Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)
On this page you can find answers to some of the questions that
are asked at our offices. If you do not see your question listed
below or want further information call the Sierra National Forest
at 559-297-0706.
- How can I get a Campfire Permit?
- How can I purchase maps or books?
- Can I camp in areas outside developed campgrounds?
- Where can I ride an Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) or
Over-Snow Vehicle (OSV)?
- How can I report trail conditions?
- What's a "prescribed" fire?
- What about the smoke from fires?
- What's a Wild and Scenic River?
- What's a Wilderness?
- Do I need a Wilderness permit?
- Can I have dogs in the National Forest?
- Where are Sno Park Areas and where can I get a
permit?
Answers
You can obtain a campfire permit at any
National Forest Office, free of charge. Your campfire permit is
valid from the dated issued until the end of the calendar year (December
31st). Check out the campfire permit
page for more information.
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Recreation, Wilderness,
and other maps are available and may
be purchased at Sierra
National Forest Offices. Some sporting goods stores,
outfitters, and map stores also sell
these maps. The Three Forest Interpretive
Association, a non-profit organization,
sells interpretive books and visitor
materials at Sierra National Forest offices.
Selections include trail guides, natural
history and nature guides, and books
on local history. Profits from sales
are returned to the National Forests
to help fund interpretive activities.
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You may camp
outside of developed campgrounds in most
parts of the Forest at no cost. Potable
water, toilets, and other amenities are
not generally available. If you choose
to camp outside developed areas, be sure
to bring adequate water or be prepared
to purify
spring water before drinking.
Water on the Sierra National Forest may
be contaminated with Giardia or other
microorganisms. Also be sure you have
a Campfire
Permit if you plan to build
a fire. Most undeveloped areas also require
you to remove all of your own trash.
Take Home What You Bring.
Note: Dispersed
camping is not permitted within the
boundaries of the Huntington Lake, Shaver
Lake,
Dinkey Creek and Bass Lake Recreation
Areas.
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OHV recreation
is just one of the many uses allowed
on National Forest lands. OHV travel
is restricted to designated routes. Many
routes are open and accessible to those
who enjoy recreating on OHVs. It is your
responsibility to know and abide by regulations
relating to motor vehicle travel. State
law requires registration of all motor
vehicles before being operated on public
lands. You must have either a current
Green Sticker or Highway license, both
issued by the State
Department of Motor Vehicles. If
highway licensed, the vehicle must meet
all standards for operating
on a public highway. Many areas are also
open and accessible to those who enjoy
recreating
on OHV's and OSVs during the winter months.
Motorized over-snow travel is prohibited
in some areas, however. Federal law (36
CFR 261.16(a)) prohibits operation
of any
mechanical
or motorized equipment within the boundaries
of a Wilderness.
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Report trail
conditions to Ranger
District Offices,
the Forest
Supervisor's Office, or to
Forest Service people you meet in the
field. Leave a note on your way home
or drop it in the mail. Include the trail
name and number (if available,) the trail
condition, it's approximate location,
and the date observed. Use any piece
of paper, report in-person, call on the
phone, or use our Comment
Form. Photos
are good, too. While hiking trails for
pleasure you can remove any limbs, rocks,
etc. from the trail and scatter
them on the
lower
side.
You can remove rocks over six inches
in diameter, but be sure not to endanger
anyone below. Where Cairns are used to
mark the trail, you can help keep them
intact.
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A prescribed
fire is any fire intentionally ignited
to meet specific land management objectives
(i.e., to reduce flammable fuels, such
as the accumulation of brush, logs, etc.
on forest floors; or to help restore
ecosystem health). Prescribed fires are
preplanned ignitions, with predetermined
boundaries. They are conducted only under
certain weather conditions (i.e., during
periods of low wind) when flame length
and heat can be controlled. Land managers
must obtain approval of prescribed fire
plans from applicable federal or state
agencies before conducting planned burns.
In addition, all applicable requirements
under the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) must be met on federal lands.
Before federal land management activities
(i.e., trail building, timber harvesting,
use of fire, etc.) are conducted, NEPA
requires that the environmental impacts
of these activities be analyzed to assess
their impacts on cultural resources,
wetlands, soil, water quality, air quality,
visibility, and other resources.
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Fire managers
must carefully coordinate with State
and County agencies responsible for smoke
management. Fuel consumption and the
emissions produced, trajectory and dispersion
can be estimated using computer models.
Like forecasting weather, smoke management
is not an exact science. Smoke management
is also very complicated, because there
can be many sources. If air quality levels
deteriorate to a point specified by law
or other guidelines, fire managers can
decide to take appropriate management
actions to suppress a fire.
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Wild and Scenic
River designation allows for rivers to
be preserved in a free-flowing state,
protecting water quality and scenic beauty.
The Sierra National Forest contains two
Wild and Scenic Rivers, the Kings and
Merced Rivers. Enjoyable and challenging
whitewater rafting runs are available
in spring and summer.
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According to
the Wilderness Act of 1964, wilderness
areas are "where earth and its community
of life remains untrammeled, where man
himself is a visitor who does not remain".
Wilderness Protection will never be gained
simply by issuing a set of rules and
regulations. It must come with love and
understanding of the land. Wilderness
Protection is a personal ethic. Some
mark is left in Wilderness each time
we visit, but each of us can make sure
this mark is a small one. Minimum impact
or no trace camping should be considered
common sense behavior in the back country,
but many people are not aware of what
they leave behind.
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A Wilderness
Visitor's Permit is required for
overnight visits to the Ansel Adams,
John Muir,
Dinkey, and Kaiser Wilderness Areas.
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. Group
size is limited to 15 people. Your permit
doubles as a campfire permit while in
the Wilderness.
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Your canine
companions are welcome in National Forests.
The few rules that apply to dogs are
meant to assure that you and other National
Forest visitors have an enjoyable outdoor
recreation experience. Please practice
the following, (these rules will be enforced
in developed reaction areas).
- Leave vicious or unusually noisy
dogs at home.
- Please keep your dog on a leash
no more than 6 feet long, or otherwise
restrict its freedom to roam at will.
- At night keep your dogs and other
pets inside an enclosed vehicle or
in a tent.
- Developed campgrounds are for people,
not animals. Please do not bring more
than two dogs or other pet to any one
campsite.
- Do not bring dogs onto developed
swimming beaches, even if they are
restrained. Guide dogs are an exception.
If you are traveling in a National
Forest Wilderness, dogs are permitted.
However,
if you leave a National Forest Wilderness
and enter into a National Park, dogs
are not permitted.
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Sno Park Permits are available at local
sporting goods store. For more information on Sno Park Permits and
locations....
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