Recreation Activities
PERMITS
A Wilderness Visitor's Permit is
required for overnight visits to the Carson-Iceberg, Emigrant
and Mokelumne Wildernesses. Only one permit is required for
trips which are continuous and pass through more than one
Wilderness. One permit is required per trip per group. If you
have a larger group than is permitted, reduce the number of
people, split the group to visit different areas, or visit an
area which permits larger numbers. You are not permitted to camp
or travel within one mile of a related group. Special
regulations for recreation, pack and saddle stock use are
attached to the Wilderness permit. Your permit doubles as a
campfire permit while in the Wilderness. See
Wilderness Regulations for general and Wilderness-specific
regulations.
For trips entering Yosemite National
Park Wilderness from Cherry Lake, Kibbie Ridge or Lake Eleanor, contact the
Groveland Ranger District by phone no more than 24 hours in advance of your trip.
TRIP PLANNING
Wilderness permits
are required for overnight camping. Permits can be obtained at any Stanislaus
National Forest office. You may obtain your permit the same day as
your trip since there are no quotas at any wilderness area
within the Stanislaus National Forest. If you are coming in
after hours to start your trip, call one of our Ranger District
offices. A wilderness permit will be filled out and left in
after-hours pick up boxes.
LEAVE NO TRACE
Each year Wilderness
becomes more heavily used. Leave No Trace of your presence. These
reminders may help you to leave no trace of your visit.
Camping: camp at least 100
feet from water and trails. Camping on previously used
sites creates far less impact than camping on pristine
sites. Camp on mineral soil, never in meadows or soft
grassy areas that compact easily. Pick a place where you
won't have to clear vegetation or level a tent site.
Campfires: use gas stoves to avoid the depletion
of wood. If you do have a fire, use an existing fire ring at least 100
feet from water and trails. Use wood found on the ground that is no
more than 1-3 inches in diameter.
Water Quality: lakes and streams can be
contaminated even though they look and taste pure. The
surest method of treatment to make water safe to drink is
to boil it for 5 minutes. Other methods are filtering and/or
using chemical disinfectants such as iodine or chlorine
tablets or drops.
Sanitation: human feces left close to water or
unburied can spread disease and contaminate drinking
water. Bury fecal matter in a hole 6-10 inches deep, far
from lakes, streams, and campsites--at least 100 feet (200 feet
recommended).
Pack out tampons, sanitary napkins, disposable diapers
and any other refuse. Do not wash yourself, utensils, or
clothing in lakes or streams. All soap, even
biodegradable, pollutes lakes and streams. Carry a bucket
of water at least 100 feet from water sources, wash, then
dispose of wash water in a hole. Fill the hole before
breaking camp.
Garbage: carry out all unburned material. Do not
bury food scraps; burn them completely or pack them out.
Buried garbage attracts and may be harmful to animals.
Clean fish far from water and campsites - at least 100
feet. Wherever possible, use refuse containers for all
non-burnable waste.
Solitude: an important aspect of the wilderness
experience is the quality of solitude; freedom from the
intrusion of human sights, sounds and odors. To preserve
this feature, please travel and camp in small groups,
leaving firearms, radios, and pets at home. Respect the
solitude of others by avoiding boisterous behavior and
loud noises. Choose equipment that is not brightly
colored or highly visible.
On the Trail: cutting across trail switchbacks
causes soil erosion and trail damage. Staying on the
trail is safer, easier, and saves trail maintenance costs.
Please do not leave trail markers of any kind. Always
give stock the right-of-way by moving well off the trail
on the downhill side. |