Popular Southern California national, state parks set to re-open this week

Janet Wilson, Palm Springs Desert Sun
·4 min read
Mission Creek Road in the Yucca Valley, CA area was one of many roads, trails and campgrounds that were hit with floodwaters and mud due to tropical storm Hilary, which roared over much of southern California on Aug. 21, 2023. Upper Mission Creek in the San Bernardino Mountains got a whopping 13.54 inches in 48 hours, the highest amount in southern California, while 11.73 inches fell at Redwood Flat, and Mount San Jacinto by the Palm Springs Tramway saw 11.74 inches, according to National Weather Service and NOAA readings.

National and state parks, forests and recreation areas across Southern California deserts and mountains were still closed to assess damage and mop up on Monday after Tropical Storm Hilary dumped huge amounts of rain over the weekend.

The greatest rainfall totals were high above the Coachella Valley and Inland Empire areas, although water and mud came roaring down creeks and mountain slopes toward the desert floor. Upper Mission Creek in the San Bernardino Mountains got a whopping 14.1 inches in 48 hours, while 11.73 inches fell at Raywood Flats, and Mount San Jacinto by the Palm Springs Tramway saw 11.74 inches, according to National Weather Service and NOAA readings.

Joshua Tree National Park and Mt. San Jacinto State Park remain closed Monday, as do visitor centers in the San Bernardino National Forest, and several portions of Ocotillo Wells State Park, with staff at all the popular public sites out first thing Monday to conduct damage assessments and begin clean up.

Joshua Tree National Park crews found large amounts of sand and debris on roadways, which they have begun to clear. The park will re-open for day use only on Tuesday, Aug. 22. All visitor centers and paved roads will be open. All dirt roads and campgrounds will remain closed until further assessment can be done.

Desert tortoise and other wildlife still could be out of their burrows and on roads to drink fresh water, cautioned Joshua Tree park spokesman Donovan Smith. "They can look like rocks," said Smith, who urged drivers to go slowly and avoid hitting the lumbering reptiles.

Portions of State Routes 38 and 62 also were shut, CalTrans said Monday. The closure on Highway 38, caused by a mudslide, runs from Bryant Street in Redlands up to Balky Horse Canyon Rd below Sugarloaf, cutting off one of the main routes from the desert floor up to the San Bernardino National Forest and nearby communities. Motorists are advised to use an alternate route, such as State Route 18, said a spokesman with the national forest.

In advance of the storm, backpackers were told to get off the Pacific Crest Trail near Mt. San Jacinto, and campers, off-roaders and boaters were told to pack up and leave for their own safety across a broad swath of the region's rugged open spaces, from the Colorado River to the Salton Sea. Rangers and other staff also hunkered down at home or elsewhere inside as the storm blew through. No major damage had been reported as of midday Monday.

One camper got stranded at the Picacho State Park campground near the Colorado River, a park official said but park ranger Tim Schulte helped her pack her gear and get out the 20-mile dirt road back to paved roads on Saturday, including changing a flat tire for her on the way out. "Officer Schulte got her to safety before the storm got too awful," said Ocotillo Wells State Park Superintendent Andrew Ahlberg.

Mt. San Jacinto State Park could re-open by Wednesday, while Ocotillo State Park's closed units could re-open as soon as Tuesday. The Palm Springs Tramway was already closed all month for scheduled maintenance. A large pine and a large live oak were toppled at one Mt. San Jacinto campground during the storm, said chief ranger Mike Dippel of the California State Parks Inland Empire District.

"We fared pretty well through the storm," he said. "We had no significant damage ... just two downed trees and the campground (where they fell) was evacuated already."

Closed visitor centers in the national forest include: Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument; Lytle Creek - Cajon Pass Recreation Area; Fuller Mill Creek Picnic Area; and Barton Flats Family Campground.

“During the summer, a typical weekend would be really busy at all of these visitor centers, and even on a Monday, if you have campers staying over from the weekend,” said San Bernardino National Forest spokesman Gustavo Bahena. "Our primary concern is the safety of our visitors and our employees because of possibly hazardous conditions.”

Ocotillo Wells State Park inland units that remain closed are expected to re-open on Tuesday, including the popular Ocotillo Wells off-road vehicle riding area, said Superintendent Andrew Ahlberg. "They're still out doing assessments. From what I'm hearing, it is very, very wet. Some of the staff are unable to continue down trails, they had turned around so they wouldn't themselves get stuck. But ... desert does dry out fairly quickly."

For up-to-date information, check websites for any public site you plan to visit, as conditions can change quickly.

Janet Wilson is senior environment reporter for The Desert Sun. She can be reached at jwilson@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Joshua Tree National Parks, others in California to reopen this week after Hilary