Officials Close 25 California State Parks Due to Wildfires

Wildfires are burning throughout the state of California, creating smoky conditions and displacing thousands of residents. With massive wildfires getting close to California State Parks, officials have announced that 25 of those parks are now closed.

The biggest announcement of the week came out of Big Basin Redwoods State Park, which received extensive fire damage including the complete destruction of its visitor center. The park is now closed and will like stay closed for a significant amount of time.

This huge redwood just before Big Basin Redwoods State Park HQ didn’t make it pic.twitter.com/KHQlwyD2AT

— EthanBaron (@ethanbaron) August 21, 2020

Meanwhile, there are plenty of other parks that officials are asking to stay away from as the fire continue to spread. The public is advised to avoid the following parks and any other areas that are closed during this time:

CZU August Lightning Complex Fires

Fully Closed:

• Año Nuevo SP
• Big Basin Redwoods SP (including Rancho Del Oso)
• Butano SP
• Castle Rock SP
• Henry Cowell Redwoods SP
• Portola Redwoods SP

Beach Fire

Partially Closed:

• Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve (SNR) – portions of south side closed including South Tufa and Navy Beach (U.S. Forest Service).

Deer Zone Fire

Fully Closed:

• Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area
• Mount Diablo SP

Dolan Fire

Fully Closed:

• Andrew Molera SP
• Garrapata SP
•  Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP
• John Little SNR
• Limekiln SP
• Pfeiffer Big Sur SP
• Point Lobos SNR
• Point Sur SHP

Jones Fire

Fully Closed:

• Empire Mine State Historic Park (SHP)
• Malakoff Diggins SHP
• South Yuba River SP

LNU Lightning Complex Fires

Fully Closed:

• Armstrong Redwoods SNR
• Austin Creek State Recreation Area
• Fort Ross SHP

SCU Lightning Complex Fires

Fully Closed:

• Henry W. Coe SP

Woodward Fire

Fully Closed:

• Tomales Bay SP

Partially Closed:

• Mount Tamalpais SP– upper mountain and campgrounds closed, day-use is strongly discouraged.

Due to the active nature of the wildfires, the public is advised to always check ahead, as conditions may evolve rapidly. State Parks peace officers are patrolling the evacuated parks and assisting in mutual aid.

California State Parks is supporting the communities impacted by the wildfires and assisting CAL FIRE and local law enforcement agencies. For the latest information on state park units affected, please visit www.parks.ca.gov/Incidents. For the latest information on the wildfires, please visit https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/.