USFS closes Taylor Creek for one month due to crowd and safety concerns

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The numbers of people who normally visit Taylor Creek for the fall spawning of the Kokanee salmon has prompted forest officials to close the popular area October 2 - November 2, 2020.

Due to continued public health safety concerns related to COVID-19, trail improvement work, the risk of bear-human encounters and in order to discourage large groups from gathering, the area is closed.

In recent years, the Taylor Creek area has experienced a large increase in use as visitors flock to the creek to observe the fall spawning of Kokanee salmon, which also provides a natural food source for black bears. Visitor center staff have routinely observed visitors approaching bears at unsafe distances to observe bear behavior and take photographs. The risk of bear-human interaction combined with anticipated crowding and inability to maintain social distance requirements on narrow trails, trail construction and public health concerns associated with large gatherings all contributed to the decision to close the area for public safety.

In normal years, 2,000 people per day visit the area on weekdays, and 4,000 to 5,000 per day on weekends. Some fall weekends in recent years have even seen 12,000 visitors per day.

No salmon have been seen in Taylor Creek yet, so there is a possibility they can be seen when the forest closure is over.

“During the month of October, Taylor Creek receives thousands of visitors each day and can receive as many as 12,000 visitors over one weekend,” said Acting Forest Supervisor, Danelle D. Harrison. “While we understand the popularity of the area this time of year, the safety of our visitors and employees remains our highest priority.”

The temporary closure order prohibits members of the public, including photographers, from entering the Taylor Creek area from Fallen Leaf Dam to the marsh area where the creek empties into Lake Tahoe. Parking areas at Taylor Creek Visitor Center, Taylor Creek Sno-Park and the nearby pump station will be closed and parking on the shoulders of Highway 89 near the bridge that crosses Taylor Creek will be prohibited.

Please obey all closure signs.

As a reminder, portions of the Rainbow Trail are still under construction for a trail improvement project that began in late July to reroute approximately 600 feet of the existing trail out of sensitive wetland areas and extend a section of the elevated boardwalk. This watershed improvement project is designed to reduce impacts to the heavily visited and beloved Rainbow Trail, while protecting wildlife in the area to ensure the trail remains viable for the enjoyment of visitors in the years to come.

The closure order is available for viewing on the Forest Order webpage at https://go.usa.gov/xVfjp under the “Taylor Creek” heading.