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Rules and Regulations
As a visitor to the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests, you are
asked to follow certain rules designed to protect the Forests
and the natural environment, to ensure the health and safety of
visitors, and to promote pleasant and rewarding outdoor recreation
experiences for all visitors. Forest officers are enforce the
Federal Regulations on national forest lands. The rules listed
below are based upon those regulations. are taken from. Please
take time to read and understand them.
Regional Foresters and Forest Supervisors may issue orders that
will close or restrict the use of certain areas if the need arises.
Such orders will be posted so that visitors to the National Forest
can be reasonably familiar with them. Copies of the orders will
also be available in the offices of Forest Supervisor and District
Rangers.
Information on all permit requirements is available from Forest
Service offices. If you have any questions or need help, please
contact you nearest Forest Officer or visit the nearest Forest
Service office.
Please remember to be careful! You are primarily responsible
for your own safety. Be alert for natural hazards and dangers
when you are in the forest. If you hike off trails or swim/dive
in streams or lakes, you do so at YOUR OWN RISK.
Sanitation
- Throw all garbage and litter in containers provided for this
purpose, or take it with you.
- Garbage containers, when provided, are reserved for the use
of visitors to the National Forest, not visitors to or owners
of private lands or lands under permit.
- Wash food and personal items away from drinking water supplies.
Use water faucets for drawing water only. (Please do not wash
any items under the water faucet. Fill your container, and wash
items at or near your site.)
- Prevent pollution -- keep garbage, litter, and foreign substances
out of lakes, streams, and other bodies of water.
- Use toilets properly. Do not throw garbage, litter, fish
cleanings, or other foreign substances in toilets and plumbing
fixtures.
Operation of Vehicles
- Obey all traffic signs. State traffic laws apply to the National
Forests unless otherwise specified.
- When operating vehicles of any kind, do not damage the land
or vegetation or disturb wildlife. Avoid driving on unpaved
roads or trails when they are wet or muddy.
- Within campgrounds and other recreation sites, use cars,
motorbikes, motorcycles, or other motor vehicles only for entering
or leaving, unless areas or trails are specifically marked for
them. Park only in marked parking areas.
- Do not block, restrict, or interfere with the use of roads
or trails.
- Obey area and trail restrictions on use of trail bikes and
other all-terrain vehicles.
- Certain roads are closed to vehicular traffic with closure
devices such as gates and earthen berms.
- A list of boating
laws are to be understood and followed.
Property
- Do not carve, chop, cut, or damage any live trees.
- Preserve and protect your National Forests. Leave natural
areas the way you find them.
- Enter buildings, structures, or enclosed areas in National
Forests only when they are expressly open to the public.
- Native American sites, old cabins, and other structures,
along with objects and artifacts associated with them, are historical
or archeological resources. Please help preserve them by not
touching or removing anything from the site.
Campfires
- Obey restrictions on fires. Fires may be limited or prohibited
at certain times.
- Within campgrounds and other recreation sites, build fires
only in fire rings, stoves, grills, or fireplaces provided for
that purpose.
- Be sure your fire is completely extinguished before leaving
the area. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING FIRES UNDER CONTROL.
Camping
- Use picnic sites, swimming beaches, and other day use areas
only between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
- Campgrounds and other recreation sites can be used only for
recreation purposes. Attempting to make the forest your permanent
residence is not allowed.
- In campgrounds, camp only in those places specifically marked
or provided.
- At least one person must occupy a camping area during the
first night after camping equipment has been set up, unless
permission has otherwise been granted by the District Ranger.
- Do not leave camping equipment unattended for more than 24
hours without permission from the District Ranger. The Federal
Government is not responsible for any loss or damage to personal
property.
- Remove all personal property and trash when leaving.
Fee Areas
- You must pay a fee to use certain developed sites and facilities.
Such areas are clearly signed or posted as requiring a fee.
- Where fees are required, you must pay them BEFORE using the
site, facility, equipment, or service furnished.
Public Behavior
- No fighting or boisterous behavior.
- Keep noise at a reasonable level. Please be considerate of
fellow visitors.
- In developed campgrounds, quiet time is from 10:00 p.m. until
6:00 a.m.
Pets and Animals
- Pets must always be restrained or on a leash while in developed
recreation sites.
- Pets (except guide dogs) are not allowed in swimming areas.
- Saddle or pack animals are allowed in recreation sites only
where authorized by posted instructions.
Business Activities
- Permits are required for any commercial activity.
Audio Devices
- Operate any audio device, such as a radio or musical instrument,
in a manner that does not disturb other visitors.
- A permit is required for operating a public address system
in or near a campsite, developed recreation site, or over a
body of water.
Fireworks and Firearms
- Do not set off fireworks or other explosives within campgrounds
and other recreation sites.
- Firing a gun is not allowed: a) in or within 150 yards of
a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site,
or occupied area; b) across or on a road or body of water; c)
in any circumstance whereby any person may be injured or property
damaged (includes trees).
National Forest Wilderness
- Motor vehicles and motorized equipment are not allowed in
wilderness areas.
- Preserve the wilderness -- "Leave only footprints, take only
pictures"
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