San Bernardino National Forest

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!

• 09-01 TEMPORARY CLOSURE - Main Fork of City Creek, the East Fork of City Creek, and the Schenk Creek
   
• 09-02 TEMPORARY CLOSURE - North Fork of the San Jacinto River and its two unnamed eastern tributaries, or the Fuller Mill Creek
   

Permanent Forest Closure and Restriction Orders

• 99-02 WILDERNESS AREAS
• ORDER NO. 00-2 OCCUPANCY AND USE - FIREARMS
• ORDER NO. 1 - OCCUPANCY AND USE - DEVELOPED SITES
• ORDER NO. 2 - OCCUPANCY AND USE - DISPERSED AREAS
• ORDER NO. 3 - OCCUPANCY AND USE - WILDERNESS AREAS
• ORDER NO. 5 - ROADS AND TRAILS
   

Regional Orders

• 77-04 WILDERNESS AND PRIMITIVE AREAS
• 83-01 WILDERNESS AND PRIMITIVE AREAS
• 83-03 FOREST DEVELOPMENT ROADS
• 88-01 WILDERNESS
• 88-02 PACIFIC CREST NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL
• 88-03 WILDERNESS
• 91-01 FIRE RESTRICTIONS
• 91-02 FOREST DEVELOPMENT ROADS
• 92-01 WILDERNESS AREA RESTRICTIONS
• 97-01 OCCUPANCY AND USE
• 98-01 OCCUPANCY AND USE
• 98-02 FOREST DEVELOPMENT ROADS
  
   

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.