Portions of the Angeles National Forest near Pasadena remain closed through 2027, summer heat is building, and Pasadena Fire Captain Robert Sepulveda has a simple ask for hikers: tell someone where you're going.

Sepulveda, assigned to Station 32, shared safety reminders through the City of Pasadena on Tuesday, June 17, emphasizing three steps: know your route, check the weather forecast, and make sure someone knows your plans. The city also urged hikers to carry extra water and a charged phone, with additional tips available in a video on the city's official X account.

The guidance arrives as Pasadena enters its hottest months and trail use peaks ahead of the July 4 holiday weekend. On Friday, June 19, the city issued a smoke advisory after a flare-up from the Boyle Heights fire pushed haze into Pasadena, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District flagged poor air quality conditions that day.

Some trails remain closed

Hikers should know that portions of the Angeles National Forest remain off-limits under the Eaton Fire Area Closure, extended through December 31, 2027. Closed routes include Mount Wilson Toll Road (below Mt. Wilson Trail and below Henniger Flats), Mount Wilson Road, and Henniger Flats, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The Eaton Fire, which ignited January 7, 2025, killed 19 people, destroyed more than 9,400 structures, and scorched 22 square miles in the foothills.

Heat rescues remain a recurring challenge

Pasadena Fire Department crews have responded to multiple heat-related hiker emergencies in recent years. On September 5, 2024, the department's Urban Search and Rescue team reached an injured woman in her 60s near a bridge in Eaton Canyon when temperatures hit 104 degrees. A month later, on October 5, 2024, crews assisted a man in his 60s in distress on New York Drive near Eaton Canyon.

At a June 13 briefing for regional fire agencies, fire weather forecasters said Southern California can expect a "typical" wildfire season in 2026, though they noted a particularly dry June means typical conditions still carry real danger.

Residents heading out on local trails can check the Angeles National Forest alerts page at fs.usda.gov/r05/angeles/alerts for current closures. To report an emergency, call 911.