Part of ATV and Overland Trails, our guide to ATV, OHV and overland riding in San Diego County.
Read 2026-10-23: Cleveland National Forest Order 02-26-10 runs June 12 to December 31, 2026 and limits campfires to listed developed sites. Fire danger was High in the Trabuco, Palomar and Descanso districts. Closures change with weather, so read the live agency pages before every ride.Checked October 23, 2026.
What The Order Prohibits
As read on 2026-10-23, the order prohibits building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or charcoal fire except within a Developed Recreation Site listed in its Exhibit A. It also prohibits smoking except in an enclosed vehicle or building or listed developed sites, welding or torch use, and discharging a firearm, air rifle or gas gun. The fine is “not more than $5000 for an individual.” Fireworks and explosives are always prohibited on national forest lands.
Fire Danger Today
The Forest page showed fire danger High in the Trabuco, Palomar and Descanso districts on 2026-10-23. The restrictions page was last updated August 20, 2026.
Closures Read 2026-10-23
The closure page (updated October 19, 2026) lists many roads as subject to closure for wet weather or fire danger. Listed Closed that day: Pine Mountain Road, Westside Truck Trail, and Los Pinos and Skye Valley roads inside Corral Canyon OHV Area. See the open roads page for the full list.
The Forest also lists seasonal arroyo toad closures of Orosco, Boden Canyon and Santa Ysabel roads, triggered by hydrology and temperature (alert summary only).
Anza-Borrego Notices
Under extreme heat or fire danger warnings, open fires are prohibited at Blair Valley and Culp Valley primitive campgrounds and backcountry campsites. On 2026-10-23 the park listed Coyote Canyon Road closed 5.2 miles ahead at the 3rd crossing, with Coyote Canyon closed to public use from Lower Willows in San Diego County to the northern park boundary. See the Anza-Borrego page.
What We Could Not Verify
- Whether campfires are allowed at Bobcat Meadow or Corral Canyon campgrounds is not confirmed: neither appeared on the order’s developed-site list we read. Treat campfires as restricted and ask the Descanso Ranger District.
- Statuses were read on 2026-10-23 and may already have changed. The Forest Service and State Parks can confirm today’s status.
More in ATV and Overland Trails
FAQ
Are campfires allowed in Cleveland National Forest?
Not outside a listed developed recreation site while Order 02-26-10 is in force, through December 31, 2026. Read the live page first.
Is Corral Canyon open?
The Forest Service listed Corral Canyon OHV Open on 2026-10-23, subject to closure for wet weather or fire danger. Check the closure page the day you ride.
Sources
- Cleveland NF: fire restrictions
- Cleveland NF: road and trail closures
- Cleveland NF: alerts
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Checked October 23, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 23, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.