Mount Rubidoux, a popular hiking and picnic park that provides a sweeping panoramic view of Riverside and the Inland Empire, is set to close indefinitely at sunset Friday, March 27, in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

An electronic sign was posted Thursday, March 26, near the entrance to Frank A. Miller Mt. Rubidoux Memorial Park, alerting recreation enthusiasts to the closure.

Riverside spokesman Phil Pitchford said Thursday that the city’s decision came after throngs of people in close proximity to each other flocked to park trails.

“We have seen over the last few days a significant number of people not only walking up Mount Rubidoux, but walking up Mount Rubidoux in groups and not practicing social distancing,” Pitchford said.

Hikers return from their walk to the top of Mount Rubidoux on Thursday, March 26, 2020, in Riverside. The trails will close indefinitely beginning Friday, March 27, 2020, at sunset due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Laura Gomez and Monter Villeda return from their walk to the top of Riverside’s Mount Rubidoux on Thursday, March 26, 2020. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Sound The gallery will resume in seconds

Sisters Cori and Lauren Byuum return from their walk up Mount Rubidoux on Thursday, March 26, 2020, in Riverside. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

A visitor stands near the trail head to Mount Rubidoux on Thursday, March 26, 2020, in Riverside. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Hikers stand near the top of Mount Rubidoux in Riverside on Thursday, March 26, 2020. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)



Visitors enter Frank A. Miller Mt. Rubidoux Memorial Park Thursday, March 26, 2020, in Riverside. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Visitors walk toward the Mount Rubidoux trail head Thursday, March 26, 2020, in Riverside. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Visitors begin their walk up Mount Rubidoux on Thursday, March 26, 2020, in Riverside. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Hikers stand atop Mount Rubidoux on Thursday, March 26, 2020, in Riverside. Its trails will close for an unknown period of time beginning Friday, March 27, 2020, at sunset due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

He was referring to health officials’ plea for people to stay 6 feet apart to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

The move mirrors others across Southern California in recent days as authorities seek to hold people to the 6-feet rule.

Meanwhile, a different Riverside County city — Hemet — announced it will close city parks in response to the outbreak.

“While the community is still encouraged to get sunlight and stay active,” the parks “serve as gathering places and are directly contrary to the safety of Hemet residents at this time,” a Hemet news release stated.

While Riverside is closing the Mount Rubidoux park, Adolfo Cruz, director of parks and recreation and community services, said his city’s 48 developed neighborhood parks and Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park will stay open.

Earlier this week, the city shut restrooms, playgrounds and parking-lot gates at Riverside parks, Cruz said. But people may still play in the parks, so long as they get there on foot or by bicycle.

The nature of activity at Mount Rubidoux factored into its closure.

On a typical weekend day, Mount Rubidoux’s trails draw 2,400 to 2,500 people, Cruz said. But, he said, 3,488 visited Saturday, March 21, and 3,455 came Sunday, March 22.

With so many visitors, Cruz said, it is difficult to maintain adequate separation because “there is one road up and one road down and everybody is passing shoulder to shoulder.”

In contrast, he said, Sycamore Canyon has multiple trails and much open space — and is more conducive to social distancing.

However, hiker Debbie Shrader, a 52-year-old Riverside resident, said she finds a way to keep a safe distance from people at Mount Rubidoux and most others do. Yes, there are groups that walk close together, but they appear to be families who already share the same homes, she said.

Shrader said she was disappointed to hear the park is shuttering because her gym closed last week and she has been visiting Mount Rubidoux frequently to make up for that. Now she’ll likely walk in her neighborhood.

“I can’t just not get exercise,” she said.

Riverside sisters Cori and Lauren Bynum, 23 and 20 respectively, weren’t happy.

“It seems way too drastic,” Lauren Bynum said.

Riverside resident Gerald Thomas Sr. wasn’t a fan, either.

“It’s too much,” Thomas said.

The retired Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy said it seems officials are being overly protective and closing too many places down — places that people need to get outdoors and exercise at a time when they can do little else.

“If they keep doing this, nobody is going to be able to go to the polls to vote” in November, Thomas said. “I’ve been 55 years on this earth and I’ve never seen anything like this.”

He and David Booker, 52, were preparing to hike to the top of Mount Rubidoux on Thursday morning.

“This is part of our routine,” Booker said, adding that they come for exercise, scenery, and peace and quiet.

Without the park, Thomas quipped, they will have to walk in their neighborhood, do push-ups and “cut the grass all day.”

Diana Twiss, a 39-year-old Riverside woman who hiked the mountain with her dogs, Nova and Max, on Thursday said she visits five times a week.

“My heart aches,” Twiss said. “But I understand the need to protect the public.”

It’s just a shame, she said.

“It’s such a beautiful place and it offers peace to people, which is important in this time of uncertainty,” Twiss said.