LAKE COUNTY — Mount Konocti is opening to the public beginning Sept 24.
While there will not be an initial grand opening this year, the first day of public access will be in conjunction with the Kelseyville Pear Festival held the same day.
Kim Clymire, director of public services, will be present at the festival to talk about Mount Konocti and to distribute the first hiking trail brochure in the Konocti Regional Trails System — the Wright Peak Summit Trail.
The Wright Peak Summit Trail is a six-plus mile round-trip hike from the upper parking lot near the access gate on Konocti Road, with an approximate 1,600-foot elevation gain.
The trail takes hikers along the main access road, past walnut and apple orchards, through a Canyon Oak grove to the Mary Downen cabin, built in 1903. It continues up to Wright Peak and the CDF tower with possible side trips to Howard Peak.
Another hiking trail brochure to Buckingham Peak will be launched next year.
The park will open initially for day use hiking only with other uses by a special facility use permit, available from the Lake County Public Services Department.
A master management plan is being developed by county staff and a committee of volunteers to help guide the operation and maintenance of the park.
Other opening regulations include:
– Non-motorized day-use except for official authorized vehicles.
– Absolutely no fires or smoking on the mountain.
– The park will open for hiking only, with other uses such as equestrian, non-motorized mountain bikes, dogs on leash and others possibly allowed under a special Facility Use Agreement (FUA).
– The first section of the hiking trail passes through private property around Fowler”s Orchard on an easement. Respecting the privacy of the homeowner by staying on the trail is paramount to preserving the public”s right to access the park.
-The park may be closed during high fire danger, severe winter weather or for other health and safety reasons.
Currently, the county is working on the following projects to ensure a smooth opening:
– CAL FIRE and the County Road Division crews are grading the main access, Konocti Road, up to Wright and Buckingham Peaks and trimming brush back.
– A hiking trail to circumvent the Fowler”s walnut orchard has been built. This was required prior to opening as a condition of the sale. Hikers are asked to respect their privacy and not trespass on private property. Signs are being installed.
– Waterless/vault composting restrooms will be ordered and scheduled to be installed. Benches, tables and additional signs will be installed in late fall or early spring.
– The county has negotiated a five-year lease with the state for use of the CAL FIRE lookout tower, located on Wright Peak, to be used for supervised recreational activities in exchange for maintenance. Volunteer docents, preferably trained in CPR and First Aid, to supervise tower access are sought.
– During the initial lease period the county will work on legislation to extend the lease or have the state donate the tower to them.
– Utilizing more than $60,000 in donated acquisition funds, the county is in the process of purchasing another 47.5 acres of the Mazzola and Harbey properties where the road crosses the property; this will allow irrevocable public access and replace the existing easement agreement.
For more information contact the Lake County Department of Public Services at 262-1618.
