Landowner Agrees to Reopen Trail

A group that sued a landowner after he built a 6-foot stone wall across a popular hiking trail running through his property will pay him $3,000 to reopen the trail.

The agreement between the Alliance for Public Trail Access and Ole Konig will reopen a portion of the Fuel Break Road on Konig’s property north of Ojai.

The dirt road was used by the U.S. Forest Service as a firebreak in the 1960s.

In the decades since, hikers, horseback riders and bicyclists have used the road and connecting trails as an eight-mile loop.

In return for the $3,000, Konig will grant a permanent 10-foot-wide public easement across a portion of his property, according to Andrew Gustafson, an attorney and co-founder of the Alliance for Public Trail Access.

“This means the public has a right to use the road,” Gustafson said.

In addition, Gustafson said, he will drop a lawsuit against Konig, and Konig has indicated he will drop a cross-complaint.

Also, Konig will ask authorities to drop criminal trespass charges against two people who climbed over his wall, Gustafson said.

The trail is to open to the public April 10, and be available from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. for hiking, running, horseback riding and non-motorized vehicle use.