Alerts & Closures

Alerts Archive

June 2024

Forest Road Closures and Current Conditions by Ranger District
Date(s): Jun 29, 2024
Open and closed areas, roads, trails, campgrounds, day use areas, and OHV riding areas by ranger district:
Ranger Station/District Office Phone Numbers
- Monterey Ranger District - 831-385-5434
- Santa Lucia Ranger District - 805-925-9538
- Santa Barbara Ranger District - 805-724-0079
- Ojai Ranger District - call 805-646-4348
- Mt. Pinos Ranger District - 661-245-3731
- Forest Headquarters (Supervisor's Office) - 805-968-6640
FIRE UPDATE - The Post Fire - Hungry Valley Gorman area
Date(s): Jun 29, 2024

The Post Fire was first reported shortly before 2 pm on June 15 near the town of Gorman. The fire quickly spread to the south and southwest where it burned through the Hungry Valley State OHV Park. More than 1,700 firefighters from Los Padres and Angeles National Forests, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Ventura County Fire Department and Cal Fire assisted with suppressing the fire along with retardant-dropping air tankers and water-dropping helicopters. As of June 28, the fire is 15,563 acres with 100 percent containment. For the most up to date information, please visit the Post Fire InciWeb page.

Photos courtesy US Forest Service/Los Padres National Forest
Current Fire Restrictions - Forest Order 5-07-00-24-11
Date(s): Jun 28, 2024
Forest Order 05-07-00-24-11 Fire Use Restrictions: Effective June 29, 2024 - January 31, 2025

Forest Order 05-07-00-24-11

In response to the increasing potential for wildland fire starts, Los Padres National Forest officials announced that fire restrictions will be implemented throughout the Forest effective June 29. These restrictions will affect the use of campfires, stoves, smoking materials, and internal combustion engines, and will remain in effect until January 31, 2025.
- No open fires, campfires or charcoal fires will be permitted outside of developed recreation sites or designated Campfire Use Sites (list attached), even with a valid California Campfire Permit. Lanterns and portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel will be permitted, but only with a valid California Campfire Permit, which can be obtained free-of-charge at this website. Forest visitors must clear all flammable material for five feet in all directions from their camp stove, have a shovel available, and ensure that a responsible person always attends the stove during use.
- Smoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or a designated Campfire Use Site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
- Internal combustion engines may be operated only on roads or designated trails. This restriction is in effect year-round. Please make sure your engine is tuned, operating properly, and has an approved spark arrester.
- Fireworks – even the “safe and sane” variety – are not permitted at any time or in any location within the Forest.
- Discharging a firearm is prohibited within Los Padres National Forest except while legally hunting or at Winchester Canyon Gun Club and Ojai Valley Gun Club which operate under special use authority.
For a list of Developed Recreation Sites and Campfire Use Sites in Los Padres National Forest, or further information regarding Fire-Safe Camping, visit www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf or contact the U.S. Forest Service district office nearest you.
Hwy 154 Closure/Re-route ALERT
Date(s): Jun 27, 2024
CA - Hwy 154 is presently under closure at the 192 and 246 junctions due to cracking between San Antonio Creek and Painted Cave Rd

For more information about road access and the closure Visitors need to contact CalTrans at (805) 549-2327 with any questions (e.g. alternate routes) and/or view the CHP Traffic Incident Information Page or Traveler Information QuickMap
- The Forest Service cannot authorize visitors to travel through California Highway Patrol closures of CA-154 and/or Old San Marcos Pass.
Hello campers and visitors coming to the campgrounds and day use areas in the Lower Santa Ynez Recreation Area. Due to emergency road repair work by Caltrans on Hwy 154 north from Hwy 101 in Santa Barbara, there is no access into the Santa Ynez Valley including Paradise Rd from Santa Barbara. Until this work is completed which could be several weeks, you will need to access Paradise Rd to the day use areas and campgrounds by taking Hwy 101 north to the Hwy 154 exit that takes you to Los Olivos. This is Hwy 154 south.

At the 154/246 roundabout, visitors should advise traffic control officers that they have a camping reservation or are spending the day at Los Padres National Forest, and that they understand they will need to use north Hwy 154 to exit the area during the road construction.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/newsarchives/lpnf/alertsarchives?cid=FSE_003753&navid=120000000000000&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&pname=Los+Padres+National+Forest+-+Alerts+amp&pnavid=null&position=Alerts&ss=110507&ttype=newsarchives
Occupancy and Use Forest Order
Date(s): Jun 1, 2024
Occupancy and Use Forest Order 5-07-00-24-02 effective February 6, 2024 through February 5, 2026

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.S0(a), and to provide for public safety and protect natural resources, the following act is prohibited within the Los Padres National Forest. This Order is effective from February 6, 2024, through February 5, 2026.

