WHITE HAT OPERATIONS IN CALIFORNIA FORESTS?

 

National Forest Closures in Northern California Due to Wildfire Danger

 

August 20, 2021 By John Soares

 

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

 

Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Lassen National Forest

Klamath National Forest

Modoc National Forest

Six Rivers National Forest

Mendocino National Forest

Plumas National Forest

Tahoe National Forest

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

 

Northern California Forest Closures and Hiking Trails

 

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

 

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.

 

Get details on the specific hikes in my guidebooks at my Northern California trail closures page.

 

Wildfires can roar quickly through forests. If you encounter a wildfire when hiking, get out of forests to an open area.

 

Northern California National Forest Closures: Official Order

 

Below is the content of the news release from Region 5:

Regional Order No. 21-04, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region

 

Emergency Forest Closure

 

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) and (b), and to provide for public safety

and protect natural resources, the following acts are prohibited on National Forest System lands

within the Pacific Southwest Region. This Order is effective from August 22, 2021, at 11:59 p.m.

through September 6, 2021, at 11:59 p.m.

 

1. Going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the National Forests

listed below.

a. Tahoe National Forest

b. Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

c. Plumas National Forest

d. Lassen National Forest

e. Mendocino National Forest

f. Klamath National Forest

g. Six Rivers National Forest

h. Shasta-Trinity National Forest

i. Modoc National Forest

36 C.F.R. § 261.52(e).

 

1. Being on a National Forest System road within the National Forests listed below.

a. Tahoe National Forest

b. Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

c. Plumas National Forest

d. Lassen National Forest

e. Mendocino National Forest

f. Klamath National Forest

g. Six Rivers National Forest

h. Shasta-Trinity National Forest

i. Modoc National Forest

36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e).

 

1. Being on a National Forest System trail within the National Forests listed below.

a. Tahoe National Forest

b. Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

c. Plumas National Forest

d. Lassen National Forest

e. Mendocino National Forest

f. Klamath National Forest

g. Six Rivers National Forest

h. Shasta-Trinity National Foresti. Modoc National Forest

36 C.F.R. § 261.55(a).

 

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

 

1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails,

or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this

Order.

 

1. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting

force in the performance of an official duty.

 

1. Persons with a Forest Service special use authorization for an electric transmission

line, an oil or gas pipeline, communications site, or any other non-recreation special

use.

1. Persons with a Forest Service non-special-use written authorization to conduct non-

recreational activities, such as harvesting timber or forest products, or grazing

livestock.

 

1. Owners or lessees of land, to the extent necessary to access their land.

 

1. Residents, to the extent necessary to access their residences.

 

1. Persons engaged in a business, trade, or occupation are not exempt from the

prohibitions listed above, but may use National Forest System roads to the extent

necessary to carry out their business, trade, or occupation.

 

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions contained in 36 C.F.R. Part 261,

Subpart A.

 

A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual

or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.

16 U.S.C. § 551 and 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.

 

Executed in Vallejo, California, this 19th day of August 2021.

 

https://northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com/blog/2021/08/20/national-forest-closures-northern-california-wildfire/