Redwood Canyon Hiking Trails to be Partially Reopened

SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS, Calif. July 29, 2016 – Effective Monday, August 1, 2016, some of the trail closures associated with the Goliath Prescribed Burn in Redwood Canyon will be lifted. At that time, the Redwood Canyon Trail, the Sugarbowl Trail, and the Big Springs Trail will be reopened for visitor use. This will allow visitors to hike the full Sugarbowl Loop.

The Hart Tree Trail between Barton’s Cabin and the junction with the Big Springs Trail, as well as the entire interior of the Goliath Prescribed Burn Unit, will remain closed until further notice. The continued closures are in place to protect visitor safety. Please see the map attached with this news release.
The Goliath Prescribed Burn unit is currently being patrolled on a daily basis by Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks fire crews. Visitors to the newly reopened trails can expect to see firefighters, smoke, and burning or smoldering areas.

“I’m glad that we can start getting people down into Redwood Canyon to see the work we’ve been doing,” says Todd Bates, Fuels Management Specialist for Sequoia and Kings Canyon. “This has been a great opportunity to make the forest healthier, and to protect this historic grove from dangerous wildfires. It’s important for people to see what prescribed burning looks like.”

Visitors are strongly cautioned to observe all posted signs and stay on trails, while watching out for active fire, dense smoke, rolling debris, and falling trees and limbs. Visitors travel at their own risk. Smoke from the interior of the unit continues to dissipate as the remaining fuels are consumed. For more information about air quality and smoke, visit either http://www.airnow.gov or http://www.valleyair.org.

Map: https://mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=36.707513,-118.924770&z=14&t=t4

That's probably the most memorable hike I'd ever had in my life, doing the Redwood Saddle Loop. Off-trail travel was OK unlike the major sequoia groves near convenient parking. There isn't a whole lot of visitation, so it's not considered a major impact. I also saw a cinnamon colored black bear with cubs. The cubs were more grayish brown.