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April 12, 2010
LANDOWNER SHUTS OFF PUBLIC
ACCESS TO POPULAR MATILIJA FALLS TRAIL NEAR OJAI
ForestWatch
is Working to Keep the Trail Open, and is
Looking for Anyone Who Used This Trail Prior to 1972
Ojai, Calif. - Today, the U.S. Forest Service announced that a
landowner with extensive holdings in Ventura County is denying
public access through his property in Matilija Canyon. The
popular trail, which has been used by the public for more than a
century, leads to swimming holes, unique geologic formations,
and the beautiful Matilija Falls in the Matilija Wilderness Area
of the Los Padres National Forest.
For more than a year, the
landowner - Shull "Buzz" Bonsall, Jr. - has been approaching
trail users along the Middle Fork Matilija Trail and notifying
them that they are no longer welcome to use the trail. Today,
the Ojai Ranger District issued the following statement:
For many years, recreation users
have enjoyed hiking in the Matilija drainage including trails
the North Fork, Middle Fork and Murietta Canyon. Buzz Bonsall
owns property in the Middle Fork. He has informed the Forest
Service that he is denying public access through his property.
If you hike up the Middle Fork to the falls, you will be
trespassing unless you have an agreement with Mr. Bonsall. The
Forest Service has not had an easement through his property.
The Middle Fork Matilija
Trail is shown in red. Map by Ventura County Star.
Forest visitors have been using
this trail for more than a century for hiking, swimming,
camping, fishing, and equestrian use in the area.
ForestWatch is
working with a coalition of organizations to preserve public
access to Matilija Falls. If you hiked this area prior to 1972,
please contact us at
info@LPFW.org and provide us with your name, address,
telephone number, and a brief description of when and how you
used the Middle Fork Matilija Trail. Your information will
remain confidential, and may help us keep this trail open.
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