Hello Friends,
We hope this email finds you tired after a nice weekend on the trails. The Los Padres is in top form at the moment. If you haven’t found time to get out and explore… trust us, gotta make that happen. The BIG NEWS this week is that the Forest Service has released a new Forest Order which will again reduce the number of closed LP roads and trails. There has been a lot of work contributed by the Forest Service and partner groups in order to help restore this additional trail/road access. While this news is good for sure, there are still some fan-favorite trails which remain closed. We’ll be continuing our work helping to restore more trail access and we could certainly use your help either through upcoming volunteer projects, donations in support of our Trail Care or just let us know which trails you’d like to see reopened and lets see if we can figure out a way to make that happen together. One trail at a time, one step at a time…. Here are some notes from the latest order:
- Monterey Ranger District
- The Pine Ridge Trail has been reopened.
- While Arroyo Seco was opened in this Order, it has since been closed due to a potential landslide.
- Access to The Indians and Memorial Park is limited to non-motorized.
- Note that Hwy 1 remains closed mainly between Big Sur and Ragged Point.
- Santa Lucia Ranger District
- Fig Mtn, Happy Cyn, Sunset Valley, NIRA, Davy Brown, Catway and Fig Mtn Campground have been reopened.
- Most of the OHV trails out by La Panza / Navajo are reopened but some access roads remain closed.
- Rockfront remains closed.
- Machesna & Garcia Wilderness trails are closed.
- Santa Barbara Ranger District
- The most changes have occurred in the SBRD where the majority of the backcountry and mid-country trails have been reopened.
- A few campgrounds have been reopened along Paradise Road and access beyond First Crossing is open for non-motorized use.
- All OHV remains closed.
- Ojai Ranger District
- Not many changes on the Ojai to report mainly due to the continued closure of Hwy 33, which provides most access for the still closed trailheads and campgrounds.
- The LPFA will be working out of Piedra Blanca in May, please come join the fun!
- Mt Pinos Ranger District
- The Pinos was not closed as part of the initial closure due mainly to the fact that most of the district trails were either covered in snow or behind seasonal closure gates.
- As the snow begins to melt, the MPRD is starting to assess storm damage and will be delaying their seasonal gate opening date back from May 1 to June 1. Note that the gates could open earlier or later depending on discovered storm damage. Stay tuned or call the MPRD with questions.
- Road access has been cleared up to Chula Vista and Mt Pinos.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Listed below are the upcoming LPFA volunteer projects & events. Come one, come all! You can signup through the website or email us with any questions: VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org
- Horn & Santa Paula Cyn, Ojai – April & May 2023
- We’re continuing our regular Tuesday & Thursday volunteer projects on the Horn Canyon and Santa Paula Canyon Trails in Ojai. We’re on Horn Cyn at least the next few weeks and will then be moving over to Santa Paula. Come join us…..
- Santa Barbara Cyn, Dick Smith – Apr 21-24 & May 5-8
- The LPFA will be leading two 4-day backpacking trail projects on the Santa Barbara Cyn Trail. Both projects will be led by Mike Smith and his famous pack goats. The backcountry is so nice right now, hope you can make it….
- Sespe Working Vacation, Sespe – May 17-21
- This will be great, we’ll be out on the Sespe working trail from May 17-21 hopefully car-camping at Middle Lion Campground. Over the course of the 5-days we’ll be working a combination of the Lion Cyn, Piedra Blanca and Sespe Trails. This is a must attend…..
- Davy Brown Trail, Figueroa Mountain – April 25-26
- The Davy Brown Trail is in bad shape, lets fix that! Come join us as we spend two days and a night helping to clear downed trees and branches from the beloved Davy Brown Trail. We’ll hopefully be car-camping at Davy Brown Campground and working up from there. Feel free to come out for a day or both days and camp with us. Should be great. Details still taking shape, you can sign up here or email at VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org.
- Santa Cruz Trail, Paradise Road
- One of the major goals for the LPFA this year was to restore the remaining sections of the Santa Cruz Trail between Upper Oso and Santa Cruz Station. Mother Nature had different plans and threw a couple good curve balls into the equation but with receding water levels we should be able to start working the Santa Cruz soon. We’ll likely have an assortment of different volunteer opportunities, let us know if you’d like to be on the list and we’ll share details as they take shape: VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org