{"id":7202,"date":"2021-08-20T08:41:54","date_gmt":"2021-08-20T15:41:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/?p=7202"},"modified":"2023-03-03T12:46:39","modified_gmt":"2023-03-03T19:46:39","slug":"national-forest-closures-northern-california-wildfire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2021\/08\/20\/national-forest-closures-northern-california-wildfire\/","title":{"rendered":"National Forest Closures in Northern California Due to Wildfire Danger"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEWER UPDATE: Most California national forests will reopen on September 16, 2021.<\/strong> Areas impacted by wildfires will still be closed, so check with the specific national forest ranger district before planning hiking and travel.<\/p>\n

Update: all national forests in all of California, northern and southern, are closed through at least September 17.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Due to wildfire danger, the following Northern California national forests were ordered closed starting August 23, 2021, at 12:00 a.m.:<\/p>\n

Shasta-Trinity National Forest
\nLassen National Forest
\nKlamath National Forest
\nModoc National Forest
\nSix Rivers National Forest
\nMendocino National Forest
\nPlumas National Forest
\nTahoe National Forest
\nLake Tahoe Basin Management Unit<\/p>\n

In addition, the Eldorado National Forest is also closed through at least September 30.<\/p>\n

Northern California Forest Closures and Hiking Trails<\/h2>\n

Yes, this means you cannot hike on trails in any of these forests, as explained below in the Emergency Forest Closure order.\u00a0 Of course, this affects many of the trails in my Northern California hiking guidebooks, and also means that dispersed camping<\/a> is forbidden, along with other activities like hunting and wood cutting.<\/p>\n

However, as of August 20 now you can still hike in state and regional parks, and other local jurisdictions. Lassen Volcanic National Park is closed due to the Dixie Fire, and it remains to be seen if Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park will remain open.<\/p>\n

Get details on the specific hikes in my guidebooks at my Northern California trail closures page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Wildfires<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Northern California National Forest Closures: Official Order<\/h2>\n

Below is the content of the news release from Region 5:<\/p>\n

Regional Order No. 21-04, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region<\/h3>\n

Emergency Forest Closure<\/p>\n

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. \u00a7 551 and 36 C.F.R. \u00a7 261.50(a) and (b), and to provide for public safety
\nand protect natural resources, the following acts are prohibited on National Forest System lands
\nwithin the Pacific Southwest Region. This Order is effective from August 22, 2021, at 11:59 p.m.
\nthrough September 6, 2021, at 11:59 p.m.<\/p>\n

1. Going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the National Forests
\nlisted below.
\na. Tahoe National Forest
\nb. Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
\nc. Plumas National Forest
\nd. Lassen National Forest
\ne. Mendocino National Forest
\nf. Klamath National Forest
\ng. Six Rivers National Forest
\nh. Shasta-Trinity National Forest
\ni. Modoc National Forest
\n36 C.F.R. \u00a7 261.52(e).<\/p>\n

2. Being on a National Forest System road within the National Forests listed below.
\na. Tahoe National Forest
\nb. Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
\nc. Plumas National Forest
\nd. Lassen National Forest
\ne. Mendocino National Forest
\nf. Klamath National Forest
\ng. Six Rivers National Forest
\nh. Shasta-Trinity National Forest
\ni. Modoc National Forest
\n36 C.F.R. \u00a7 261.54(e).<\/p>\n

3. Being on a National Forest System trail within the National Forests listed below.
\na. Tahoe National Forest
\nb. Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
\nc. Plumas National Forest
\nd. Lassen National Forest
\ne. Mendocino National Forest
\nf. Klamath National Forest
\ng. Six Rivers National Forest
\nh. Shasta-Trinity National Foresti. Modoc National Forest
\n36 C.F.R. \u00a7 261.55(a).<\/p>\n

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. \u00a7 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:<\/p>\n

1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails,
\nor Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this
\nOrder.<\/p>\n

2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting
\nforce in the performance of an official duty.<\/p>\n

3. Persons with a Forest Service special use authorization for an electric transmission
\nline, an oil or gas pipeline, communications site, or any other non-recreation special
\nuse.
\n4. Persons with a Forest Service non-special-use written authorization to conduct non-
\nrecreational activities, such as harvesting timber or forest products, or grazing
\nlivestock.<\/p>\n

5. Owners or lessees of land, to the extent necessary to access their land.<\/p>\n

6. Residents, to the extent necessary to access their residences.<\/p>\n

7. Persons engaged in a business, trade, or occupation are not exempt from the
\nprohibitions listed above, but may use National Forest System roads to the extent
\nnecessary to carry out their business, trade, or occupation.<\/p>\n

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions contained in 36 C.F.R. Part 261,
\nSubpart A.<\/p>\n

A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual
\nor $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.
\n16 U.S.C. \u00a7 551 and 18 U.S.C. \u00a7\u00a7 3559, 3571, and 3581.<\/p>\n

Executed in Vallejo, California, this 19th day of August 2021.<\/p>\n

JENNIFER EBERLIEN
\nRegional Forester
\nPacific Southwest Region<\/p>\n

Subscribe to the Northern California Hiking Trails Blog<\/h2>\n