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Shasta-Trinity National Forest |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the Forest?It is 2,099,200 acres or 3,280 square miles. 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/. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
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. 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 |