MRCA Parks and Trails Remain Closed in Evacuation Areas of Santa Monica Mountains
February 25, 2025
Parks and trails remain closed in Topanga, Malibu and effected Canyons of the Santa Monica Mountains
LOS ANGELES, CA (February 25, 2025) — The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) has reopened most of its parks in Los Angeles and Ventura County outside of the burn areas and evacuation zones of the recent Palisades Fire. However, all MRCA-managed parks, trails, and beach accessways in the evacuation zones, including those in the city of Malibu and Topanga Canyon areas will remain closed until further notice. Once damage assessments can be made and restoration efforts are completed, many favorite hiking trails and public use areas in the fire zones can be reopened.
MRCA Park Closures Include:
- Temescal Gateway Park
- All Topanga Canyon Parks including Top of Topanga Overlook, Tuna Canyon Park, Mill Creek, Redrock Canyon Park, Ed Edelman Park
- All MRCA Parks, Parking lots and Beach Accessways in and directly adjacent to the City of Malibu including Escondido Canyon Park, Sara Wan Trailhead, Cameron Nature Preserve at Puerco Canyon
- Dirt Mulholland Drive
- San Vicente Mountain Park
Popular MRCA Parks Now Open:
- Wilacre Park
- King Gillette Ranch Park
- Franklin Canyon Park
The MRCA maintains its own fire division to protect resources on MRCA-managed properties, and works together with local fire departments, State and federal agencies, and the public to prevent wildfires, and—if necessary—to defend against them. In the current Palisades Fire incident, MRCA Fire Division defended Temescal Gateway Park in the Palisades Fire area. MRCA also successfully defended structures in Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve in the Kenneth Fire. The MRCA will resume 24 hour patrol should there be another red flag incident.
The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is a local government public entity exercising joint powers of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Conejo Recreation and Park District and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. The MRCA is dedicated to the preservation and management of local open space and parkland, wildlife habitat, coastal access, watershed lands, and trails in both wilderness and urban settings, and to ensuring access to public parkland and coastal resources. The MRCA works in cooperation with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and other local government partners to acquire parkland, participate in vital planning processes, work towards wildfire resilience, and connect wildlife habitat. The MRCA manages more than 80,000 acres of parkland that it owns and that are owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. It is one of the lead agencies revitalizing the Los Angeles River.