After 10 months of closure due to the Palisades Fire on Jan. 7, 2025, Will Rogers State Historic Park (Will Rogers SHP) reopened with limited access on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. The park will be open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset.

Trails in Upper Topanga reopened on March 11, 2025. After 10 months of closure due to the Palisades Fire on Jan. 7, 2025, Topanga State Park (Topanga SP) reopened with limited access on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. The park will be open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset.

Please note that parking is limited.

Some trails have reopened to the public. Check the park pages for the most up-to-date reopening information: Topanga SP and Will Rogers SHP

Yes. Select trails and open spaces are once again safe for public use. Hiking, biking, and equestrian access will be available in designated areas. Some trail segments and facilities remain closed as repairs and environmental restoration continue, so please check posted signs and obey all closures for your safety and the protection of sensitive resources.

Open:

  • Polo Field
  • Main Lawn
  • Picnic Are

Partially open

  • Inspiration Loop Trail
  • Temescal Ridge Trail
  • Equestrian operations will be available on a smaller scale as restoration continues.

Remains Closed:

  • Backbone Trail
  • Rivas Canyon/Temescal Trail
  • Rustic Canyon Trail
  • Rogers Road Trail
  • Bent Arrow Trail
  • Josepho Spur Trail
  • Bienvenida Trail
  • Lower Topanga Day Use trail

The Palisades Fire, which began on Jan. 7, 2025, caused extensive damage across the Santa Monica Mountains, impacting both Will Rogers SHP and Topanga State Park.

At Will Rogers SHP:

  • The historic 31-room Ranch House, horse stables, and several historic and non-historic park facilities were destroyed.
  • The historic guest house/visitor center and blacksmith/carpenter shop sustained damage.
  • The gatehouse, foreman’s cottage (park offices), and polo field survived with minimal damage.
  • Approximately 300 historic trees, fencing, and several miles of trails were also affected.
  • Thanks to the swift actions of park staff, all horses and over 150 priceless artifacts, including Will Rogers’ typewriter, artwork, and family heirlooms, were safely evacuated before the fire reached the Ranch House.
  • At Topanga SP:
    • 28 structures and more than 8,000 acres of natural resources were burned.
    • This included the historic Topanga Ranch Motel and sensitive habitats for monarch butterflies, steelhead trout, and tidewater gobies.

    Since the Palisades Fire first sparked, both Will Rogers SHP and Topanga SP played a crucial role in support and recovery efforts.

    • On Jan. 7, as the flames advanced, California State Parks staff acted with extraordinary courage, even putting their lives at risk to safeguard the public, equestrian operations, and staff.
    • They also evacuated over 150 priceless artifacts – including Will Rogers’ typewriter, artwork, and family heirlooms.
    • In total, California State Parks coordinated more than 400 law enforcement shifts and 60 resource specialists to protect people, property, and wildlife during and after the fire.
    • In the months after the fire, both parks played a critical role in recovery – processing debris, removing hazardous trees, and supporting thousands of affected families in the Pacific Palisades.
    • At Will Rogers, State Parks entered into an agreement with the US Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Contracting Corporation to process non-hazardous concrete and vegetative debris onsite. This support operation resulted in 4,400 cleared parcels, 10,000 hazardous trees felled, and 1.2 million tons of debris removed within the affected Palisades community.
    • At the Topanga Ranch Motel site, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency helped sort debris during the first phase of cleanup, and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is now operating a center there to help residents restore utilities and rebuild. These actions have enabled residents to complete debris removal and return to their community faster.

    California State Parks performed extensive soil testing after the Palisades Fire to ensure visitor safety before reopening the park. Partnering with the USC CLEAN Project, State Parks collected 16 soil samples throughout the park unit that were analyzed for heavy metals (CAM-17 test).

    The analysis conducted by the USC CLEAN Project found no exceedances of any federal (U.S. EPA) screening thresholds at Will Rogers State Historic Park. A small number of samples, primarily in unburned areas of the park, showed lead and/or arsenic levels slightly above California state screening thresholds, but the research team noted that the limited arsenic elevations were consistent with naturally occurring background levels typical of Southern California soils.

    At Will Rogers, State Parks entered into an agreement with the US Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Contracting Corporation to process non-hazardous concrete and vegetative debris onsite. During the debris removal operation, daily dust and particle tests were conducted with the results available here: https://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Portals/17/docs/Emergency%20Management/Palisades%20-%20DDMRs%20September%202%202025.pdf?ver=SzIY-bSCwX3c78qP3ngPPA%3d%3d

    The particle monitor was located on the Polo Field (Will Rogers Dust 1).

    The recovery planning process will help California State Parks determine the appropriate treatment of historic buildings and facilities that were damaged or lost in the fire, as well as the best path forward for non-historic facilities that were damaged or lost.

    Any decisions about the future of the park's National Register of Historic Places listed and eligible properties, and their subsequent treatment options, will be made in collaboration with department preservation and design professions, the community, stakeholders, and guided by a comprehensive review process to ensure compliance with professional historic preservation standards and guidelines in order to ensure Will Rogers SHP remains a historic, safe, welcoming, and resilient place in the face of potential wildfire risks – while preserving the legacy of Will Rogers himself. This approach also aligns with the initial donation directive for the Will Rogers Ranch property to be used exclusively as a public park and a memorial and historical monument to the memory of the late Will Rogers.

    In the meantime, visitors are encouraged to explore the park’s reopened trails and open spaces. Though the Palisades Fire claimed important pieces of history, the spirit of Will Rogers endures, and the park remains a cherished place to connect with history, nature, and community.

    California State Parks is committed to restoring Will Rogers SHP as a place of public benefit and community pride in the spirit of resilience Will Rogers would have carried forward, and to welcoming visitors to the vast open spaces and dynamic ecosystems of Topanga SP for generations to come.

    The future of the parks will be planned in collaboration with the public, stakeholders, and neighbors from fire-impacted communities. Beginning in 2026, State Parks will begin a public engagement process to help shape the parks' future.

    Meanwhile, as restoration work continues, State Parks will continue to share updates on the reopening of the remaining parts of the parks on Facebook and Instagram.

    The recovery planning process will produce guiding principles and priorities, which will be developed based on initial input from stakeholders and the public and refined through additional feedback from stakeholders and the public.

    State Parks is committed to restoring our lands and building wildfire resilience across the landscape.

    State Parks maintains ongoing relationships with California Native American Tribes through formal government-to-government consultation. Recovery planning for Topanga SP and Will Rogers SHP will be incorporated into tribal consultation.

    You can support the parks’ recovery by recreating responsibly and providing feedback on the parks’ futures. When visiting the impacted parks, stay on designated open trails, heed safety and closure signs, and follow the Leave No Trace principles. Following these simple guidelines, you can protect sensitive natural and cultural resources and help the parks recover faster. For future volunteer opportunities and ways to support the park, visit the park webpages for updates.

    Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to restore all of Will Rogers SHP and Topanga SP!

    Visitors are encouraged to stay connected with Los Angeles area State Parks on Facebook and Instagram.
    For additional questions or concerns, please reach out to angelesinfo@parks.ca.gov.