Community Corner
State Blocks Access to Upper Bump and Grind Trail
Department of Fish and Game constructs a gate blocking access of hiking trail into bighorn sheep habitat areas.
The State Department of Fish and Game has once again gated off the Upper Bump and Grind trail above Rancho Mirage, saying the area has always been off-limits to hikers.
A gate constructed this morning is now blocking the trail as it crosses into the
protected Magnesia Spring and Carrizo Canyon Ecological Preserves. It's the third time a gate has been placed in this location, according to the DF&G. The previous gates were taken down by hikers.
Hikers were surprised by the morning construction, questioning Fish and Game personnel, sometimes with very strong opposition.
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Andrew Hughan of the Department of Fish and Game said the trail above the gate has always been off-limits to anyone hoping to hike or walk the area.
“This trail has never been publicly opened, it’s just not been enforced,” Hughan told patch.com. “So now it’s more of an enforcement step. It’s not anything
new, we’re not doing anything new or that hasn’t been done before. It’s an enforcement of policy.”
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It’s also a policy that has some hikers questioning the claim that the endangered bighorn sheep are being infringed upon by hikers on the Bump and Grind.
“I remember the last time I saw a sheep up here... it was on 9/11,” said hiker Wendy Butte of Rancho Mirage. “And that was ten years ago.”
Palm Desert resident Marsha Stanley was also questioning the logic. “What law are we breaking? Is that trespassing?” she asked. “I didn’t know we were scaring the sheep.”
State Assemblyman Brian Nestande (R-Palm Desert) said in a statement earlier this month that he hoped the DFG would wait until more studies on the impact of hikers on the Upper Bump and Grind was done before closing access.
Local Fish and Game Warden Matt Shanley says with the gate in place, DFG wardens will occasionally be waiting past the gate for hikers who ignore the warnings. Violation of Fish and Game regulation 630 can result in arrest and/or fines of up to $1,000.
All other “loop trails” are remaining open, and that only the ½ mile of the upper Bump and Grind is being affected by the closure.