1. Camping:

a. in a developed campground, for a period longer than 14 consecutive days or for more than 28 days during a calendar year; or

b. anywhere other than a developed campground, for a period longer than seven consecutive days or for more than 21 days during a calendar year.

36 C.F.R. § 261.58(a).
- Forest Order 5-07-00-24-02
Upper Santa Ynez Recreation Area Road and Campground Closure
Date(s): Jun 1, 2024
Contact(s): (805) 724-0079

Access into the Pendola/Upper Santa Ynez Recreation Area is temporarily closed to motorized vehicles through July 22, 2024. There is access via hiking /biking/equestrain riding to Middle Santa Ynez and P-Bar Flat campgrounds. Rock Camp and Mono Camp are closed to all entry. No hike-in, bike-in, equestrian riding or motorized vehicles per Forest Order 05-07-54-22-09.
- Forest Order 05-07-54-22-09
- Closure Map
Campgrounds

Open via hiking, biking and equestrian only
- Middle Santa Ynez Campground
- P-Bar Flats Campground
Mono and Rock Camps are temporarily closed.

Divide Peak OHV trails are open.

Call (805) 724-0079 Mon-Fri, 8-430pm for more information.
Special Closure Forest Order Storm Damage Recovery
Date(s): Jun 1, 2024
Contact(s): Greg Thompson

Special Closure Forest Order 5-07-00-24-01
- Special Closure Order Map - Exhibit A-1 (Monterey Ranger District)
- Special Closure Order Map - Exhibit A-2 (Monterey Ranger District)
- Special Closure Order Map - Exhibit B-1 (Santa Lucia Ranger District)
- Special Closure Order Map - Exhibit B-3 (Santa Lucia Ranger District)
- Special Closure Order Map - Exhibit B-4 (Santa Lucia Ranger District)
- Special Closure Order Map - Exhibit B-5 (Santa Lucia Ranger District)
- Special Closure Order Map - Exhibit C (Santa Barbara Ranger District)
- Special Closure Order Map - Exhibit D (Ojai Ranger District)
Firearms - Target Shooting Prohibition Forest Order
Date(s): Jun 1, 2024
Pursuant to 16 USC 551 and 36 CRF 261.50 (a) and (b), and to provide for public safaety and protect natural resources, the following act is prohibited within the Los Padres National Forest. This Order is effective January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024.

Discharging a firearm, exept int he following designated target ranges:

a. Winchester Canyon Gun Club

b. Ojai Valley gun Club

36 CFR 261.58(m)
- Forest Order 05-07-00-23-01 Firearms Prohibition
Pine Ridge Trail ALERT
Date(s): Jun 1, 2024
The Pine Ridge Trailhead at the Big Sur Sur Station is only accessible from north Hwy 1 from Carmel. Closed from the south.

Due to a significant landslide, the Pine Ridge trail is rerouted. Hikers can follow and access the reroute through Barlow Flat Camp. Hikers will need to cross the Big Sur River at Barlow Flat to the north side of the river, continue about ½ mile down the rerouted trail, and then cross back to the south side of the river to continue on the Pine Ridge Trail.

Stock bypass is closed in the winter and may be impassable during high waters.
- Pine Ridge Trail Information
Contact the Monterey Ranger District or the Big Sur Visitor Center for more information.

Monterey Ranger District office: 831-385-5434 X 0 or, send an email to district staff.

Big Sur Visitor Center: 831-667-2315 x 0
Forest Orders
Date(s): Jun 1, 2024
- Forest Orders
Los Padres National Forest prohibits campfires in Santa Barbara front country
Date(s): Jun 1, 2024
Fire restrictions are still in effect in the Santa Barbara front country. This prohibition will remain in effect through Feb 26, 2026.

NOTE: This prohibition does not include the following campgrounds on the Santa Barbara and Santa Lucia Ranger Districts: Fremont (closed), Paradise, Los Prietos (closed), Upper Oso (closed), Figueroa Mountain, Davy Brown and Nira.

Campfires are prohibited on National Forest System lands in the Santa Barbara front country due to the increasing fire danger and the potential threat to downslope communities.

Over the past 16 years, eight large wildfires have directly impacted the front country communities of Goleta, Santa Barbara, Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria. Extreme fire weather events are now occurring year-round and are compounded by the long-term, severe drought affecting Central and So. California.

Front country visitors possessing a valid CA Campfire Permit will be permitted to use portable lanterns or stoves that run on propane, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel.
- Forest Order 05-07-54-24-03
- Santa Barbara Front Country Fire Use Prohibition Closure Map