Nearly 86,000 acres of Angeles National Forest closed by fire set to reopen

Thousands of acres of the Angeles National Forest that have been off-limits since the 2020 Bobcat Fire are scheduled to reopen Friday.

The fire burned about 115,000 acres, but it led to the closure of 143,000 acres within the national forest for a combination of public safety and natural-resources restoration efforts.

About 60% of that area, or 86,000 acres, will reopen to the public on Friday. The areas being made accessible again are generally along the Angeles Crest Highway east of Shortcut Saddle, including Mount Waterman, Islip Peak Trail, Dawson Saddle Trail, Cloudburst Summit, Charlton Picnic Area and Devil's Canyon Trail.

Buckhorn Campground was expected to reopen, but forest officials said Thursday that area will remain closed due to snow.

"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," Tom Torres, acting forest supervisor of the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, said in a statement. "We continue to ask visitors to exercise caution and recreate responsibly while they enjoy their public lands."

Forest officials urged visitors venturing into the areas to wear proper hiking boots and avoid trying to cross landslide areas or major sections of missing trails. They also warned people to be on the lookout for dead trees that could potentially fall.

Visitors should not venture into areas that are still closed. Forest officials some areas could remain closed for years due to safety hazards and efforts to restore the environment.