The intent of this chapter is to provide additional rules and regulations concerning the public's use of the Claremont Hillsides Wilderness Park from the time of its acquisition by the City. This chapter shall not apply to the Padua Hills Theater. The use of the Claremont Hillsides Wilderness Park is permitted under the rules and regulations hereinafter set forth in this chapter.
(96-03)
Permitted uses within the park area shall include:
A. 
Recreational activities such as hiking, running, bicycling, horseback riding, photography and picnicking provided they are restricted to established trails, roads, and rest areas.
B. 
Conservation projects, student research or other educational programs involving the study of nature, ecology or earth sciences with prior City approval.
C. 
Outdoor programs, lectures, and organized community activities.
(96-03)
No person shall enter the park area from any point other than an officially designated entrance location as identified by the City. No person shall enter the park area in a motorized vehicle. This section shall not apply to maintenance personnel, law enforcement personnel or persons responding to an emergency situation requiring vehicular access to the park area.
(96-03)
A. 
No person entering the park area shall park or stand any motorized vehicle on any road, path, or property except that designated by the City as parking for the park area. This section shall not apply to maintenance personnel, law enforcement personnel or persons responding to an emergency situation requiring vehicular access to the park area.
B. 
No person shall park, caused to be parked or stand any vehicle in the Claremont Hillsides Wilderness Park parking lot during hours that the park is not open as specified in Section 11.10.050 or during any time the park or parking lot have been closed pursuant to Section 11.10.050.
(Prior code § 96-03; 13-01)
A. 
No person shall enter, remain, stay, or loiter within any area of the Claremont Hillsides Wilderness Park or in the adjacent or nearby City-owned or operated parking lot when the park or parking lot is closed.
B. 
Claremont Hillsides Wilderness Park and parking lot are open during the following hours:
January
6:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
February
6:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
March
6:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
April
6:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
May
5:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
June
5:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
July
5:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
August
6:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
September
6:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
October
6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
November
6:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
December
6:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
C. 
The City Manager may authorize access to or use of the Claremont Hillsides Wilderness Park and/or its parking lot during hours that the park and/or parking lot are otherwise closed as stated herein for special events or uses for which other related permits required under the Code have been obtained from the City.
D. 
Overnight camping is prohibited. The City Manager or designee may authorize the closure of the Claremont Hillsides Wilderness Park and/or the north parking lot for reasons of public health and safety.
(Prior code § 96-03; 13-01)
No person shall light any match or start or maintain any fire including smoking, camp stoves, pyrotechnics and fireworks. Flammable liquids are not permitted within the park.
(96-03)
No person shall possess, carry or discharge any firearms, airsoft guns, paintball guns, bow and arrow, compound bow, firecrackers, rockets or any other fireworks, air gun or slingshot or other weapons.
(14-07)
A. 
Definitions
1. 
For the purposes of this chapter, a bicycle is defined as a device upon which a person may ride, propelled exclusively by human power through a belt, chain, or gears, and having two wheels.
2. 
For the purposes of this chapter, an "electric bicycle" is a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts.
a. 
A "Class 1 electric bicycle," or "low-speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle," is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
b. 
A "Class 2 electric bicycle," or "low-speed throttle-assisted electric bicycle," is a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
c. 
A "Class 3 electric bicycle," or "speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle," is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour, and equipped with a speedometer.
For the purposes of this chapter, the definitions of bicycle, electric bicycle, and Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 electric bicycle shall prevail over any contradictory definitions of these terms (or similar terms) in the California Vehicle Code.
B. 
Only bicycles and Class 1 and Class 2 electric bicycles may be operated within the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park. Class 3 electric bicycles are prohibited.
C. 
No person shall ride or drive any horse or propel any bicycle or electric bicycle other than on roads or trails designated by the Director of Recreation and Human Services and in the directions posted.
D. 
Specific paved and unpaved roads or trails may be excluded from use for bicycles, any or all classes of electric bicycles, and/or horses by determination of the Director of Recreation and Human Services, or his or her designee. Such determinations will be based upon public safety and the potential impact on natural resources. Such prohibition shall be effective upon the posting of signs at or near each entrance to such road specifying that bicycles and/or are prohibited therefrom.
E. 
Bicycles and electric bicycles shall be operated at a safe speed for the conditions present and in a reasonable manner.
F. 
