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Memorial Day Weekend at Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Release Date: May 22, 2017
Contact(s): Carol Underhill, Public Affairs Officer, (530) 226-2494
Redding, Calif., May 22, 2017 – Visitors to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest will find many campgrounds and boat ramps open for the Memorial Day weekend. Lake levels at Shasta, Lewiston, and Trinity Lakes are high, providing great boating and fishing opportunities.
"Memorial Day weekend is one of the busiest weekends on the forest and visitors are encouraged to arrive early to find limited 'first come, first served campsites’. All reservable sites are probably full, but visitors can check www.recreation.gov or call toll-free 877-444-6777 to make sure, or to make reservations for future trips," said Public Affairs Officer Carol Underhill.
To ensure that everyone has a safe and relaxing holiday weekend, Forest Service officials advise visitors to practice boating safety and watch for obstacles such as floating woody debris on the lakes.
This winter a series of strong storms hit California, causing extensive damage to roads, trails, infrastructure and ecosystems on California's national forests. The new Forest Service Interactive Storm Damage Map will help you determine where road damage has occurred and how it might impact your plans to visit the national forest. While the map is linked directly to the Forest Service database and is kept as current as possible, please contact the closest Forest Service office for the most complete and up-to-date information on road and trail damage or closures. The Interactive Map can be found at this website: www.fs.fed.us/r5/webmaps/StormDamage2017
Visitors to the Trinity Alps Wilderness will still see snow above the 5,000 to 6,000 level. Most trails could still be difficult to travel due to winter storm damage including downed trees. Backpackers are advised to use extreme caution due to possible rising creek levels and trail obstacles present. Forest Service officials do not recommend visitors attempt any high water crossings.
Visitors on the Trinity River should pay close attention to the changing conditions and potentially new hazards in pre-existing rapids.
Wildlife is abundant across the forest and in many areas, especially in Trinity County, bears may begin to be active. It is recommended that visitors keep food, cooking utensils and ice chests properly stored when not in use.
Holiday weekends are a great time to remind everyone to be fire safe. Despite the large amount of rainfall this region has received over the past few months, the serious threat of wildfires still exists. Recreational users are reminded that campfire permits are required for any campfire or cooking stove outside of a developed campground, as well as for boats touching the shoreline and utilizing outside barbecues. Free campfire permits can be obtained at any Forest Service, CALFIRE or Bureau of Land Management office, as well as online at www.preventwildfireca.org.
The public should adhere to the following fire safety rules when constructing a campfire:
Clear all flammable material away from the fire for a minimum of five feet in all directions to prevent escape of the fire.
- Have a shovel available at the campfire site for preparing and extinguishing campfires.
- Have a responsible person in attendance of the campfire at all times.
- Extinguish campfire with water, using the drown, stir and feel method.
- For more information about the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/stnf.
To view a .pdf of this press release, click here.
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