Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Frequently Asked Questions

• Please tell me about the Shasta Lake "Gray Water" issue?
• How big is the Forest?
• How can I purchase maps?
• How can I obtain a Campfire permit?
• Where can I obtain a Woodcutting permit?
• How can I get a camping space?
• Can I hunt on National Forest land?
• Are horses permitting on National Forest Land?
• Do I need a wilderness permit to access wilderness lands on the Forest?
• Can I camp outside a designated campground?
• Can I have dogs in campgrounds and on trails?
• What is a prescribed fire?
• What is a wilderness?

How big is the Forest?

It is 2,099,200 acres or 3,280 square miles.
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How can I purchase maps?

Forest, Recreation, Wilderness, and other maps are available and may be purchased in person or through the mail from all National Forest offices on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The following Forest Service maps are available: Six Rivers, Modoc, Klamath, Mendocino, Shasta-Trinity, Lassen and Plumas. We also have the following Wilderness maps...Marble Mountain/Russian, South Warner, Ishi/Caribou/Thousand Lakes, Mt. Shasta/Castle Crags, Trinity Alps and Yolla-Bolla Middle-Eel. All maps are $6 each with the exception of the Mt. Shasta/Castle Crags and the Yolla-Bolla Middle-Eel Wilderness maps, which cost $7 each. All wilderness maps have a USGS topographic base. Some maps are also available from sporting goods stores, outfitters, and map stores. USGS topographic maps can be obtained at http://nationalmap.gov/.
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How can I obtain a Campfire permit?

Campfire permits can be obtained at any Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, or California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) Office. They can also be obtained from most Forest Service field personnel. Please read the permit information page for additional information.

Is there a cost? No, there is no cost for the campfire permit. Permit holders must comply with all terms of the campfire permit, including having a shovel available. Fires must not be left unattended, and should be put completely out prior to leaving the area.

You may access a campfire permit application form on our website and FAX it to our office and we will mail the permit to you.
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Where can I obtain a Woodcutting permit?

Woodcutting permits are available at ranger station offices (Mt. Shasta, McCloud, Weaverville, Hayfork, Big Bar, Shasta Lake, and Yolla Bolla). Permits are not available at the Shasta-Trinity Headquarters in Redding. The price is $5 per cord, with a four (4) cord minimum purchase. These permits are for personal use only and each household is allowed up to twelve (12) cords per year. We have a guide available with more information about woodcutting. Also, during fire season, you need to check the 'Project Activity Level' (PAL) prior to woodcutting.
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How can I get a camping space?

The ideal camping time in most Forest areas is May to October. Reservations are available for both single site (up to 180 days in advance of arrival) and group campgrounds (up to 360 days in advance of arrival). However, the majority of Forest campgrounds are operated on a first-come, first-served basis. For additional information, please contact one of our offices. The maximum stay in most campgrounds is 14 days and a 21-day maximum stay per Ranger District, per calendar year. During holiday weekends, our campgrounds fill very quickly. If you do not wish to make a reservation to hold a site, please be aware that the first-come, first-serve sites do fill up fast, therefore visitors should come prepared to camp in undeveloped areas.
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Can I hunt on National Forest Land?

Yes. Please be sure to contact your local Forest Service office for regulations, and locations. Hunting is allowed on National Forest lands, however, discharge of firearms or any other implement capable of taking human life, causing injury, or damaging property is prohibited within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area, or into or within a cave. It is also prohibited to discharge a weapon across or on a Forest Development road or a body of water adjacent thereto. (It is legal to shoot while hunting on a lake, however, it must be done in compliance with state Fish and Game regulations). Here is a guide that might answer some of your questions.
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Are horses permitted on National Forest lands?

Yes. The Trinity Alps, Chanchallula and Yolla-Bolla Middle-Eel Wildernesses are very popular with horseback riders and packers. A wilderness permit is required for the Trinity Alps Wilderness. In addition to the wilderness areas, there are several trails within the Whiskeytown - Shasta-Trinity National Recreational Area that are popular for riding. Please contact your local Forest Service office for more information.
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Do I need a wilderness permit to access wilderness lands on the Forest?

Wilderness permits are required for the Mt. Shasta and Trinity Alps Wilderness Areas. They are not required for the Chanchallula, Castle Crags, or Yolla Bolla Wilderness Areas. A free campfire permit is required for all Wilderness Areas and can be picked up at any Forest Service office. You may also access a form on our website that can be FAXed to our office, and we will mail a permit to you. The Weaverville Ranger Station has a self-serve kiosk for both Trinity Alps Wilderness and campfire permits in front of their office. A separate pass is required to climb above 10,000 feet in the Mt. Shasta Wilderness. There is a fee for this pass. Contact the Mt. Shasta Ranger Station for more information.
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Can I camp outside a designated campground?

Yes. In addition to camping in a designated campground, you may camp anywhere on National Forest lands unless posted as a "no camping area," or posted closed to camping. You must be at least 100 yards away from a developed campground. If you wish to camp outside a designated campground, please contact a Forest Service office near the area you plan to visit for additional information on current fire danger and campfire permits.

Camping on the shoreline of Shasta, Trinity and Iron Canyon lakes is allowed, but during fire season (May 1st through the end of fire season, which is usually in October) you must obtain a free California Campfire Permit if you plan on having a campfire using wood or charcoal or plan on using a portable stove using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel. While fire restrictions are in effect, fires must be at least 50 feet from any vegetation and within 10 feet of the waters edge.
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Can I have dogs in the campgrounds and on trails?

Your canine companions traditionally have been welcome. The few rules that apply to dogs are meant to assure that you and other National Forest visitors have an enjoyable outdoor recreation experience.

• Leave vicious or unusually noisy dogs at home.
• During the day keep your dog on a leash no more than six 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.
• It is suggested to not bring dogs onto developed swimming beaches, even if they are restrained. For Tannery campground near Weaverville, dogs are prohibited from the swimming beach. Guide dogs are an exception.
• Dogs are allowed in the Trinity Alps, Castle Crags, Yolla-Bolla Middle-Eel and Chanchulalla Wildernesses. We recommend they be on a leash, but can be off the leash if they do not chase or disturb wildlife or bother other hikers.

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What is a "prescribed" fire?

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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What is a Wilderness?

According to the Wilderness Act of 1964, wilderness areas are areas "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 the 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 standard practice in the back country, but many people are not aware of what they leave behind. For more information, please visit www.wilderness.net.
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US Forest Service - Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Last Modified:  Monday, 19 May 2008 at 13:20:37 EDT