Any bicycle or electric bicycle operated within the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park shall be equipped with a warning bell.
G. 
No persons shall operate a bicycle or electric bicycle on wet or muddy trails.
(96-03; 2025-03, 4/22/2025)
No person shall throw, discard, place or dispose of any garbage or refuse in any place other than a designated waste container or other receptacle maintained for that purpose. All persons using the park area shall carry out of the area all garbage or refuse that they bring into the park area.
(96-03)
No person shall:
A. 
Pick, dig, remove, destroy, injure, mutilate or cut any tree, plant, shrub, bloom or flower, or any portion thereof growing;
B. 
Cut, break, deface or injure any building, monument, sign, fence, bench, equipment or property;
C. 
Cut or remove any wood, turf, grass, soil, rock, sand or gravel;
D. 
Perform any action that creates a nuisance, poses a real or immediate threat to, results in damage to, or destruction of the parks resources or other public property;
E. 
Removal or the intentional destruction of archeological materials for any reason;
F. 
Conservation and management activities undertaken by the City, other public agencies, or by members of the public in accordance with written authorization from the City, shall not be a violation of this section.
(96-03)
No person shall:
A. 
Take or permit any dog or horse within the park area unless the animal is restricted by a leash or other restraint with a lead of not more than six feet in length.
B. 
Take or permit any animal other than a dog or horse within the park area.
C. 
Fail to clean up any waste products left by their dog(s).
D. 
Graze livestock including the use of natural forage for commercial purposes.
E. 
This section shall not apply to police service dogs engaged in law enforcement duties nor service animals (dogs or miniature horses) that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.
(14-07; 2025-03, 4/22/2025)
A. 
No group of more than 20 individuals, and no organized group event, shall use the park for any purpose, including, but not limited to, hiking and field trips, without first notifying and obtaining written permission from the Human Services Director at least 10 business days before the visit or event is scheduled. Permission shall be denied if the visit or event is determined by the Human Services Director to have an adverse impact on the park, park environment, adjacent properties, or public safety.
B. 
No organized group event of 50 or more individuals is permitted in the park area without first obtaining a park permit from the Human Services Director. No park permit shall be issued if the event is determined by the Human Services Director to have an adverse impact on the park, park environment, adjacent properties, or public safety.
C. 
Competitive group event, including, but not limited to, bicycle races, horse races, or foot races, are prohibited.
(14-07)
A. 
Any violation of any provision of this chapter shall be punishable as a misdemeanor unless the citing officer or the prosecuting attorney determines that it would be in the interests of justice to cite or prosecute the violation as an infraction.
B. 
Permission to be within the limits of any park or parks, as defined by this chapter, or to use any facilities, is conditioned on users complying with all applicable provisions of this chapter or any other applicable laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations. A violation of any provision of this chapter or of any order, rule, or regulation authorized by this chapter, or of any other applicable law, ordinance, rule, or regulation will result in the person in violation of being a trespasser and a park ranger and/or code enforcement officer, police officer, or Director, or their respective designees ("enforcement official"), may remove the person from a park in accordance with this section in addition to any other remedy or penalty.
1. 
Nothing in this section will be construed to authorize the removal of any person lawfully engaged in any constitutionally protected activity. However, a person lawfully exercising these protected rights but who commits an act that is not protected can be subject to removal or exclusion.
2. 
For the purposes of this section, removal is an order given by the enforcement official, directing a person to immediately leave a park and not return for the remainder of the day.
(13-01; 2025-03, 4/22/2025)
A. 
Right-of-Way.
1. 
All users must yield to emergency or maintenance vehicles.
2. 
Bicycle and electric bicycle operators must yield to pedestrians and equestrians.
3. 
Pedestrians must yield to equestrians.
B. 
Users shall remain to the right side of the trail, except when passing. Bicycle and electric bicycle operators must utilize a bell and/or verbal announcements when passing others. Passing shall only occur on the left when safe to do so.
C. 
Users shall not ride, walk, or run more than two persons abreast.
D. 
When being passed by another user, persons shall move to the far right of the trail.
E. 
No user shall wear a headset covering, earplugs in, or earphones covering, resting on, or inserted in, both ears.
F. 
This section does not relieve a pedestrian, bicyclist, or equestrian from the duty of exercising due care for the safety of other users on the trails.
(2025-03, 4/22/2025)