By Gina Yarbrough
San Diego, CA–Three San Diego county parks are scheduled to close in August due to extreme temperatures at those locations, according to county park officials.
El Capitan Preserve near Lakeside, Hellhole Canyon Preserve in Valley Center and Mt. Gower Preserve in Ramona will be closed for the month.
The other closed county parks, Agua Caliente Regional Park and Vallecito County Park in the Anza Borrego desert will reopen for the Labor Day weekend.
The park closures are a safety precaution to protect the public from high temperatures, according to the Department of Parks and Recreation. Park officials and staff will conduct maintenance on the parks such as trail restoration during the closures.
Hikers can explore other county parks and preserves that are open to the public during the month of August. Among the parks open is Dos Picos County Park in Ramona and Lindo Lake County Park in Lakeside. The county continues to host its Summer Movies in the Park screening at dusk.
Parks staff urged people to always take precautions when they’re outside in high temperatures. Bring sunscreen, a wide brim hat, water and food, and a fully charged mobile phone with a map and GPS. Always hike with other people. Never bring pets to the hike. They can suffer from heat illness and the ground may be too hot for their paws.
When hiking, carry a flashlight, first aid kit, multi-purpose tool, and a whistle. Always let other people know your location, just in case you are lost.
For additional information on visiting county parks, visit sdparks.org.
