El Prieto **Still closed as of 4/2/11 (Old thread)

Anybody have an update?

Thanks

 

http://www.socalmtb.com/socal/trails/elprieto.htm?list=reviews

#263
Closed & Destroyed - Its closed till October. They have or had fences blocking trail head
treker
Posted on 06/01/10

 

Closed by the Forestry until further notice.

 

Still closed. More info here: http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/ride-reports/50574-recon-report-el-prieto.html

 

I was told by someone who rode there (who will remain nameless), there were more hikers in there then ever before.

 

El Prieto conditions

What are the trail conditions at El Prieto these days? My friend says it was rutted the last time they rode it back in June.

Thanks!

 

Not gonna be open til 12/10, sorry.

 

It's great news to hear that there's an official opening date.

Is Sunset Ridge going to open the same date, or is that one already open?

 

Sunset Ridge is closed. We will have to wait and see what trails will be opened.

 

Brown /El Prieto still closed...

... Just talked to the forest service. They say the closure has been extended to September!
I so miss my mountain!

 

Ugh, I feel for ya...I loved riding that when I was in town. Now I check out Mt. Wilson/Gabrielino and Monrovia Canyon when I get a chance to visit the area.

 

That not good news. Getting bored riding LSM on the weekends. What is up with all of the hiker's attitudes on that trail? No matter how polite you may be (pulling over to each hiker, saying good morning/afternoon, etc), can't seem to get them to even say hello. Compare this to when I wear my USFS volunteer shirt, and it is quite the opposite. Odd what a change of shirt does.

 

sucks

 

There's just no reason for this to be closed anymore...some people are dumb...and worry too much...

 

i've heard from rangers that they want to have people back in the burned areas by memorial weekend. i hope i'm right. with all the people riding all the closed trails one would wonder if the trails are really off limits.

 

Really? last time I was over there we watched over 30 hikers on a Saturday afternoon come walking out of El P. Ranger truck drove right on by. Then we watched two different groups of mtb'ers come out. I was so pissed I didn't bring my bike because I thought it'd been reopened. Walked out of the Arroyo and there on the street was the ranger truck. We walked over to it and asked the ranger when it had be opened again. He said it wasn't open. I didn't question why there wasn't any enforcement going on but I've seen it far less busier when it was opened. I like most find it so very frustrating that we are being restricted from our forest for no other reason then,they do it because they can. Also the trail has been repaired for months and is in good shape. I've given up asking the USFS why it's still closed.

 

CaptMitch of PMBC attended the Station Fire Recovery meeting at Eaton Canyon on 3/23/2011 that was led by Marty Dumpis, acting supervisor of the ANF. See the link below for details from the meeting.

http://pmbc.org/forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=5554

 

El P is open in every way except legally. There are hikers, equestrians and riders using that trail every day and night. Freak is right that the trail has been repaired and the hillsides are covered in green, newly growing cover. The parking lot at JPL is full most weekends and literally hundreds of people are walking and riding past the posted closure signs at the JPL gate and the start of Brown Mtn road. The actual El P singletrack entrance is not signed, so once you make it there I guess its ok to ride your horse-because I saw them doing it!
The ambiguity of the Forest closure is really starting to piss me off. Some trails that are listed as closed should be open, others closed. If you go up to the Gabrielino trail near Sturdevant there is a small sign on a bakelite post that says the trail is closed to all users. I came down from Mt Wilson and the trail was not signed. I ran into a group of hikers going up the trail who hiked right past the sign and they said they had "permission". WTF?
The recent posts about constructing old and new trails in the next year or two is really frustrating. Let the people use the Forest and the trails will be resurrected. Maybe not to IMBA standards, but they never were to begin with. The only thing holding back our access to the trails is the Forest service. I believe its in their best interests to keep it closed so they dont have to do anything with it or about it.
As far as I'm concerned the Forest and its trails are now open. I will take a photo of the Church bus parked at Red Box and go ride/hike Strawberry peak just like everyone else. Aint nothing out there a determined mtb'er with a folding shovel and a pair of loppers can't handle.

 

el prieto open again?

Is this true? It is, according to this posted on 3/27/11. For those who have ridden there very recently since it reopened, how does it look? Are there still good, technical sections? I want to go there tomorrow. Thanks!

 

I was informed by a ranger it's closed ( about a month ago ) but folks were coming and going and the ranger never said a word to them. I questioned him and he said "technically" it's closed but he made no effort to stop people.