Date: 5/29/26 8:29 pm From: Sherry Meddick via groups.io <wrennietwoburd64.p4...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Latest USFS update on openings/closures in Cleveland National Forest
Hello, everyone. Just wanted to make you aware of a Forest Order dated May 28, 2026 which outlines remaining closures in the Cleveland National Forest (CNF) due to the Airport Fire.
If you are on Facebook (I'm not), I understand it is posted there on the Cleveland National Forest site.
Note that the USFS road site (here: Cleveland National Forest | Current Conditions | Forest Service ( https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/cleveland/conditions ) ) still states, contrary to the announcement, that North Main Divide (3S04) is closed between Ortega Highway (74) and Indian Truck Trail. If you would like to call the Corona office (and note during the busy time of year for firefighters, this office may be closed and is closed regularly on the weekends) to check, the number is: 951-736-1811 though I suspect this contradiction is just that they have not updated their current conditions site yet which happens a lot. Or it could be that the current weather was unpredictable enough to them to close this section. Calling might be the best idea just to be certain.
One newish thing is that one can now drive on North Main Divide (3S04) from Ortega Highway to the very trashed Saddleback Peak area then down to Maple Springs gate (or the reverse). It's a long and bumpy ride. It is about 12.5 miles from the Maple Springs gate to Saddleback Peak and *longer* from Orgeta to the Peak. One may NOT venture off the road in any direction or one would find themselves in no-no zones. The campgrounds and Long Canyon Road etc. remain in the closed area as do all trails.
The North Main Divide (3S04) begins in RIVERSIDE county and is accessible from the 74 past the El Cariso Campground (on the L if you are heading N on the 74). So, the first portion of this forest road is Riverside County. Then it wiggles in and out of Riverside/Orange Counties until after you leave Santiago Peak. This Ortega to the Peak section should be loads of fun to figure out what county you are in:)
This is probably a nice project for the adventurous and there are some really neat sections of this road between Ortega and Saddleback Peak. Because this section only opened a day ago, I assume it isn't trashed yet. I still suggest doing this during the week as weekends are very, very busy and if you can manage it before school is out, all the better. Tuesdays are the best day. I have not been on this opened section yet and do not know its condition. One could always finish the Saddleback Peak to Ortega if one didn't finish the first time (I wouldn't!) and start from Ortega.
Were it me wanting to make this trip, I would START in Silverado about 2am on a Tuesday morning stopping briefly along the way to listen for owls then finally stop at SX8 (end of pavement) to listen for owls then head up the dirt toward the first guardrail after the pavement ends (northern saw-whet has been heard/recorded at this guardrail turnout, for instance, originating from deep in upper Spruce Canyon) then continue the route towards Big Cone Springs and owl the appropriate sections along the way to Big Cone Springs (where the saw-whet has been found many times though this area has been completely trashed now). Be careful at Big Cone Springs as this is also Dead Man's Curve and people crash there all the time on that near-180 degree turn. The time w/ the least traffic in the forest at Maple Springs is between 2:30am to about 5:00am; I did a traffic count at the Maple Springs gate from midnight to 6am for seven days which is how I know this though I have seen exceptions. Then I would start down the Peak to Ortega Section at first light. I include this info because in my own personal experience, it is the time of day that is the stillest/quietest in this very busy forest.
THIS ROAD REQUIRES A HIGH CLEARANCE VEHICLE in places. Don't try this trip without an appropriate vehicle, water, good tires, a spare and tools. Even sections of the pavement are nasty in spots. IF brush scratching your paintjob makes you wince, I don't recommend this trip.
Happy birding and best regards,
Sherry Meddick
Silverado
