Press Release

VALLEJO, Calif. – USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region has decided to extend the developed campground closure on 12 National Forests in California to provide consistent COVID-19 mitigation response in accordance with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Stay-at-Home Orders. These Regional Orders will be in effect through January 29, 2021.

The closed campgrounds on National Forests are in California’s Greater Sacramento, Southern, and San Joaquin zones, including Angeles NF, Cleveland NF, Eldorado NF, Inyo NF, Los Padres NF, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Plumas NF, San Bernardino NF, Sequoia NF, Sierra NF, Stanislaus NF, and the Tahoe NF. Day use of National Forests will remain open for the health and welfare of Californians. We urge all visitors to follow CDC guidelines to recreate responsibly and check with your local National Forests before visiting.

Randy Moore, Regional Forester of the USDA Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest Region

“This order extension will protect visitors and our employees by reducing exposure to COVID-19 and mitigating the further burden on limited healthcare facilities,” said Randy Moore, Regional Forester of the USDA Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest Region.

Regional Orders 21-1, 21-2, and 21-3 are linked within. The Pacific Southwest Region’s eighteen National Forests align with the state of California’s zones as follows:

• Southern – San Bernardino, Los Padres, Cleveland, Angeles, Inyo National Forests
• Northern – Mendocino, Modoc, Six Rivers, Shasta-Trinity, Klamath, Lassen National Forests
• San Joaquin – Stanislaus, Sierra, Sequoia National Forests
• Greater Sacramento – Eldorado, Tahoe, Plumas National Forests, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU).

We continue to recommend that you not travel long distances to recreate and, again, check with your local National Forest before visiting. If you or anyone in your household is feeling sick, please remain at home and plan your trip for another time.  All visitors should practice self-sufficiency during your visits to national forests. Recreating responsibly will help ensure that expanded access to recreational facilities, services, and opportunities continues. Responsible recreation practices should be maintained at all times, including:

• Research winter road conditions and make sure your vehicle is snow ready;
• Maintaining at least six feet distancing from others;
• Do not gather in groups and please follow the latest guidance from officials;
• Communicate with others as you pass. Alert trail users of your presence and step aside to let others pass;
• Pack out your trash and leave with everything you bring in and use; and
• All services may not be available, so please plan accordingly.