From http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi Just type in the HWY#(Hwy 74) This highway information is the latest reported as of Saturday, August 10, 2013 at 20:41. SR 74 [IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA] IS CLOSED FROM ANTONIO PKWY /IN SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO/ (ORANGE CO) TO GRAND AVE /IN ELSINORE/ (RIVERSIDE CO) - DUE TO A WILD FIRE - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE 1-WAY CONTROLLED TRAFFIC AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS FROM 3.7 MI EAST TO 8.7 MI EAST OF MOUNTAIN CENTER (RIVERSIDE CO) FROM 1900 HRS EACH NIGHT TO 0500 HRS EACH MORNING 7 DAYS A WEEK THRU 8/22/13 - DUE TO CONSTRUCTION - MOTORISTS ARE SUBJECT TO DELAYS OF UP TO 15 MINUTES 1-WAY CONTROLLED TRAFFIC AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS FROM PINYON DR TO CAHUILLA WAY /IN PALM DESERT/ (RIVERSIDE CO) FROM 1900 HRS EACH NIGHT TO 0500 HRS EACH MORNING 7 DAYS A WEEK THRU 8/22/13 - DUE TO CONSTRUCTION - MOTORISTS ARE SUBJECT TO DELAYS OF UP TO 15 MINUTES
I went up San Juan on Tuesday, and they said the Ortega was closed at El Cariso (now only to South Main Divide), but the way to San Juan at the Fire Station was open and no smoke or indication of fire. The way should be open now.
I can go by the way of cota de casa, through the painted trail to caspers then blue jay, about 30 miles.
Road is open to the ranger station. I drove down and had a nice ride. I forgot how much I love that trail!
Ive rode up East Horsethief to South Main Divide up the wall and to Blue Jay down San Juan just to Cocktail than back up.
Ortega is open from I5 all the way to South Main Divide on the Riverside side. SJT should be accessible from OC, from the fire station down there all the way up to Blue Jay. El Cariso is open as well. South Main Divide and the trails on the north side likely not.
Update: Ortega Highway is open unrestricted from 4pm to 8 am daily (all day Sunday). Mon-Sat from 8 am to 4pm it is controlled one way traffic from South Main Divide to Grand Ave in Elsinore. Basically none of this affects 99.5% of you as you don't live in Riverside Happy riding!