San Bernardino
National Forest
602 S. Tippecanoe Ave
San Bernardino, CA 92408
909-382-2600
TTY 800-877-8339 |
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Forest Rules & Regulations - Know Before You Go
As a visitor to the National Forest, you are asked to follow certain rules designed to protect the Forest 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 empowered to enforce the Federal
Regulations which the rules listed here are taken from. Please take time to read and understand them. If you have additional questions please call your local
Ranger Station to receive an answer.
The Forest Supervisor may issue Special Orders/Closures 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 reasonably be expected to be familiar with them. Copies
of the orders are available at the
Forest Supervisors' office and
on-line. (Special Orders /
Closures are listed below)
Camping:
- Use picnic sites, 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.
- 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 Forest Service.
- Do not leave camping equipment unattended for more than 24 hours without permission from the Forest Service.
- The Federal Government is not responsible for any loss or damage to personal property.
- Remove all personal property and trash when leaving.
- Quiet hours are between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Please be considerate of others.
Campfires:
- Obey
Fire Restrictions. Fires may be limited or prohibited at certain times.
- Within campgrounds, picnic areas and yellow post sites, fires may only be built in
agency provided fire rings, stoves, grills, or fireplaces provided for that purpose.
- Within campgrounds and other recreation sites, build fires only in
agency provided fire rings, stoves, grills, or fireplaces provided for that purpose.
- Be sure your fire is completely extinguished before leaving. Do not leave your fire unattended. You are responsible for keeping fires under control.
- Wood and charcoal fires are never permitted outside of a campground, picnic area, or yellow post site, and are subject to
seasonal restrictions. Know before you go.
Property:
- Do not carve, chop, cut, or damage any live trees. Preserve and protect the San Bernardino National Forest. 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, old cabins, and other structures along with objects and artifacts associated with them, have historic or archeological
value. Do not damage or remove any such historic or archeological resource.
Sanitation:
- Throw all garage 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 only for drawing water.
- Prevent pollution - keep garbage, litter, and foreign substances out of lakes streams, and other
water.
- Use toilets properly Do not throw garbage, litter, fish cleanings, or other foreign substances in toilets and plumbing fixtures.
Operation of Vehicles:
- Vehicles are restricted to designated routes only.
- Obey all traffic signs.
- State traffic laws apply to the National Forest
roads, violations are reported to the state
department of motor vehicles.
- 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, trails and gates.
- Obey area and trail restrictions on the use of non-street legal vehicles.
- Off Highway, non-street legal vehicles must be currently registered and have an approved and functioning
spark arrester. There is no tolerance for
non-compliance.
- Non-street legal "red sticker" vehicles have a
limited operating period on the forest.
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.
Fireworks and Firearms:
- Fireworks and explosives are prohibited in the National Forests.
- Firing a gun is not allowed: in or within 150 yards of a residence, building; campsite, developed recreation site, or occupied area. across or on a road or body of water; in any circumstance whereby any person may be injured or property damaged.
- Recreational Target Shooting is limited to designated sites and may be restricted during fire season.
- Target Shooting rules apply to firearms, air
rifles and gas guns. This includes devices used in
recreational paintball activities.
National Forest Wilderness:
- Motor vehicles and motorized equipment are not allowed.
- Bicycles are not allowed.
- Preserve the wilderness - "Leave only footprints, take only pictures."
- Using a trail, campsite, or other area of the wilderness area by a group of more than 25 members is prohibited except by special-use authorization.
Fee Areas:
- You must pay a fee to use certain developed
sites, facilities and High Impact
Recreation Areas (HIRA's) 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.
- Visit our Adventure Pass website for fee information and maps
Public Behavior:
- No fighting or boisterous behavior.
- Keep noise at a reasonable level.
- Please be considerate of fellow visitors.
- Business Activities Permits are required for any commercial activity.
Audio Devices:
- Operate any audio device, such as a radio or musical instrument, so that it 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.
Last But Not Least...
Our final rule: enjoy your visit! Plan to come back!
Forest Rules & Regulations
These regulations have been made by the Secretary of
Agriculture to assure the enjoyment of recreation in
the National Forests. They are common sense rules
meant to control actions that cause damage to
natural resources and facilities, as well as actions
that cause unreasonable disturbances for National
Forest visitors.
The Secretary of Agriculture's regulations (36 CFR
261) provide in part for regulating the occupancy
and use of developed recreation sites. A violation
of these regulations is subject to a penalty of not
more than $5,000 or 6 months imprisonment, or both.
Forest Orders / Special Orders
Special orders are put into effect to address
particular management problems. Special orders are
signed by Regional Foresters and Forest Supervisors
and vary in duration. Special orders are posted at
Forest Service Ranger District offices and Forest
Supervisors offices in the office nearest to the
area effected, or they may be posted at the Ranger
Station and the actual site.
Some of the reasons for implementation of special
orders is to protect public safety, prevent resource
damage, preserve a particular areas setting (such as
non motorized), protect wildlife populations and
many other reasons. Special orders may prohibit a
specific activity or impose permit requirements.
Some examples of permits that may be required are
hiking, camping or burning permits.
Below is a listing of the special order regulations
which have been implemented. Please check the with
the local
Ranger Station to check the specifics of the
restriction.
