Coronavirus: California closes hiking trails, beaches due to overcrowding

‘When you’re out there and you can’t even find parking at a beach, it suggests you’re not going to practice social distancing’

California Governor Gavin Newsom will close beaches and trails due to overcrowding concerns related to coronavirus (iStock)

Hikers in California hoping to find solace on hiking trails may soon find themselves without the option due to possible crackdowns on outdoor crowding.

Californians were placed under a “shelter in place” order by Governor Gavin Newsom on March 20. While the order didn’t explicitly ban Californians from leaving their homes, its intent was to prevent large social gatherings in places like bars, restaurants and elsewhere.

However, reports across the state showing substantial crowds gathering in parks, beaches and on trails has caused the governor and local officials to consider shutting down local and state-run public spaces as well.

CNN reported that Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti decided to close sports and recreation spaces at all LA city parks, including beaches, in response to the crowding over the weekend.

“This weekend we saw too many people packing beaches, trails and parks. So we are closing sports and recreation at @LACityParks and closing parking at city beaches,” he tweeted. “That doesn’t mean gather elsewhere. This is serious. Stay home and save lives.”

The Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority, which manages parks in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, said it would close all of its parks and trails, which include land owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

The Ventura County Star reported that the governor will also close parking lots at Point Mugu park in Ventura County, as well as Leo Carrillo and Malibu Creek parks. The National Parks Service has also closed Solstice Canyon in Malibu.

“When you’re out there and you can’t even find parking at a beach, it suggests you’re not going to practice social distancing and it may suggest you may want to find a new location,” Mr Newsom said.

Further south in East County, San Diego, two popular hiking trails were shut down as well. The Cedar Creek Falls trail and the Three Sisters Falls trail in the Cleveland National Forest were both closed earlier this week.

Even hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from the US-Mexico border to the US-Canada border through California, Oregon and Washington, have had to give up on their hikes.

Hikers on the trail – who often plan for months before tackling the route – have had to quit the trail and head home according to a story published in LAist.

Due to weather conditions on the trail during other parts of the year – including deep snow, possible blizzards and sweltering desert heat – hikers generally begin the trail between March and May. Unfortunately for them, the optimal time to begin the trail coincided with the height of the US coronavirus crisis.

Though hikers who’d set their sights on hiking the trail have differing opinions on whether it’s still viable to hike during the outbreak, the Pacific Crest Trail Association’s website warns visitors to change their hiking plans, citing the coronavirus.

Overcrowding in outdoor, public spaces isn’t a uniquely Californian problem, either.

Arizona has also seen a surge of hikers at its trails, with law enforcement reporting filled parking lots near trailheads and parks officials reporting that toilet paper had been stolen from county facilities.

In Washington, D.C., officials had to close the access roads to the Tidal Basin to stop crowds from gathering on the narrow walking paths to see the famed cherry blossoms, which are currently in full bloom. The district also had to close access to the National Arboretum after visitors crowded the site over the weekend.