South County : Campgrounds, Picnic Area to Open Saturday

Several campgrounds and a picnic area along the Ortega Highway in Cleveland National Forest will reopen for the summer on Saturday District Ranger Nancy Curriden announced.

But the chief ranger for the Santa Ana Mountains area also cautioned potential campers and picnickers to treat those facilities with care, asking them to pick up after themselves and to report vandalism.

“Fire season is just around the corner,” reminded Ernest Martinsen, resource officer for the Trabuco Ranger District. “The drying vegetation typical of our . . . ecosystem will once again hold the potential for catastrophic wildfire.

“Everyone can help by being extra careful with Fire,” he said. He recommends that motorists and campers use their ashtrays, and report any smoke or flames to the Forest Service dispatcher at (619) 293-5262.

The facilities that are reopening next weekend--Bluejay Campground, El Cariso North Campground, El Cariso South Campground and the Lower San Juan Picnic Area--were closed for maintenance and repair work over the winter, forest officials said.

Rates for the three campgrounds--and two others that remained open during the winter, Upper San Juan Campground and Tenaja Campground--are $5 a night. Sites in another area, the Wildomar Off-Road Vehicle Campground are free, on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Trabuco Ranger District also offers three group camping sites at the Falcon Group Camp. Reservations are required, and fees range from $35 to $70 nightly.

For reservations or information, contact the Trabuco District headquarters at 1147 East 6th St., Corona, or call (714) 736-1811.