A few weeks ago I was planning my training hikes for my Mount Rainier climb. Now I’m hunkered down and my “hikes” are limited to walking the dogs in the neighborhood streets. We don’t live near any trails, so that will have to suffice for now. The spread of COVID-19 have resulted in restriction of “non-essential travel” in many areas. These restrictions will likely tighten as the number of cases continues to grow, and then loosen slowly somewhere on the other side of the curve.
If you are fortunate to live near a park or trail that you can walk to and remains open, you can hike but only if you are able to maintain 6-feet of social distance. If you are experiencing symptoms, stay home.
These are the parks and trails that have been closed due to the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic as of March 27, 2020. We will be updating this list regularly, with links to the sources.
Arizona
- Arizona State Parks and Trails recreation parks and trails are open, but all events have been cancelled and all historic parks and gift shops are closed until May 8.
California
Group gatherings of any size are strictly prohibited everywhere in the state. Some trail areas remain open to hiking, some are walk-up only with parking now closed.
- California State Park System – All campgrounds are closed as of March 17, 2020 until further notice. Trails and other open spaces in parks remain open. State Parks has closed vehicular traffic to parks experiencing high visitation (latest list of effected parks closed to vehicles).
- Death Valley National Park – all park facilities, some trailheads and secondary roads are closed.
- Joshua Tree National Park – all park facilities, campgrounds and park roads are closed. The park remains open to bicycle and hiker access.
- Yosemite National Park is closed.
Alameda County / Contra Costa County
- East Bay Regional Park District has closed some parks and parking lots in others.
Los Angeles County
- All public trails, trailheads, beaches, piers, beach bike paths and beach access points in the County of Los Angeles (with the exception of the cities of Pasadena and Long Beach) are closed through April 19th. This addendum was effective March 27th, and was put in place because social distancing was not maintained. Read the order here (PDF).
- All LA City Parks and Recreation facilities are closed until further notice. Trails remain open, including at Griffith Park.
- Baily Canyon Park and the Mount Wilson Trail are closed.
- Claremont Hills Wilderness Park is closed until further notice.
- All park facilities and trails managed by Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) are closed as of March 22 until further notice. This includes most parks in the Santa Monica Mountains. For an online list of the affected parks, click here or for a map of the parks, click here.
- All trails in the Puente Hills Preserve are closed
- Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area parking lots are closed. With the exception of Solstice Canyon (closed) the park remains open to day-use walkers, hikers and bicyclists.
Marin County
- All parks and trails in the Marin County Parks system are closed until further notice.
Orange County
- City of Laguna Beach has closed all beaches and trails.
Riverside County
- Riverside County Regional Parks and Open-Spaces – All recreation facilities, nature centers, historic sites, park headquarters, open-space areas and regional parks in Riverside County are closed as of March 19, 2020 until further notice.
- Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is currently closed until at least April 30, 2020.
- Joshua Tree National Park entrances are closed to vehicles, but open to bicycle and hiker access.
- Indian Canyons and Tahquitz Canyon are both closed.
San Diego County
County Parks and Preserves remain open for hiking. They are closed for camping or other activities.
- Annie’s Canyon Trail at San Elijo Lagoon, and Clemmens Lane is closed.
- San Diego city-owned beaches, parks and trails are closed. This includes Mission Trails Regional Park and Mt Woodson (complete list).
- San Dieguito River Park is closed until further notice.
- Cleveland National Forest:
- All campgrounds and bathroom facilities
- Three Sisters Falls Trail
- Cedar Creek Falls Trail
- All trails/picnic areas where an Adventure Pass is required
- City of Carlsbad parks, trails and beaches are closed.
- Fallbrook: The Wildlands Conservancy has closed the Santa Margarita Trails.
- Hot Springs Mountain: Los Coyotes Tribal Council has declared a state of emergency on the reservation. They have closed the reservation to the public. No hiking is permitted unless you are a tribal member on the reservation.
- Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve is closed until further notice.
Colorado
- Colorado State Parks remain open, but Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) will close all playgrounds, campgrounds, dispersed camping and camping facilities (including yurts and cabins) at Colorado’s state parks as well as camping at State Wildlife Areas effective Thursday, March 26 until further notice.
Oregon
- Oregon State Parks: All trails closed until further notice
Utah
- Utah State Parks remain open, including campgrounds, with a few exceptions. Check here for detailed closure or partial closure information.
Washington
- Washington State Parks – All state parks are closed until at least April 8. All campgrounds are closed until April 30.
- Mount Rainier National Park – Closed to all foot and vehicle traffic
- Olympic National Park – All roads, facilities and campgrounds closed
- North Cascades National Park – Cascade River Road, Upper Goodell Road, and Thornton Lakes Road are closed
- Forest Service – National Forest offices limiting access
- Skamania County has closed all trails in the county, including trails at Mount St. Helens, Cape Horn and Dog Mountain
- All King County Parks trailheads and parking lots are closed
Contributors
Thanks to Nick Gee and Karl Doll for contributing to this list.
If you have additions or corrections, please leave a comment below.
Skyline Trail in Corona: Closed due to people not being able to social distance
While shutting down areas where people congregate at close quarters, like playgrounds for instance, makes sense, the closure of hiking trails, beaches, parks and other open areas is, in my opinion, a “cure” that is worse than the disease. Why? Because so many of us rely on hiking and walking in green areas with low noise pollution and better air to be an essential part of physical and mental health. Furthermore, it is easy to observe 6 foot (or more) social distancing in these areas, and combined with wearing a cloth covering over the face is all that would be necessary. After all, we allow people to congregate in banks, grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and other places where people are not only much closer together, but also inside. So, if its safe to go to these indoor locations, where masks and six foot clearance are considered safe, wouldn’t it make sense to have the same rules apply to the great outdoors?
Absolutely. I’m going nuts trying to find a place to go that isn’t a huge public attraction
In Escondido:
Dixon Lake, Daley Ranch, and Lake Wohlford are completely closed to the public until further notice.
For more information, visit http://www.escondido.org.
– Jeff,
Thank you much for the info!
Hello! Just found you as we become more desperate for info as to where to get out. We do have a closed park where walkers walk no PD interference, but our hiking trail closed. It’s time, today is May 5, to ease up.
Beaches all should be open then monitored for abusers, but the rest of us need air.
We do walk…and work our backyard for sun and exercise with projects, but so sorry and praying for those really trapped in small spaces.
Bless you for this site. Will hit Fb and stay connected as can…as well Share you for info and support.
Oh! all park facilities, campgrounds and park roads are closed.
Hi! My daughter and I were trying to find an area for an overnight backpack trip in locally. Is there something open to backpacking? I see Hoagees and Spruce Grove campground is closed.