With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
LA County Has Closed Hiking Trails Because Too Many People Are Gathering
People practicing social distancing to protect themselves from the coronavirus take in a sunny day while hiking a popular trail in the Santa Monica mountain range in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 22, 2020. Brian Melley/AP
To get some fresh air and exercise, you don't have to stay home, but you can't hike Los Angeles County's trails.
All trails managed by the county's Department of Parks and Recreations are closed until further notice.
⚠️Trails Currently Closed🌄 Our priority is the safety of our guests. Recently #LACOUNTYPARKS had a surge of visitors & are not able to keep #socialdistancing. We invite you to visit your local County Park for🚶paths,🏃🏾trails &🐕dog walking areas. Updates https://t.co/fzVqVsIqlc pic.twitter.com/yzP10ueekx
— Los Angeles County Parks & Recreation (@lacountyparks) March 24, 2020
The county's initial Safer at Home order allowed for outdoor activities, including hiking. Now authorities are asking that county residents stay in their neighborhoods for fresh air and exercise and avoid parks, trails and local beaches, where large crowds gathered over the weekend.
Sponsored message
"There are many people — and everyone saw the pictures all weekend — who are congregating on our trails, and on the beaches," county health director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said during a media briefing today. "This is not appropriate and we ask you when you're out and about, wherever you are, to practice the maximum amount of social distancing possible, even in our outdoor spaces."
Not all of the county's communication seems to have been updated to reflect this change — the Safer at Home order still notes that hiking is OK, for instance — so we're working to get some clarity on this.
MORE ON CORONAVIRUS:
- Your No-Panic Guide To Coronavirus In LA So Far
- Tracking The Spread Of COVID-19
- Have A Question? We Will Answer It
SOME STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT COVID-19
We're all living through this extraordinary and frightening pandemic. The vast majority of our newsroom has been working from home (here's some advice on that) since March 11 to bring you calm, helpful reporting. We are answering your questions and taking more.
We're here to help. And if you can help support that effort financially, we'd be grateful.
Sponsored message
DON'T MISS ANY L.A. CORONAVIRUS NEWS
Get our daily newsletter for the latest on COVID-19 and other top local headlines.
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Support our free, independent journalism today. Donate now.
At LAist, we focus on what matters to our community: clear, fair, and transparent reporting that helps you make decisions with confidence and keeps powerful institutions accountable.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
