The Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, along with the Abalone Cove Park and Reserve, will be closed to the public for 48 hours or longer amid this week’s projected three days of rain, officials announced on Monday, Feb. 19.
Wayfarers Chapel, a historic landmark in Rancho Palos Verdes shut down due to quickening land movement, is the latest evidence of the impact of storms in 2023 and a series of storms this year.
Rancho Palos Verdes has shut down approximately eight miles of popular hiking trails due to land movement, according to city officials, which includes sink holes, unstable trails and surfaces, erosion, steep cliffs and falling rocks.
“It (Palos Verdes Nature Preserve) may remain closed for up to 48 hours or more for public safety and to prevent further trail erosion,” according to a Instagram post from the city Monday morning.
Trails have also been closed in the Filiorum Reserve, Forrestal Reserve, Ocean Trails Reserve and the Portuguese Bend Reserve, in the past.
On Feb. 15, Wayfarers Chapel and city officials announced that the historic venue will be closed indefinitely as cracks in the church floors and panes of glass have increased substantially in recent months.
At its Tuesday, Feb 20 meeting, the RPV City Council will discuss the proposed Portuguese Bend Landslide Remediation Project. A draft Environmental Impact Report on the project was released in February 2023, and focused on remediation efforts to slow down land movement, which has substantially increased the past year.
For trail updates on trail closures, visit rpvca.gov/trailalerts.