DANA POINT, Calif.—As a gentle wind blew across the Dana Point Headlands, hikers out for a quick stroll along the coastal trail enjoyed sunny skies as access reopened to normal operating hours following a restricted pandemic schedule.
“This visibility is okay, but I’m sure it will get better as the winds move the smog out to the sea,” an elderly hiker, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Epoch Times. “But then again, we cannot really complain out here, can we?”
The Headlands had been the subject of recent court hearings over the past year between the City of Dana Point and the Center for Natural Lands Management, a non-profit that owns and manages the 2.8-mile blufftop nature trail and its surrounding land.
The organization closed public access to the trail in March 2020 in response to the pandemic. The trail later opened to the public with limited access three days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
After months of the modified hours, city officials announced in January they were suing the nonprofit to reopen the trail to normal operating hours.
“Simply put, the Center for Natural Lands Management is trying to keep the public out. When we agreed to development on the Headlands, we required, in exchange, public access to these beautiful trails and coastline for our residents and visitors,” Dana Point Mayor Joe Muller said in a January statement. “People want and need access to the outdoors and fresh air for walking, hiking, jogging, and bird watching. This entire trail system is fundamental to our city’s commitment.”
On Nov. 3, a superior court judge ruled in favor of the city. The next day, the trail was reopened to its normal operating hours: daily from 7 a.m. to sunset.
City spokeswoman Jessica Spaulding told The Epoch Times the court’s ruling is “significant.”
“The greatest benefit to hikers is that they can once again enjoy daily access ... enabling coastal recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike,” she said. “[The ruling] now provides full access once again to the outdoors and fresh air for walking, hiking, jogging, and bird watching.”
Spaulding also said the beautiful blufftop trail has been enjoyed by the public since April 2010.
Approaching the Selva Road entryway to the Headlands hiking trail, two men on a Pacific Coast Highway road trip from San Francisco approached the gate after finding the hiking path using Google Maps.
“That’s interesting. The sign says it’s open Tuesdays and Thursdays but today is Wednesday,” Uphan, who declined to provide his last name, told The Epoch Times as he commented on signage that posted the trail’s former pandemic hours.
“It makes sense to open it for everyone during sunset hours so the people can see the views,” he said.
The Center for Natural Lands Management did not respond to a request for comment.
