Aug 11, 2026 - Environment

Two popular San Diego-area trails close for August heat

Claire Trageser

(GERMANY OUT) Hikers at the Three Sisters waterfalls. (Photo by Dünzl\ullstein bild via Getty Images) — No hiking for now. Photo: Dünzl/ullstein bild via Getty Images

Two popular hiking trails in Cleveland National Forest are now closed during August because of the heat.

The big picture: San Diego River Gorge and Three Sisters hiking trails are closed, and anyone who goes on them can be fined $5,000, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Zoom in: The Forest Service has maps of the closure areas, but the main instruction is to stay off the trails.

Threat level: The closures came after 11 heat-related rescues and 18 heat-related assists during July and the first week of August, per the Union-Tribune.

The rescues involved helicopters, which should be reserved for fires, according to the Forest Service.

What's next: After August, the Forest Service will look at weather predictions and decide whether to reopen the trails.

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Two popular San Diego-area trails close for August heat

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