Trail Closure Notice
January 1, 2026 – San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials announce that the U.S. Forest Service, in coordination with 
local authorities, has issued a temporary closure of select trails at Mt. Baldy. Effective 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2026, through January 7, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., the following trails will be closed:
Forest System Trail No. 7W12 - Mt. Baldy Trail
Forest System Trail No. 7W02 - Mt. Baldy Bowl Trail
Forest System Trail No. 7W05 - Devil’s Backbone Trail
Forest System Trail No. 7W06 - Three T’s Trail
Forest System Trail No. 7W07 - Icehouse Canyon Trail
Forest System Trail No. 7W07A - Chapman Trail
Forest System Trail No. 7W08 - Ontario Peak Trail
This proactive measure follows the recent, tragic discovery of three deceased individuals in the area. Due to extreme environmental hazards and the current risk to hikers, these closures are being implemented to prevent further loss of life.
“Our primary responsibility is the preservation of life,” said Sheriff Shannon Dicus. “Closing these trails is a necessary step to mitigate ongoing risks. We urge the community to respect these boundaries.”
A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.
The Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Forest Service express their deepest gratitude to the community for its cooperation during this difficult time. For real-time updates on trail status, please visit the San Bernardino National Forest website at Home San Bernardino National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sanbernardino.
Source: San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department
