Cedar Creek Falls Reopens Today; $6 Day Permits Now Required

Cedar Creek Falls in Ramona reopens today with a new required permit for hikers, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department announced Thursday.

The trail has been closed since July 2011 when a 16-year-old hiker died after a fall or possible jump 80 feet down in the falls.

As of today, April 5, hikers must now pay for a visitor permit, with only 75 permits for individuals and/or groups of up to five people are available each day by reservation, the sheriff's department said.

The permit costs $6. Interested hikers may reserve a permit at recreation.gov.

The Sheriff's Department clarified that the permits are not parking passes and that only 29 parking spots on the trailhead off of Thornbush Road.

Bringing or drinking alcohol in the area is not allowed and clif jumping is prohibited. Swimming, however, is allowed.

U.S. Forest Service Rangers and Sheriff's Deputies said they will "strictly enforce the permit requirements and the ban on alcohol and cliff jumping."

The Sheriff's Department warns hikers that Cedar Creek Falls is a challenging five‐and‐a‐half‐mile hike with no shade from the sun. Hikers interested in obtaining a permit for the hike should dress appropriately, know their limits and leave the dog(s) at home.

The numbers below show the rescues conducted by Sheriff's ASTREA, deputies, Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers and CALFIRE personnel in the Cedar Creek Falls area by the last three years:

• 2010—30
• 2011—32
• 2012—18

Last week, San Diego County sued the U.S. Forest Service in an effort to get the federal agency to set aside the decision to reopen the trail.

How do you feel about the trail reopening? Will you buy a day permit to make the hike?