The Heenan Lake Wildlife Area in Alpine County is once again open to public use, including daily catch-and-release fishing for Lahontan cutthroat trout. The reopening of the CDFW property coincides with the USDA Forest Service lifting of its statewide forest closure. CDFW photo.

September 17, 2021 - The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has reopened 34 of its properties to public use as of Thursday, Sept. 16, following the announcement by the USDA Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest Region(opens in new tab) lifting the closure of most California forests.

Some CDFW wildlife areas and ecological reserves that lie within or immediately adjacent to USDA Forest Service boundaries will remain closed to support emergency response routes, firefighting efforts and to protect public safety. Please visit CDFW’s Emergency Closures webpage for the most current list of CDFW closures. Hunters and anglers are strongly advised to check ahead before planning any trips to USDA Forest Service properties.

The lifting of the regional USDA Forest Service closure in California comes two days early before the order was set to expire Sept. 17. The lifting of the closure along with the reopening of 34 CDFW properties will provide hunters and anglers with expanded hunting, fishing and camping opportunities in time for peak fall fishing and hunting seasons.

Four forests in Southern California, however, will remain closed until Sept. 22 due to local wildfire conditions and a lack of firefighting resources. These are the Los Padres, Angeles, San Bernardino and Cleveland national forests. The El Dorado National Forest in Northern California remains closed through Sept. 30 due to the Caldor Fire.

The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, which lies within California and Nevada but outside the USDA’s Pacific Southwest Region, remains open to public use.
Source: CDFW