San Diego City Wire

Due to triple-digit temperatures, two County parks in San Diego will be closed for the month of August. The affected parks are El Capitan County Preserve in Lakeside and Mt. Gower County Preserve in Ramona.

These locations feature difficult trails that end in isolated areas and offer very limited shade, which can lead to dangerous conditions during major heat events. They join two desert parks already closed for the summer due to extreme heat: Vallecito and Agua Caliente County Parks.

“Closing parks is always a last resort, but it is done to reduce heat-related incidents like heat exhaustion and heat stroke,” said Brian Albright, director of the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation. “When we close park gates, it’s to reduce health risks and related injuries caused by severe weather events – for guests as well as for our own team members who are called to assist in emergency situations.”

The closures also provide an opportunity for maintenance work including trail restoration, conducted in the early morning or evening when temperatures are cooler.

The County looks forward to welcoming visitors back to El Capitan and Mt. Gower County Preserves in September. In the meantime, more than 100 other County parks and preserves remain open, such as Waterfront Park with its new active recreation area, which is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Residents are advised to consider staying home during extreme heat or planning their next hike using virtual tours available on the County’s website.

For additional information on visiting County Parks, visit sdparks.org.