If you’re a hiker or equestrian who travels the Pacific Crest Trail through the Angeles National Forest, here’s something you need to know before you lace up your boots. A section of the PCT and the Williamson Rock area are under a temporary closure order.
The Forest Service has closed the Williamson Rock area and a stretch of the PCT running from its intersection with Angeles Crest Highway (State Highway 2) down to its intersection with the Burkhart Trail. The closure runs through December 31, 2026, and it’s all about protecting one of California’s most imperiled amphibians: the mountain yellow-legged frog.
This little guy is federally endangered, and Williamson Rock, along with the surrounding stream habitat, is a critical territory for the species. Human foot traffic – even from well-meaning hikers just passing through – can disturb breeding habitat, introduce disease, and disrupt the ongoing recovery work happening in these drainages.
PCT hikers, make sure your maps are current. The trail is rerouted around the closed segment, so check with the Angeles National Forest or the Pacific Crest Trail Association before you head out. And if you’re coming through with horses, plan ahead – there’s no easy workaround once you’re already on the trail.
More info: Angeles National Forest