Temporary Closure & Restriction Orders
Permanent Forest Closure and
Restriction Orders
Regional Orders
Title 36--Parks, Forests, and Public Property,
Part 261--Prohibitions
e-CFR Data is current as of March 6,
2008
Subpart A - GENERAL PROHIBITIONS
261.1 |
Scope |
261.1a |
Special use
authorizations, contracts and
operating plans |
261.1b |
Penalty |
261.2 |
Definitions |
261.3 |
Interfering with a Forest
officer, volunteer, or human
resource program enrollee or
giving false report to a Forest
officer |
261.4 |
Disorderly conduct |
261.5 |
Fire |
261.6 |
Timber and other forest
products |
261.7 |
Livestock |
261.8 |
Fish and wildlife |
261.9 |
Property |
261.10 |
Occupancy and use |
261.11 |
Sanitation |
261.12 |
National Forest System roads
and trails |
261.13 |
Motor vehicle use |
261.14 |
Use by over-snow vehicles |
261.15 |
Use of vehicles off roads |
261.16 |
Developed recreation sites |
261.17 |
Recreation fees |
261.18 |
National Forest Wilderness |
261.19 |
Boundary Waters Canoe Area
Wilderness |
261.20 |
Pacific Crest National
Scenic Trail |
261.21 |
National Forest primitive
areas |
261.22 |
Unauthorized use of ''Smokey
Bear'' and ''Woodsy Owl'' symbol |
261.23 |
Wild free-roaming horses and
burros |
Subpart B
- PROHIBITIONS IN AREAS
DESIGNATED BY ORDER
261.50 |
Orders |
261.51 |
Posting |
261.52 |
Fire |
261.53 |
Special closures |
261.54 |
National Forest System roads |
261.55 |
National Forest System
trails |
261.56 |
Use of vehicles off National
Forest System roads |
261.57 |
National Forest wilderness |
Subpart C
- PROHIBITIONS IN
REGIONS
261.70 |
Issuance of
regulations |
261.71 |
Regulations
applicable to
Region 1,
Northern Region,
as defined in
200.2.--[Reserved] |
261.72 |
Regulations
applicable to
Region 2, Rocky
Mountain Region,
as defined in
200.2.--[Reserved] |
261.73 |
Regulations
applicable to
Region 3,
Southwestern
Region, as
defined in
200.2.--[Reserved] |
261.74 |
Regulations
applicable to
Region 4,
Intermountain
Region, as
defined in
200.2.--[Reserved] |
261.75 |
Regulations
applicable to Region 5,
California Region, as
defined in 200.2 |
261.76 |
Regulations
applicable to
Region 6,
Pacific
Northwest
Region, as
defined in
200.2.--[Reserved] |
261.77 |
Prohibitions in
Region 8, Southern
Region |
261.78 |
Prohibitions
applicable to Region 9,
Eastern Region, as
defined in 200.2 |
261.79 |
Regulations
applicable to
Region 10,
Alaska Region,
as defined in
200.2.--[Reserved] |
Definitions
The following definitions, which appear in 36 CFR
261.2, apply to all regulations quoted in this
publication
" Campfire" means a fire, not within any
building, mobile home, or living accommodation
mounted on a motor vehicle, which is used for
cooking, personal warmth, lighting, ceremonial, or
esthetic purposes. "Fire" includes campfire.
" Camping" means the temporary use of National
Forest System lands for the purpose of overnight
occupancy without a permanently fixed structure.
" Camping equipment" means the personal
property used in or suitable for camping, and
includes any vehicle used for transportation and all
equipment in possession of a person camping. Food
and beverages are not considered camping equipment.
" Damaging" means to injure, mutilate, deface,
destroy, cut, chop, girdle, dig, excavate, kill, or
in anyway harm or disturb.
" Developed recreation site" means an area
which has been improved or developed for recreation.
" Forest development road" means a road wholly
or partly within or adjacent to and serving a part
of the National Forest System and which has been
included in the Forest Development Road System Plan.
" Forest development trail" means a trail
wholly or partly within or adjacent to and serving a
part of the National Forest System and which has
been included in the Forest Development Trail System
Plan.
" Forest Officer" means an employee of the
Forest Service.
" Person" means natural person, corporation,
company, partnership, trust, firm, or association of
persons.
" Permission" means oral authorization by a
Forest Officer.
" Permit" means authorization in writing by a
Forest Officer.
" State Law" means the law of any State in
whose exterior boundaries an act or omission occurs
regardless of whether State law is otherwise
applicable.
" Stove fire" means a campfire built inside an
enclosed stove or grill, a portable brazier, or a
pressurized liquid or gas stove, including a
space-heating device.
Contact Information
Fires and Immediate threats to life and safety
- Immediately Dial 9-1-1
To report all other activities Call your
Local Ranger Station during business hours or (909) 382-2600.
After
hours call (909) 383-5654.
Follow up! If you see a fire in its earliest stages (before the
fire engines have arrived on scene), be sure to take down any additional
information which may help fire investigators determine the cause of the fire.
Descriptions of persons, vehicles, or activities occurring in the area may
provide additional clues or lead investigators to potential witnesses.
Contact the Arson Hotline at (800) 468-4408 with this information, or follow
up with a phone call to the investigating agency.
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