Overview
- The closure targets key routes to the 10,064-foot summit, including Mt. Baldy Trail, Mt. Baldy Bowl, Devil’s Backbone, Icehouse Canyon, Ontario Peak, the Three T’s, and Chapman Trail.
- Violating the order can bring fines up to $5,000 and up to six months in jail, according to the Forest Service.
- The action follows three fatal falls on Dec. 30 on Devil’s Backbone and a decade of incidents that include 23 deaths and 345 search-and-rescue operations since 2016.
- Angeles National Forest is seeking public comment through Feb. 28 on a Visitor Use Management Strategy that could introduce permits, parking controls, and expanded safety education.
- Experienced climbers criticized blanket restrictions and questioned enforcement feasibility, while San Bernardino County’s sheriff has urged stronger measures to reduce rescues.