Politics & Government

Partial Closing of Big Falls Day Use Area

Forest Service upgrades include a new restroom at lower end of the site, finishing work on a restroom at upper end, installation of picnic tables and BBQ grills, and a new entrance gate.

There will be a lot less public parking available at the Big Falls day use area for about two months starting Sept. 4 while contractors complete picnic and restroom upgrades, the Forest Service announced this week.

The Falls day use area reconstruction project began last fall and completing the work will require closure of the bottom parking lot, Carol Underhill of the San Bernardino National Forest said in an announcement.

"The picnic loop will be closed Monday through Thursday as needed for work to take place," Underhill said. "The upper parking lot, which serves as the trailhead for the Vivian Creek Trail, will remain open during the week and on weekends."

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The Vivian Creek Trail is one of the forest's most popular, and weekend hikers are urged to arrive early to secure parking space, Underhill said.

The reconstruction project contract includes improvements to access roads, parking areas, water systems, and accessibility. A new entry station and picnic area host camp-site have already been constructed, Underhill said.

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Upgrades to be completed after Sept. 4 include a new restroom at the lower end of the site, finishing work on a restroom at the upper end, installation of picnic tables and BBQ grills, and installation of an entrance gate, Underhill said.

The Falls day use area was first built in the 1930s and parts of the site were upgraded in the early 1980s, according to the Forest Service. It's at the end of Valley of the Falls Drive on the east end of Forest Falls.

For updates on the work project, visitors can call ahead to the Mill Creek Work Center at (909) 382-2882 or check on-line at www.fs.usda.gov/sbnf.

The San Bernardino National Forest covers more than 1,000 square miles in the San Gabriel, San Bernardino, San Jacinto and Santa Rosa mountain ranges. The federal forest sprawl lands across parts of San Bernardino and Riverside counties.


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