Wildfire Prompts Closures in Sequoia National Park and Surrounding Areas
Backcountry hikers, take note. A growing wildfire in the Sierra Mountains has prompted officials to close a number of areas that may affect trips.
Ignited by lightning on July 8th in the Sequoia National Forest, the Lion Fire has grown to 11,411 acres, reaching parts of the Golden Trout Wilderness and Sequoia National Park, and is heading in a northernly and westerly direction.
One popular closure of note is the trail to Maggie Lakes from the Mountain Home State Forest.
For other trail closure information, forest officials ask that hikers planning to be the area call ahead. "We really need to have a person-to-person conversation," said Denise Alonzo, spokesperson for the Sequoia National Forest. Those planning to travel into the forest's wilderness areas should call the Western Divide Ranger District at 559-539-2607. If heading into the the southern area of Sequoia National park, call 559-565-3766.
For a map of the burn area and updates from officials, check this InciWeb page.
The photo used on this post is by Flickr user fordsbasement. It was used under a Creative Commons License.