Whitewater Canyon Hiking Area To Reopen

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved the reopening of seven hiking areas throughout the region on Jan. 23, 2018. At the request of Riverside County Fire Chief Daniel R. Talbot, and due to recent hazardous fire conditions present in those areas; effective Thursday, February 1, 2018, the hazardous fire areas will reopen:

• Avery Canyon, (Gibbel Road east of State Street in Hemet)
• North Mountain and Indian Canyon (San Jacinto area)
• Whitewater Canyon (Cabazon, north of Palm Springs)
• Nuevo/Lakeview (east of Menifee Road and San Jacinto Avenue)
• Minto (Sage)
• Reinhardt Canyon (north of Highway 74 and California Avenue in Hemet)
• Ramona Bowl and Bautista Canyon (southeast Hemet)

“I encourage you to visit these beautiful hiking trails throughout Riverside County and would like to remind residents and visitors in Riverside County that we live in a very wildfire-prone area,” said CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Chief, Daniel R. Talbot. “We are experiencing unseasonably warm, dry conditions which increases fire danger. Please be fire safe.”

During times of extreme fire hazard, Chief Talbot will continue to work with the Board of Supervisors to rotect the public from wildfire threats. Future closures may be implemented based on weather conditions and wildfire threat.

For additional information on the open areas to the public, please contact the Public Affairs Bureau at 951-940-6985.

To view maps of the hiking areas, please visit www.rvcfire.org .

— SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION BY: Riverside County Fire Department / Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone