TRAIL INFORMATION FOR LAGUNA MOUNTAIN RECREATION AREA
AS OF MAY 24, 2004

Map resources:
-Laguna area map of trail closures due to the Cedar Fire
-Laguna Recreation Area map
-Cedar Fire map of San Diego county (courtesy of San Diego Union-Tribune)

-NOBLE CANYON TRAIL: OPEN Friday May 28, 2004.

-PINE MOUNTAIN TRAIL: OPEN Friday May 28, 2004.

-INDIAN CREEK TRAIL: OPEN Friday May 28, 2004.

-BIG LAGUNA TRAIL: OPEN

-SUNSET TRAIL: OPEN

-PACIFIC CREST TRAIL: OPEN

-GARNET PEAK TRAIL: OPEN

Mountain bikers, hikers and horseback riders are required to stay on roads and designated trails throughout the burn area--no cross country travel in burn area.

A note from Anne Carey, Recreation and Lands Officer for the Descanso Ranger District Office;
Cleveland National Forest:
The annuals are coming back, the chaparral is resprouting. It is important recreational users do not have a negative impact on this fragile environment which has gone through a tremendous change in the last seven months. Everyone's cooperation is required.

For other information, contact the Forest Service office during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00- 4:30 at 619-445-6235 or visit the Descanso ranger District office at 3348 Alpine Blvd. in Alpine or the Cleveland National Forest website.

More information on regional rehabilitation efforts at Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) website.

The fire damage in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area is confined to the northern end (starting near mile marker MM 27), and is on both east and west sides of Sunrise Highway. Surprisingly, the fire damage in the Recreation Area is not visible from Sunrise Highway until you get north of the village of Mt. Laguna (MM 23.5) and Laguna Campground (MM 26), to the Al Bahr Shrine camp near MM 26.5. See the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area map on our website for details. Please keep in mind when you look at the pictures below that they are not representative of the entire Recreation Area.

The Recreation Area was only partially damaged in the fire thanks to the amazing efforts of many firefighters who stubbornly pushed it north of the Shrine camp, and also the efforts of local and regional Forest Service teams, CDF, law enforcement officials, and thousands of volunteers who have worked hard to protect us.
Destruction of Garnet Peak information kiosk at MM 28.5 on Sunrise Highway A firefighter scans for hotspots to extinguish nearby Charred landscape: looking west from Sunrise Hwy between MM27 and 28

Noble Canyon Trailhead at MM 27.3 Sunrise Hwy

Left: After Cedar fire

Right: Noble Canyon trail prior to fire
Looking SW from Sunrise Hwy near Pioneer Mail picnic ground (MM 29)
Seared ground near north end of Recreation Area
Lee Potter of Owens Freight Lines (Pineville, OR) awaits instructions for unloading his 6000-gallon water tanker