Limestone Canyon and Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park to reopen
Senior Park Ranger Vicky Malton walks near a burned oak tree that is sprouting new growth in Limestone Canyon and Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park. Life is returning to the park, which will reopen this weekend for the first time since the 2007 Santiago fire. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
Signs mark the closure at the entrance to the Limestone Canyon and Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, which was nearly destroyed last year. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
A butterfly lands on black mustard growing in the burned area . (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
Senior Park Ranger Vicky Malton surveys a burn area. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
New life sprouts from a prickly pear cactus. Octobers Santiago fire, set by an unknown arsonist, roared through 90% of this 4,300-acre wilderness area at Orange Countys rugged eastern edge. Hordes of mountain bikers, horseback riders and hikers are expected to flood back into the park, which attracts about 50,000 people a year. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
There will be ranger-led hikes in the park this Sunday and July 20, starting at 10 a.m. at the Red Rock trailhead. Hikers should park ($3) at the Borrego entrance off Portola Parkway between Bake and Alton, then hike in on their own about a mile to the trailhead, at Red Rock Trail and Mustard Road. The total roundtrip from the Borrego entrance is approximately four hours. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
