Effective May 1, 2026, six hazardous hiking areas across Riverside County will be temporarily closed to the public to mitigate wildfire risks and protect the community.
CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Chief Robert Fish recently received approval from the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to implement the closures.
“The proactive measure of temporarily closing these hiking areas is being implemented to protect residents, visitors, and first responders, and to reduce the likelihood of wildfire incidents that could threaten surrounding communities,” Fish stated.
The closures will remain in effect until further notice and include the following locations:
Eagle Canyon/Tin Mine, located east of Corona.
Steel Peak, north of Lake Elsinore.
Bautista Canyon, southeast of Hemet.
North Mountain and Indian Canyon, located south of Banning and north of San Jacinto.
Ramona Bowl, south of Hemet. This specific area will remain open daily from sunrise until 12:00 p.m..
Access to these identified hazardous fire areas is restricted under Riverside County Ordinance 787.9, unless private party access is required. Public roadway travel is permitted as long as travel is confined to surfaces within the hazardous fire area. Violators of the ordinance may be subject to a minimum fine of $100 for first-time offenses.
Officials indicated that future closures may be implemented based on weather conditions, fuel moisture, and increased fire threats. Area maps can be located online at https://tinyurl.com/hikingclosures. For additional information on the areas closed to the public, residents can contact the Public Affairs and Community Education Bureau at 951-940-6985.
