Officials in Riverside County have closed six hiking trails deemed hazardous in a wildfire prevention effort, Cal Fire announced Monday.
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved restricting access to the following areas beginning June 15 until further notice:
- Eagle Canyon/Tin Mine (east of Corona)
- Steel Peak (north of Lake Elsinore)
- Bautista Canyon (southeast of Hemet)
- North Mountain (south of Banning, north of San Jacinto)
- Whitewater Canyon (east of Cabazon)
- Ramona Bowl (south of Hemet) *Open daily from sunrise until noon
“In the interest of public safety and wildfire prevention, access to these hiking areas is temporarily restricted to protect nearby communities and reduce the likelihood of catastrophic fire events,” Riverside County Fire Department Chief Bill Weiser said.
Riverside County is restricting access to these areas unless private property access is required.
“Public roadway travel is permitted, providing travel is confined to those surfaces within hazardous fire area,” the news release from Cal Fire states.
A minimum fine of $100 will be levied for first-time offenders.
Fire officials said that future closures may also be implemented based on weather conditions, fuel moisture and increased fire threats.
Cal Fire posted an interactive map of the affected areas. Additional information on public closures is available by contacting the Public Affairs and Community Education Bureau at 951-940-6985.