Hiking/Snowshoeing/Cross-Country Skiing

[Homer]

Homer,
The PCT in Lone Pine Canyon is administered by San Bernardino National Forest and not part of the closure and is on the West side of the I15. The ANF administration line is on the West side of Slover Canyon near Wright Mountain.

If people are on the PCT and stay East of Wright Mountain they are in SBNF.

 Opppp's my bad... I was looking at the Closure map which is bounded by the 14 / 138 / 15 / 210 that would put the forest closure over to the 15 on the east side. Maybe that's why I saw so many FS trucks on those roads by the old ranch.

 

[hikin_jim]

The Angeles Forest closure IS being enforced with NO exceptions.

I'd strongly suggest that you follow the details of this closure as your chances of getting caught are going to be high. Stick to trails that are in San Bernardino National Forest and administered by SBNF.

OK.  So, SBNF = open and ANF = closed got it.  And "SBNF Administered by ANF" is closed also?  For sure or is that speculation?

As for the "SBNF Administered by ANF" area (which I assume is synonymous with the Valyermo Ranger district), is there a good map?  I've seen this which shows only portions


and I've seen this but it's not very detailed:

[Wrightwood]

For sure.
The Wrightwood area administered by ANF is closed right now.

In fact I had correspondence going back and forth with District Ranger Blount because the closure was being enforced on Lone Pine Canyon down to the I15. That was incorrect as one forest cannot close another forest. The closure stops as the edge of the ANF administered area in Wrightwood.

There's been people hiking Sheep Canyon and Acorn Canyon into ANF property and that's in the closure area. The forest closure is being enforced and carries some pretty hefty fines.

[hikin_jim]

OK.  If controlled by ANF in some way, shape, or form it's closed.  Got it. 

But no map of the admin area?   Or just assume anything around Wrightwood is closed -- except the PCT coming from the east but that only until around the top of the Acorn trail which is I think where the Admin area starts, yes?

In other words, if someone came in on the PCT from the east, they could hike Gobbler's Knob, Wright Mtn, etc, but could not go to Guffy or points west.

[RobertW]

In other words, if someone came in on the PCT from the east, they could hike Gobbler's Knob, Wright Mtn, etc, but could not go to Guffy or points west.

Wright's Mtn is also under ANF Administration.  ANF administers the ridge above Wrightwood all the way to the end of Blue Ridge Rd which ends at Slover Canyon.  It's a logistics thing.

It also administers the forest along Hwy 2 East of Wrightwood, including the 3 levels area, helicopter hill and Horse Canyon.

[RobertW]

There's been people hiking Sheep Canyon and Acorn Canyon into ANF property and that's in the closure area. The forest closure is being enforced and carries some pretty hefty fines.

Some people think that the rules apply to everyone but themselves.  The ANF has been notified of this activity.

[FIGHT ON]

Some people think that the rules apply to everyone but themselves.  The ANF has been notified of this activity.

I know "exactly" what you mean! Who do these people think they are any way? Not only do some think that but go further and advise others,(even a parent with his child!) to enter a closed area! Unbelievable!
Rules to some are there to break instead of follow. simply crazy.

[hikin_jim]

Wright's Mtn is also under ANF Administration.  ANF administers the ridge above Wrightwood all the way to the end of Blue Ridge Rd which ends at Slover Canyon.  It's a logistics thing.

It also administers the forest along Hwy 2 East of Wrightwood, including the 3 levels area, helicopter hill and Horse Canyon.

Sounds like it's time to go hiking -- in Big Bear.   

[FIGHT ON]

Sounds like it's time to go hiking -- in Big Bear.   

"be discreet"   

[carrottop]

Along with many other local residents, I like to enjoy the trails by my house off of LPC which head east toward the frwy.  There are a variety of nature walkers, joggers, horseback riders, and familes taking strolls.  What concerns me are the people who take their dirts bikes, quads, etc. on these trails.  If they enter from the residential area they have to ride all kinds of twists and turns before hitting open trails and there is no way they would be able to avoid hitting someone!  They are not supposed to ride these trails to begin with... but... they do.  I can hear them fire up their dirt bikes and get on the trail.  Every time I see the tire tracks I get the willies thinking of the potential tragedy.  Any suggestions on how to stop the activity?

