Saturday, January 17, 2026


VOLUME 20 NO. 3

VOLUME 20 NO. 2

MOUNT WILSON TRAIL REOPENS TO THE PUBLIC AFTER EATON FIRE 
DAMAGE - THANKS TO OUR TRAIL MAINTENANCE CREW VOLUNTEERS

BREAKING NEWS! 

The Mount Wilson Trail up to Orchard Camp 
officially re-opened to the public this week after 
it was closed for more than a year after the 
Eaton Fire on January 7, 2025. Thank you to the 
Trail Maintenance Crew volunteers for their hard 
work, dedication, and determination to make the 
repairs necessary to enable Mount Wilson Trail 
to be re-opened to the public. To date, thousands 
of volunteer hours of trail repair work contributed 
to this milestone. 

Many community members and hikers expressed 
their happiness, joy, and gratitude to the Trail 
Maintenance Crew volunteers upon learning the 
news. Hikers and runners on the Mount Wilson 
Trail were ecstatic to see the Mount Wilson Trailhead 
Gate open. Unfortunately, Bailey Canyon 
Trail continues to be closed to the public, as much 
work still needs to be done and it is located in the 
US Forest Service’s Eaton Fire Closed Trails Zone.

Because of the Eaton Fire and subsequent atmospheric 
river rains last February and March, 
Mount Wilson Trail (MWT) and Bailey Canyon 
Trail were both severely damaged, with trail 
washouts, trail failures, rockslides, downed trees, 
and little, if any, vegetation to hold the dirt. Immediately 
following the Eaton Fire, the Trail 
Maintenance Crew volunteers began the task of 
working to fix and repair the Mount Wilson Trail, 
initially working seven days per week. Work on 
the Mount Wilson Trail continues 3 - 4 days per 
week. To repair & replace the numerous damaged 
sections of the Mount Wilson Trail, it had 
to be reinforced and redesigned all along the approximately 
3.5 miles from the Mount Wilson 
Trailhead Gate to Orchard Camp. December’s atmosphere 
river rains caused additional damage, 
even to sections of the MWT that had previously 
been fixed.

All labor on Mount Wilson Trail and Bailey Canyon Trail is done by community volunteers, who work continuously to repair and maintain 
the trails to keep them open and safe for public use. The necessary equipment, supplies and tools used by the volunteers are paid for with 
tax-deductible community donations to the Fletcher Trail Maintenance Fund, as neither the City of Sierra Madre nor the US Forest Service 
provides any funds for supplies or labor. Without the dedication, determination, and hard work of the Volunteer Trail Maintenance Crew, 
both trails would become impassable.

Plans have already begun to deliver the full 2026 Mount Wilson Trail Race (MWTR - 8.2 miles from Kersting Court to Orchard Camp and 
back) on May 23rd, 2026. The day’s “Mount Wilson Trail Race 2026” events, will include the MWTR, a free Kids’ Fun Run, special MWTR 
merchandise for sale, fun Kersting Court booths, free photo booth, and beer garden. Check the Mount Wilson Trail Race website for more 
details as they become available. The free Mount Wilson Trail Race Training Program, led by Simon Cooper, begins on February 7, 2026, 
at 7:00 am in Kersting Court. No preregistration is required – just show up in Kersting Court. Anyone ages 14 years and older is welcome 
to participate in the free MWTR Training Program. 

DONATE TO FLETCHER TRAIL MAINTENANCE FUND - HELP REPAIR 
SIERRA MADRE’S TRAILS

Please join in donating to the “Fletcher Trail Maintenance Fund,” which supports our Trail Maintenance 
Crew volunteers with the necessary equipment, materials, supplies, and tools to continue their work on the repair 
and restoration of both the Mount Wilson Trail and Bailey Canyon Trail. The Eaton Fire damage and repeated 
subsequent atmospheric river rains requires that to secure, re-engineer, and replace sections of both trails will require 
an even greater amount of additional materials and supplies, well beyond what has been needed in the past. 

Your donatioN of any amount is greatly appreciated and will make a real difference in enabling these historic community trails 
to be deemed safe for public access for the enjoyment of our community of runners, hikers, adults, families, children, and those 
seeking the tranquility and joy of being in our local Angeles National Forest.

Making a tax-deductible donation to the “Fletcher Trail Maintenance Fund” can be 
done by using the PayPal QR code below or by sending a check payable to the “Fletcher 
Fund c/o SMCF.” The mailing address is P.O. Box 716, Sierra Madre, CA 91025. All 
donors to the “Fletcher Trail Maintenance Fund” will receive a written tax-deductible 
acknowledgement letter. To donate by PayPal, please scan the QR Code below:



Thank you for your support in the protection of these important and valuable community resources. 
Your donation allows work on the Mount Wilson Trail and Bailey Canyon Trail to continue 
and to ensure that the trails can be deemed safe and open for public use for years to come.


Mount Wilson Trail washed out toward the bottom of the trail.


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