The Angeles National Forest is welcoming visitors back to more than half of its closed lands beginning today, Friday, April 1.
Approximately 86,000 acres off-limits to the public since the Bobcat fire in 2020 are now open to use again.
“We know the public is anxious to revisit their favorite places in the forest and monument, and appreciate the public’s patience with the expiring closure order while we sought to ensure public safety and natural resource protection since the Bobcat Fire,” said Tom Torres, acting forest supervisor of the Angeles National Forest, in a statement.
The reopened locations include areas along Angeles Crest Highway, which is east of Shortcut Saddle. The areas of Mt. Waterman, Dawson Saddle Trail, Cloudburst Summit and the Devil's Canyon Trail are also accessible again.
“We continue to ask visitors to exercise caution and recreate responsibly while they enjoy their public lands,” Torres said.
Two years ago, the Bobcat wildfire ripped through almost 116,000 acres in a matter of weeks. More than 50 structures were damaged and thousands of people had to be evacuated. Rebuilding the homes lost has continued to be a challenge for residents.
Forest officials say about 57,000 acres of the Bobcat fire zone will remain closed due to safety hazards, and to allow the natural environment to recover.
