Uinta National Forest

Frequently Asked Questions

Some information is more commonly sought out by visitors to the Uinta National Forest. We have compiled some of the most frequently asked questions with their answers below. If you do not see the answer to your question, please contact us either by calling a Ranger District or the Supervisor's Office or by using our comment form.

1. What is the difference between the Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Department of Wildlife Resources, and State Parks?
2. What are the Interagency Recreation Passes?
3. Is the Uinta Mountain range or the High Uintas Wilderness Area on the Uinta National Forest?
4. How do I reserve a campsite?
5. Are there fire restrictions in place? How do I know if I can have a campfire?
6. Can I use fireworks on the National Forest?
7. Where can I get maps to know where I can ride my ATV, motorcycle, or motorized recreational vehicle?
8. Where can I get maps that show where recreation opportunities on the National Forest are?
9. Can I take my dog hiking or camping on the National Forest?
10. Where can I get a permit for Forest Products?
11. How do I get a Christmas tree permit?
12. Do I need a permit to enter a Wilderness Area?
13. Do I need to have certified weed-free hay on the National Forest for my horses?
14. If I have an emergency on the National Forest, who should I contact?
15. Can I go target shooting on the National Forest?

1. What is the difference between the Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Department of Wildlife Resources, and State Parks?
The Forest Service manages the national forests and grasslands, forestry research and cooperation with forest managers on State and Private Lands. The Forest Service is dedicated to multiple-use management for the sustained yield of renewable resources such as water, forage, wildlife, wood and recreation. Multiple-use means managing resources under the best combination of uses to benefit the American people while ensuring the productivity of the land and protecting the quality of the environment.

The National Park Service focuses on preservation. They preserve, unimpaired, the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation.

State Parks are similar to National Parks but are managed on a state level and can have fewer restrictions.

Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) can be under state or federal management. State DWRs handle fishing and hunting permits while federal wildlife agencies, such as the National Marine Fisheries Service, manage wildlife that crosses state boundaries such as migratory birds and whales and some fish species.

2. What are the Interagency Recreation Passes?
Visitors who frequent America's public lands for enhanced recreation site opportunities managed by five federal agencies will benefit from a new, more convenient, single interagency recreation pass program. The program features on interagency pass for streamlined access to enhanced recreation sties magaged by the five federal land management agencies including; The National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Forest Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Reclamation. The new program replaces the Golden Eagle, Golden Age and Golden Access Passports and the National Parks Pass.

For more information on the Interagency Recreation Passes, including prices, visit the US Geological Survey on-line store or call 1-888-ASK-USGS and press 1.

3. Is the Uinta Mountain range or the High Uintas Wilderness Area on the Uinta National Forest?
No. The Uinta Mountain range is managed by both the Wasatch-Cache National Forest and the Ashley National Forest. The Ashley National Forest maintains a webpage with information on the High Uintas Wilderness Area that contains a map of trails, information on King's Peak (the highest point in the state of Utah), and guidelines and restrictions for the area. For the most accurate information on the High Uintas or the wilderness area, please contact either of those forests.

6. Can I use fireworks on the National Forest?
No. Fireworks are banned on all National Forest System lands all the time.

8. Where can I get maps that show where recreation opportunities on the National Forest are? Topographic maps provide the greatest amount of detail for a small portion of land, and are available from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) or many local retail outlets. Local Ranger Districts and Forest Service offices have larger National Forest overview maps that show the locations of campgrounds, paved roads, unimproved roads and some trails. Ranger Districts and Forest Service offices will also have Travel Plan maps that show trails that are open to motorized recreational vehicles and ATVs

10. Where can I get a permit for Forest Products?
Examples of Forest Products are firewood, Christmas trees and ornamental Rocks. Urbanized areas are less likely to provide forest product permits. However, once away from urban areas, Ranger Districts are more likely to offer permits, but in very limited numbers. For more specific information, contact your local Ranger District. The District Ranger usually decides the number of permits available at a local level.

Fuelwood permits for the Heber Ranger District are currently available from June 21 through September 24, 2004. Read the news release for more information.

12. Do I need a permit to enter a Wilderness Area?
Wilderness areas are a place where the imprint of humans is substantially unnoticed. It is where natural processes are the primary influences and human activity is limited to primitive recreation and minimum tools. This allows for the experience of wild places without intention to disturb or destroy the natural processes. Some wilderness areas require an overnight permit to camp in them. Contact you local forest service office for more information.

14. If I have an emergency on the National Forest, who should I contact?
If you have an emergency on the National Forest, the best thing to do is call 911 and they will dispatch the nearest help.

15. Can I go target shooting on the National Forest?
Yes, as long as all applicable regulations are followed. Visit our Target Shooting webpage for more information.

USDA Forest Service - Uinta National Forest
Last Modified: Friday, 21 September 2007 at 18:19:00 EDT