The Great Outdoors Isn’t So Good Now : Recreation: Winter storms have damaged mountain trails and have made for treacherous boating conditions.

Storms have thrown a wet blanket on the recreation scene at local forests and mountains.

Many trails are either impassable because of swollen creek crossings or dangerous because of slides. Inexperienced hikers and families out for a Sunday stroll are urged to use caution. Or better yet, says Robert Brady of the U.S. Forest Service: “Don’t go hiking.”

A rundown of conditions in local areas:

Angeles National Forest: The rugged San Gabriel Mountains can be treacherous any time of the year, but now, with the snow level dropping to 3,000 feet in some areas, hypothermia is also a risk. Heavy coats and waterproof boots are highly recommended.

Visitors also should be aware of road and picnic-area closures. Angeles Crest Highway is open to Kratka Ridge but closed six miles west of Wrightwood. In the Big Tujunga District, Delta Flat, Stoneyvalle and Wildwood picnic grounds are closed. Placerita Canyon also is closed.

Brady said hikers can expect “hard going on trails” and “a lot of slides.” He advises them to avoid trails that cross creeks and to generally “stay away from creek bottoms.” The top of Switzer Falls is hazardous because of the volume of water in Arroyo Seco Creek, but venturing on the trails above the falls is also risky because of unstable rock.

Mountain bikers, who aren’t restricted to fire roads in the Angeles, will find “the going rough because of mud” on trails, Brady said.

Because of the harsh winter, the Angeles isn’t expected to be back to normal until June or July.

Santa Monica Mountains: Although their proximity to the ocean helps keep snow from sticking, the mountains, especially in the back country, can be inhospitable this winter.

“We’re asking people to be careful,” state Ranger Jennifer Rodriguez said.

At Malibu Creek State Park, the campground remains open but hiking is limited. Some trail crossings are covered with water, the soaked earth is unstable and trees are down. Ranger Terry Brann suggests putting off a hike until drier weather. Bikers are warned to take extra caution.

At Point Mugu State Park, erosion has damaged trails, with the Wood Canyon Trail “considerably damaged,” Rodriguez said. Creeks are higher and faster than normal, making them “dangerous to young children,” she said. Debris in the creek bed has forced closure of La Jolla Canyon, at the western terminus of the Backbone Trail.

All campgrounds are open and mostly empty, creating “a beautiful experience” for campers who like solitude, Rodriguez said. The problem with camping or visiting the park now, however, is access: The storms have caused the closure of sections of Pacific Coast Highway.

Los Padres National Forest: Although it trickles in the summer, Sespe Creek, which slices across the Ojai District, is now a rapidly surging menace, cutting off access to many trails.

“I wouldn’t attempt to cross the Sespe until it calms down quite a bit,” Ranger John Boggs said.

Sespe tributaries are also flowing strongly but can be crossed. The trails above them, however, might be unsafe because of slides and erosion. Boggs warns equestrians to use extra care in descending a trail.

Rose Valley, the recreation hub of the Ojai District, is in better shape than it was a year ago when campgrounds were inaccessible because rock slides and floods forced road closures. Rose Valley Falls is spectacular now, but hikers shouldn’t attempt to climb to the top, Boggs said.

Although all campgrounds are open now and “camping is great,” Boggs warns visitors that Highway 33 is extremely vulnerable to slides; if the weather turns bad, “you could be stuck in Rose Valley,” he said. For the next two or three months, 33 will be closed near Pine Mountain because of rock slides.

Ocean areas: The storms have created larger-than-normal waves, making surfers happy but putting boaters and swimmers at risk. The most dangerous areas are those near river mouths. Not only is debris spilling into the ocean, but fast-moving rivers are creating “nasty riptides,” said Roger Fuller, a Coast Guard petty officer.

“Stay clear of river inlets,” he said, “and keep a sharp eye out for trees and dead heads (branches and tree trunks) in the water.”

Rampaging rivers also pump sand and mud into the ocean, changing the shape of the coastline and even extending it in some places. Unwary boaters following old charts have to be alert, Fuller said, or risk running aground.