Just putting this into the record since the ANF is likely aware of how the Cleveland National Forest is handling Cedar Creek Falls. Cedar Creek Falls is a safer version of our Eaton Canyon falls and ever since a young guy died, they closed the falls. Also in the mix is that they are considering a permit to be able to visit the falls. ...which is of course either insane, ridiculous, or laughable.Forest Closures Remain in Effect on the Palomar Ranger District
Release Date: Nov 8, 2011
Contact(s): Brian Harris, Public Affairs Officer, 858-674-2984 office, 619-937-1462 cell
The Cedar Creek Falls trailhead, trail and falls area will remain closed as the Forest Service is continuing to work with partner agencies and interested public groups to develop measures that provide for the safety of visitors and quality of resource base. The original closure was put into place on July 9, 2011, and ran through November 8, 2011. A new closure order has been implemented that extends the closure through April 1, 2012. The purpose of the closure is to give the Forest Service time to design and implement a management plan to address issues of public safety, overcrowding, and resource impacts.
The Forest Service is moving ahead with the development of a management plan for the area and will conduct an analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) prior to finalizing and implementing the plan. The target for the completion of the NEPA is late March, 2012. A decision on whether or not a permit would be required to hike the trail in the future will not be made until the conclusion of the NEPA process. The permitting system course of action is one that will be studied, while other alternatives will be studied as well.
The closed area includes the trailhead at Thornbush Road, the trail to and from Cedar Creek Falls from the Thornbush Road Trailhead, the trailhead area at Saddleback (located on Eagle Peak Road), the trail from Saddleback, and the specific Cedar Creek Falls site. The closure area extends for ¼ mile on both sides of the trails and the falls.
photo from 100peaks.com
