In the 10 days since Mount Rubidoux was closed to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, it’s been visited at least 1,174 times.

Except for a handful of days — such as the recent downpours — the closed mountain had more than 100 people per day, and at least 211 walked through the entrances on 9th Street and Glenwood Drive on March 29.

That’s a fraction of the number in early March, when most days drew more than 1,000 people and several days had more than 3,000 visitors, according to city data based on automated counts at the two main entrances.

At sunset Friday, March 27, the city closed the park in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. That day, the last legal day, at least 1,612 people hiked the mountain.

Hikers cut through a trail as they make their way down Mount Rubidoux in Riverside on Friday, April 3, 2020, despite the closure by the city in response to the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing efforts. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

A man stands on a rock near the cross at the top of Mount Rubidoux in Riverside on Friday, April 3, 2020, despite the closure by the city in response to coronavirus pandemic and social distancing efforts. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

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Runners make their way down Mount Rubidoux during dusk in Riverside on Friday, April 3, 2020. Despite the city’s order shutting down Mount Rubidoux because huge crowds and efforts to practice social distancing, people are continuing to hike the mountain. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

A hiker wears a protective mask as she makes her way up Mount Rubidoux in Riverside on Friday, April 3, 2020, despite the closure by the city in response to coronavirus pandemic and social distancing efforts. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

People hang out on a rock below an American flag at the top of Mount Rubidoux in Riverside on Friday, April 3, 2020, despite the closure by the city in response to coronavirus pandemic and social distancing efforts. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)



A man runs up Mount Rubidoux in Riverside on Friday, April 3, 2020, despite the closure by the city in response to coronavirus pandemic and social distancing efforts. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

People make their way up Mount Rubidoux in Riverside on Friday, April 3, 2020 despite the closure by the city in response to coronavirus pandemic and social distancing efforts. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

A man makes his way down Mount Rubidoux in Riverside on Friday, April 3, 2020, despite the closure by the city in response to coronavirus pandemic and social distancing efforts. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Hikers walk towards a trail closed sign at the base of Mount Rubidoux in Riverside on Friday, April 3, 2020. Despite the city’s order shutting down Mount Rubidoux because huge crowds and efforts to practice social distancing, people are continuing to hike the mountain. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

People make their way up Mount Rubidoux in Riverside on Friday, April 3, 2020, despite the closure by the city in response to coronavirus pandemic and social distancing efforts. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)



A man takes in the sunset as he stands near the cross at the top of Mount Rubidoux in Riverside on Friday, April 3, 2020, despite the closure by the city in response to coronavirus pandemic and social distancing efforts. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

A man makes his way up Mount Rubidoux in Riverside on Friday, April 3, 2020, despite the closure by the city in response to coronavirus pandemic and social distancing efforts. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

People make their way down Mount Rubidoux in Riverside on Friday, April 3, 2020, despite the closure by the city in response to coronavirus pandemic and social distancing efforts. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

People make their way down Mount Rubidoux in Riverside on Friday, April 3, 2020, despite the closure by the city in response to coronavirus pandemic and social distancing efforts. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

A man makes his way down Mount Rubidoux in Riverside on Friday, April 3, 2020, despite the closure by the city in response to coronavirus pandemic and social distancing efforts. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)



Visitors make their way down Mount Rubidoux in Riverside on Friday, April 3, 2020, despite the closure by the city in response to coronavirus pandemic and social distancing efforts. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Hikers cut through a trail as they make their way down Mount Rubidoux in Riverside on Friday, April 3, 2020, despite the closure by the city in response to coronavirus pandemic and social distancing efforts. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

A man makes his way down Mount Rubidoux in Riverside on Friday, April 3, 2020, despite the closure by the city in response to coronavirus pandemic and social distancing efforts. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

A man hikes his way up Mount Rubidoux in Riverside on Friday, April 3, 2020, despite the closure by the city in response to coronavirus pandemic and social distancing efforts. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Since then, all of the visitors have been violating the closure.

And all of them are risking the lives of themselves, their elderly relatives and an unknown number of strangers, said Kathy Schulz, vice president of Friends of Mt. Rubidoux.

“You take your own life in your hands and not just your own life,” she said. “I see groups go up there and brush right by people. They’re not social distancing.”

Parks Director Adolfo Cruz said he’s aware of the problem, which can be counted because automated counters track how many people pass through the two official entrances. It’s unknown how many people access the mountain other ways.

Large signs tell people it’s closed, and the gate is closed, Cruz said.

He’s considering requesting that police officers be posted at the entrance to stop people and potentially cite them.

“With the nice weather we’re going to get this weekend, that’s something we may consider,” Cruz said. “We’re trying to encourage our residents to follow the guidelines and orders and use education to do it. I haven’t spoken to our PD yet.”

The Riverside Police Department’s air support units fly over Mount Rubidoux several times each day to check for people and give verbal warnings if any are seen, and patrol officers conduct extra patrols around the mountain, said police spokesman Ryan Railsback.

“If they contact anyone appearing to go up, they will give them friendly reminders the mountain and parks are currently closed,” Railsback said in an email. “I have not heard of any citations being issued so far as everyone seems to comply once contacted.”

Resident Joey Duran, who lives at the base of the mountain, said he’s seen “up to 50 people at a time” since the closure.

“There’s groups of people within 3, 4, 5 feet of each other,” Duran said, less than the 6-foot recommendation that was recommended before county officials ordered further restrictions as the number of cases continues to explode. “Youngsters think they’re infallible. It’s life or death.”

Riverside County has more than 1,000 coronavirus cases confirmed as of Tuesday, April 7, and 28 county residents have died of the virus. That includes 96 cases and one death in the city of Riverside, county officials say.

Parks officials have been working to discourage people from attending popular parks by posting signs, limiting access and putting boards over basketball hoops to prevent them from being used, Cruz said.

“It’s difficult to take these measures. What we are here for is to make life better through our parks,” he said. “But the health and safety of our residents is more important.”

Mount Rubidoux visits continue despite closure