Mountain Fire on Mt. San Jacinto closes PCT

Update 8/5/13: The PCT remains closed in the area. Please view our trail closure page for future updates. 

Update 7/23/13 @ 11:30 am: The fire perimeter is not expected to grow at this time. A video of the burn area is posted below. The PCT remains closed.

Update 7/19/13 @ 10:25 am: Last night’s fire perimeter map uploaded below.

Update 7/18/13 @ 9:15 am: Last night’s fire perimeter map uploaded below.

Update 7/17/13 @ 4:00 pm: The closure area has expanded. The PCT is now closed from Highway 74 (mile 152) to Strawberry Junction (mile 183) near the San Jacinto State Park boundary.

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The Mountain Fire started at 1:43 PM on July 15, 2013 near the junction of Highway 243 and Highway 74. It is burning in very steep and rugged terrain in the southern portion of the San Jacinto Wilderness along the Desert Divide, in the Apple Canyon and Bonita Vista areas and east of Mountain Center.

The Pacific Crest Trail is closed from Highway 74 (mile 152) north to Saddle Junction (mile 179) (see updated closure above). All of the trails connecting to the Pacific Crest Trail are closed as well, including South Ridge Trail, Carumba Trail, Spitler Peak Trail, Fobes Trail, and Cedar Springs.

Individuals or groups with overnight or advance day-use permits into the San Jacinto Wilderness are advised to call the San Jacinto Ranger Station at 909-382-2921.

Currently, there is no suggested alternate route to the PCT.

 

Map produced 07/19/13 at 23:38 MDT

Map produced 07/18/13 at 23:38 MDT

Infrared map from  22:03 MDT on 7/17/13

Infrared map from 22:03 MDT on 7/17/13

MODIS fire map of the Mountain Fire as of 10:50 am on July 16th.

MODIS fire map of the Mountain Fire as of 10:50 am on July 16th.

Author: Jack "Found" Haskel

As the Trail Information Manager, Jack works to connect people to the PCT. He's involved with a wide variety of projects that help the trail, the trail's users and the community that surrounds the experience. He has thru-hiked (Pacific Crest Trail in 2006; Colorado Trail in 2008; Continental Divide Trail in 2010) and is an obsessed weekend warrior.