacuation warnings from the Forest Service, fire management team, and local governments.
Residents should be on alert and prepared to relocate if their community is threatened. The closures come after California's oldest state park, the Big Basin Redwoods, said it will close down for at least a year after the park suffered scorching damage from the CZU Lightning Complex fire. 34 state parks are now closed because of the wildfires, as well as state campgrounds in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties. The Mt Zion loop hike is a great option for those that have hiked from Chantry Flat before, maybe to Mt Wilson, but want something a little more off the beaten path. On this loop, I'll take you on the Upper Gabrielino Trail, then on the historic Mt Zion Trail, built in 1896 and once the main trail into the area, then up to Mt Zion for panoramic views, and finally back to the start on the Upper Winter Creek Trail.
And while there might be crowds on the nearby trails, this loop route on Angeles National Forest's secondary trails offers peace and tranquility. The Angeles National Forest was established by Executive Order in December 1892. It covers about 700,000 acres and is the backyard playground to the huge metropolitan area of Los Angeles. The Angeles manages the watersheds within its boundaries to provide valuable water to southern California and to protect surrounding communities from catastrophic floods. The land within the Forest is as diverse in appearance and terrain as it is in the opportunities it provides for enjoyment. Much of the Forest is covered with dense chaparral which changes to pine and fir-covered slopes as you reach the majestic peaks of the higher elevations.
The Angeles National Forest offers natural environments, spectacular scenery, developed campgrounds and picnic areas, swimming, fishing, skiing and the solitude of quiet wilderness areas. Trails winding throughout the forest accommodate hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers, and off-highway vehicle enthusiasts. The closures will minimize the likelihood that visitors could become entrapped on Forest Service land and will decrease the potential for new fires to start at a time of extremely limited firefighting resources, according to the news release. As wildfires rage across California, all national forests in the state will be closed to visitors for two weeks starting late Tuesday, the U.S. Oftentimes, pictures of Pasadena show beautiful mountains in the background, those are the San Gabriel Mountains.
The San Gabriels are part of the Angeles National Forest which was formed in 1908 by combining the San Gabriel, San Bernardino and Santa Barbara mountain reserves—it was the first National Forest ever established in the United States. California's national forests will temporarily be closed, officials with the Forest Service confirmed Monday. In conjunction with this move, Caltrans has closed several roads , but most routes through national forests are still open. Know, for instance, that if you want to drive up the Angeles Crest Highway, you'll have to turn around at Clear Creek, seven miles above La Cañada-Flintridge.
These closures mean no hiking or camping through Sept. 17 anywhere in the Angeles, Los Padres, San Bernardino and Cleveland national forests that surround L.A. This story was updated to include information about the closure of the Eldorado National Forest, which occurred two weeks before this order. The story was also corrected to remove Rogue River-Siskiyou and Humboldt-Toiyabe from the list of recent forest closures in California. These national forests are managed by other divisions of the U.S. The Rogue River-Siskiyou and Humboldt-Toiyabe national forests, both of which are mostly located in other states , remain open.
However, certain campgrounds and roads in Humboldt-Toiyabe have been closed because of the Caldor Fire. Further north, residents of a mountain town devastated by the huge Caldor Fire south of Lake Tahoe will be allowed back Sunday to inspect the damage. Most of Grizzly Flat's homes, as well as the school, post office, church and fire station were destroyed in the first days of the month-old fire. Evacuation orders were also lifted for homes along State Route 50 as containment of the 342-square-mile wildfire increased to 65%. The state has 18 national forests, comprise roughly 3,125 square miles of California — about one-fifth of the state's total land, according to the Forest Service. Most of Grizzly Flat's homes, as well as the school, post office, church and fire station were destroyed in the first days of the month-old fire.
An example of extreme fire behavior is the Creek Fire on the Sierra National Forest which began on Friday Sept. 4, 2020 and grew rapidly on Saturday, Sept. 5th. The fire made a 15-mile run in a single day and burned 36,000 acres, prompting evacuations and life-saving measures. By Monday morning the Creek Fire has grown to almost 79,000 acres. The California National Guard evacuated at least 200 people from Wagner Mammoth Pool Campground and assessed them for medical needs.
The use of any and all ignition sources on all national forest system lands (campfires, gas stoves, etc.) throughout California will be prohibited. VALLEJO, Calif. – Eight of California's national forests will be shut down temporarily and all camping is closing down for all of the national forests in California. In additon, all of the state's national forests will prohibit any ignition sources, such as camp stoves and campfires starting 5 p.m. An example of extreme fire behavior is the Creek Fire on the Sierra National Forest which began on Friday Sep. 4 and grew rapidly on Saturday, Sep. 5th. The fire made a 15-mile run in a single day and burned 36,000 acres, prompting evacuations and life saving measures.
Most of California remains under the threat of unprecedented and dangerous fire conditions with a combination of extreme heat, significant wind events, dry conditions, and firefighting resources that are stretched to the limit. This was once the only paved access connecting Los Angeles with the San Joaquin Valley to the north. This route was abandoned by Los Angeles County a few years ago because it didn't seem a good use of road maintenance funds with Interstate 5 paralleling this road just a few miles to the west. But I wanted to know why the USFS also abandoned the route and blocked it off and both ends because it provided good access to a vast area of the forest.
But it wasn't the hunters who made the forest staff finally reverse their moronic closure, it was the hiking community. Hundreds of people had their wilderness permits cancelled, and they lit up phones and rattled the cages of their local federal representatives. The Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Region comprises 17 national forests in California, plus a special management unit in Lake Tahoe. All of those are closed through Sept. 17 except for Eldorado National Forest — that area, where the Caldor Fire is raging, was closed Aug. 17 under a separate order that lasts through Sept. 30. If you want a great Angeles National Forest mountain hike without the crowds, hike Ontario Peak and Bighorn Peak.
The hike begins on the popular Icehouse Canyon trail but soon moves off to the much less traveled Ontario Peak Trail, where you might see more bighorn sheep than people. The Ontario Peak Trail roughly follows a ridge line, offering great views culminating in the "rock nest" summit of Ontario Peak. There's also a short spur trip to Bighorn Peak, because, why not? This is a tough hike but worth the effort–one of my favorites. For a quick mountain fix without driving into the mountains, try the Potato Mountain hike, right at the beginning of Angeles National Forest. The hike ends at the Potato Mountain summit, which offers views of the high peaks in Angeles NF, including Mt Baldy.
And of course, there are the potatoes that everyone decorates and brings to the summit. It's a fun hike that especially great for beginners who want to train or get a taste for the bigger mountain peaks. Angeles National Forest is often open but sections occasionally close when there are fires and other conditions.
