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Written by Park
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The park doesn't necessarily close when it rains, it closes dependant upon the soil conditions of the roads and trails, this is for a few reasons.
- Emergency vehicles cannot enter the park when the roads are muddy and it is very difficult to carry medical gear or a patient in a basket on foot when it is muddy
- Emergency vehicles, if they did enter, would cause considerable damage to the wet road
- Tire tracks in the mud channel water, causing increased erosion, horses cause potholes that fill with water and dry leaving a hole, hikers leave holes too, but then disturb vegetation by trying to walk off the trail to avoid the mud
- Soil which is wet compacts when used, causing low spots which then collect water, leaving a puddle, causing people to travel around it and disturbing habitat
- Following heavy rains, we inspect the roads and trails for unsafe conditions, correcting these prior to opening
Because Limestone Canyon & Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park is a very popular park, it's important to balance between the demand of the visitors and the risks placed upon the visitors. In addition, it's very important to protect the natural resources so that Whiting Ranch will continue to be one of the most beautiful wilderness areas in South Orange County.
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