Angeles National Forest officials have closed several trails on Mt. Baldy until February 23 due to an approaching winter storm, a decision that has sparked debate among the Southern California climbing community.
“The purpose of the closure is to provide public safety due to upcoming winter storms,” forest service officials said in their announcement on Tuesday. The closure affects popular routes including Mt. Baldy Trail, Mt. Baldy Bowl Trail, Devil’s Backbone Trail, and others in the area.
The decision comes after three hikers died in December when they slipped off the icy Devil’s Backbone trail. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, 23 people have died on the 10,064-foot mountain in the past decade, with authorities responding to 345 search and rescue operations during that period.
Ken and Fabiana Muench Casanova, whose 19-year-old son Marcus Alexander died on the mountain on December 29, 2025, are among those supporting the closure.
“It’s been the worst six weeks of our lives since that day,” Ken Casanova told KTLA. “Nothing can bring back our son. The only reason we’re speaking out is because we know how painful this is. It is the worst pain you can possibly imagine.”
The Casanovas believe the mountain’s proximity to urban areas contributes to its danger. Located within an hour’s drive of 20 million people, Mt. Baldy’s steep, exposed trails—often covered in ice and snow during winter—can challenge even experienced mountaineers like actor Julian Sands, who died on the mountain in 2023.
Not everyone supports the closure. Some experienced climbers have expressed frustration on social media, arguing that blanket closures unfairly restrict access for those properly trained and equipped.
“Closure isn’t conservation,” wrote Howie Bohl in comments reported by the Los Angeles Times. “Proper education and enforcement of climbing equipment is a much better option.”
Others have questioned whether the Forest Service can effectively enforce the closure, noting that without rangers physically denying access, some hikers might ignore posted signs.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has previously called on the U.S. Forest Service to proactively close the mountain during unsafe conditions. The agency is now developing a new Visitor Use Management Strategy for the Mt. Baldy area, which could include a permit system, designated parking areas, or improved public education.
Anyone violating the closure order could face fines up to $5,000 and six months imprisonment. The Forest Service is accepting public comments on potential management strategies through February 28.
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