The health and safety of visitors as well as Forest Service employees and volunteers is paramount during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are working to meet the social distancing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and ‘stay home, save lives’ direction from the State of Oregon to help reduce the spread of the virus.
The situation is rapidly evolving. Please check here for important updates prior to leaving home.
Recreation Updates
As of noon on May 22nd with some exceptions, most national forest boat ramps, day use sites, and trailheads throughout the forest, and some off-highway vehicle staging areas on the Oregon Dunes, will be available for day use, in many cases with limited or no services. Visitors must check the Recreation Conditions Report prior to leaving home to ensure a site is open. The list may change with little advance notice.
Some popular developed recreation sites that remain closed are:
Horsfall and Siltcoos corridors, including recreation sites along the corridors
Be prepared to find services, including bathrooms and trash collection, limited or unavailable. The ability to open sites and provide services depends on workforce capacity and availability of personal protective equipment. Visitors should be prepared to be self-sufficient. Please protect and respect your public lands and pack out your waste.
Due to limited personnel and availability of personal protective equipment, at this time sand camps and campgrounds remain closed at least through June 17 and some developed sites remain closed until further notice pursuant to 16 USC 551 36 and 36 CFR 261.50 (a). We are continuing to plan for when we’ll be able to reopen remaining sites. Public and employee health and safety remains our top priority.
We will continue to monitor and evaluate safety conditions at our recreation sites and dispersed areas and will modify our plans as needed. Follow local and state guidelines for social distancing and traveling away from home, avoid crowding by sticking with your family unit and visiting during non-peak hours, and plan to be self-sufficient as facilities such as bathrooms may not be available.
Public Services
Public services are being conducted by phone, email, or through web-based transactions. Before leaving home contact your local office by phone with questions. Phone lines and messages are being monitored. Messages will be returned in a timely manner.
