Crowds May Force Access Road Closures

Campers should stake their claims early as holiday overcrowding could force the closure of two access roads into Big Tujunga and San Gabriel canyons in the Angeles National Forest, a U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman said Friday.

A crush of Labor Day weekend visitors to the area could result in the closure of Big Tujunga Canyon and San Gabriel Canyon roads, said Dianne Cahir, a service spokeswoman.

In other parts of the forest, agency officials are bracing for the traditional rush of weekend campers who will be restricted to a smaller area than usual this year due to the Narrows fire, a blaze that has been burning in the forest since Aug. 13, Cahir said.

A number of campgrounds and trails will be closed throughout the weekend, Cahir said, including:

* South of Highway 2 from Blue Ridge Road to the East Fork fire station.

* East Fork trail from East Fork station to Vincent Saddle.

* Grassy Hollow picnic area.

* Jackson Flat campground.

* Lower loop of Table Mountain campground.

* Pacific Crest Trail from Little Jimmy to Blue Ridge.

Areas that will remain open include:

* Table Mountain except for lower loop.

* Jackson Lake.

* Big Pines Highway picnic areas and campgrounds.

Due to the hot and dry conditions, Cahir said, open campfires, barbecues and smoking are restricted to developed campsites and picnic areas.

Beyond those areas, campers may light portable stoves that use liquid fuel or jellied petroleum if they have obtained a free permit from the Forest Service.