Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
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Rogue River-Siskiyou
National Forest (541) 618-2200 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The questions people ask the most are answered below, or links are provided to more detailed information.
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- How can I purchase maps?
- How can we obtain a California Campfire permit?
- How can I get a camping space?
- 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 the campgrounds and on trails?
- Where can I ride an Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) or Over-Snow Vehicle (OSV)?
- What's a "prescribed" fire?
- What about the smoke from fires?
- What's a Wilderness?
- Do I have to pay a fee to park at trail heads?
- How do I get a permit to float the Wild & Scenic Section of the Rogue River?
- Can I cut firewood on the National Forest?
How can I purchase maps?
Recreation, Wilderness, and other maps are available and may be purchased at any Forest Office or mail order. Some sporting goods stores, outfitters, and map stores also sell these maps. USGS Maps can be obtained at http://mapping.usgs.gov/.
How can we obtain a California Campfire permit?
At any Forest Service Office, Bureau of Land Management, or California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) Offices, also from any 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.
How can I get a camping space?
The ideal camping time in most Forest areas is May to October, prior to winter storm activity. Reservation campgrounds are available, however the majority of Forest campgrounds are operated on a first-come, first-served system. For group camping sites you may make reservations, for additional information please contact one of our offices. The maximum stay in most campgrounds is 14 days per calendar year. Most campgrounds fill quickly during holiday weekends, therefore visitors should come prepared to camp in undeveloped areas.
- Recreation.GOV - A one-stop site for information on federal lands.
Do I need a wilderness permit to access wilderness lands on the Forest?
Wilderness permits are not required but we ask that you sign the register at the trail head.
Can I camp outside a designated campground?
You may camp anywhere on the forest that isn't posted as a designated 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.
Can I have dogs in the campgrounds and 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. Last year, one of every eight dogs was involved in a situation, which resulted in either a warning to the owner or a complaint by a fellow camper. If the situation worsens, more rules and stronger enforcement action will be necessary, possibly resulting in a ban on pets in some sites. We hope such action will not be necessary. If you're camping with your pet and want to be sure that privilege is still available, please practice the following, (these rules will be enforced in developed reaction areas).
- Leave vicious or unusually noisy dogs at home.
- During the day keep you dog on a leash no more than 6 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.
- Developed campgrounds are for people, not animals. Please do not bring more than two dogs or other pet to any one campsite.
- Do not bring dogs onto developed swimming beaches, even if they are restrained. Guide dogs are an exception.
Where can I ride an Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) or Over-Snow Vehicle (OSV)?
OHV recreation is just one of the many uses allowed on National Forest lands. OHV travel is restricted to designated routes. Many routes are open and accessible to those who enjoy recreating on OHV's. It is your responsibility to know and abide by regulations relating to motor vehicle travel. State law requires registration of all motor vehicles before being operated on public lands. You must have either a current Green Sticker or Highway license, both issued by the State Department of Motor Vehicles. If highway licensed, the vehicle must meet all standards for operating on a public highway. Many areas are open and accessible to those who enjoy recreating on ATV's and OSV's during the winter months. Motorized over-snow travel is prohibited in some areas. Federal law (36 CFR 261.16(a)) prohibits operation of any mechanical or motorized equipment within the boundaries of a Wilderness.
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 about the smoke from fires?
Fire managers must carefully coordinate with State and County agencies responsible for smoke management. Fuel consumption and the emissions produced, trajectory and dispersion can be estimated using computer models. Like forecasting weather, smoke management is not an exact science. Smoke management is also very complicated, because there can be many sources. If air quality levels deteriorate to a point specified by law or other guidelines, fire managers can decide to take appropriate management actions to suppress a fire.
According to the Wilderness Act of 1964, wildernesses are "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 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 considered common sense behavior in the back country, but many people are not aware of what they leave behind.
Do I have to pay a fee to park at trailheads?
There is no fee to park at trailheads on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
How do I get a permit to float the Wild & Scenic Section of the Rogue River?
Applications are taken by the Bureau of Land Management at the Smullin Visitor Center at Rand and successful parties are notified around the first of March.
- Smullin Visitor Center at Rand 541-479-3735 (fax: 541-479-0535)
- More Information about the Rogue River: www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/rogue
- More Information about permits: www.blm/gov/or/resources/recreation/rogue/about-permits.php
Can I cut firewood on the National Forest?
Yes. Contact the district office nearest you for a wood cutting permit and information about wood cutting areas.
USDA Forest Service - Rogue River-Siskiyou National
Forest
Last Modified: Wednesday, 08 April 2009 at 11:58:02 EDT