P.S.  I think riding dirt bikes is a blast and I'm all for it - just do it where it's legal and safe.

[Nolena]

Can you give a better location?

[carrottop]

I live at the top of LPC after the S curves.  I can get on the small trail directly from my property.  There is an entry to the same trail from the housing which sits below me (Wright Mtn Properties?).  This trail leads to a nice, open, small valley.  If you climb up one side from the small valley you can view LPC for quite a distance, eastbound.  If you climb the other side you can view distant mtn homes in WW and have a view of Phelan/Pinion Hills.

Sorry, I don't know the name of the area.  Someone once told me it's Horse Canyon but I'm not sure.

[RobertW]

I know exactly where you are talking about.  This network of trails can be accessed from a number of places including Helicopter Hill (the dirt road at the top of the S curves), private property in the East Canyon development, Three Levels, Horse Canyon, etc.

The Forest Service is aware of the problem with off road vehicles on this network of trails and makes it apart of their Patrol area.  The Wrightwood Fire Safety Council has big concerns about potential fire starts in the area. The USFS have been making changes in the area that will make it much harder for off road vehicles to access this area, as there is a big concern as to the potential for fire starting from bikes without spark arrestors, etc.

A lot of time was put into the "Three Levels" area (guardrails and fencing) to make it difficult for this area to be accessed.  USFS will soon be installing gates at Helicopter Hill to keep vehicles from entering the area. 

Improvements continue to be made to Horse Canyon to keep off road ATVs and bikes out.  Of course you can't keep people from accessing this network of trails from their own property, thus we try to make it a regular stop when out on patrol.

BTW, Horse Canyon, which extends to Hwy 2 in the area of the 5,000 ft sign, is under full closure.  It is a NO ENTRY closure and is closed to ALL traffic including hikers.  While this is indicated at the Hwy 2 side, many access the canyon from the south, from the area you're talking about.


Edited by Wrightwood

[carrottop]

Thank you very much for the info.  It is reassuring to know steps are being taken to prevent the tragic situations which could occur from traffic on the trails.  Hopefully nothing ever happens at all, with or without enforcement.

[carrottop]

P.S  The residential trail entry I was referring to is in the Pacific Crest homes area, Chaumont street.  The tire tracks can be followed all the way there and I can hear when the riders enter the trail, a portion of which runs below my property.  There is a Nat'l Forest sign and a sign to pick up after your dogs posted but nothing about motor vehicles.

I've lived here 4 years and I will say the dirt bike activity is alot less than when I first moved up. 

There also used to be quite a bit of shooting in that little valley too.  Could hear it and see shells all over the place when walking through. 

[FIGHT ON]

Hike

Map

[in my dreams]

Best quick hike near WW for a 3 and 5 yr old? We'll cover about a mile one way.

[Cardinal]

Fight On-Has the forest fire closure been lifted for the area that you hiked through?  The Angeles web site lists Mt Lowe Rd area as being closed due to the fire damage.

[ChrisLynnet]

Best quick hike near WW for a 3 and 5 yr old? We'll cover about a mile one way.

The Sheep Fire messed up some easy trails around here. But off the top of my head, if you go out to Inspiration Point and park you can take the wide Blue Ridge trail/road up for several miles. The views are gorgeous. From the same parking lot you can go up Lightning Ridge nature trail, but be careful at the top -- there's a ridge with a bench on it. Amazing view but I'd be nervous about the 3-year-old.

From Vincent Gap you could take the road that leads towards the mine. Not all the way there, but walking along for a mile or so is fine. There are several other trails leading from there too.

And if you go to Grassy Hollow, park off the 2 and walk in a bit you'll see signs for the Pacific Crest trail. I forget which direction it is, but go left on the trail for an easy walk.

[ForestGal]

Also, from Grassy Hollow, you can walk on the road out to Jackson Flat.  It's a little over a mile, but the road is nice and wide.  If you want to take the PCT, it picks up to the right as you walk in, across from the visitor center.

The Blue Ridge Road is really nice, as Chris mentioned above, but with Mt. High open, several of their runs cross the road, and you might run into the man-made snow, depending on which runs are open.  I haven't been up there to check it out.