Labor Day Weekend 2020

Vallejo, Calif. – The eighteen National Forests comprising the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region (Region 5) welcome you and your families this Labor Day Weekend with a few words of advice: Please Plan Ahead, Follow All Campfire Restrictions; and Check All Local Government Guidelines Before Visiting.

Similar to Independence Day 2020, we anticipate that Labor Day Weekend will be very busy, and we would like all visitors to be prepared before you head out to your favorite spot. Check in in advance with your local National Forest, by visiting the forest’s website, social media accounts, or by calling their local offices.

We are asking our visitors to “Please do your part” by:

• Recreate Responsibly;
• Recreate close to home whenever possible;
• Maintain at least six feet distancing from others;
• Do not gather in groups and please follow the latest guidance from officials;
• Communicate with others as you pass. Alert trail users of your presence and step aside to let others pass; and
• Pack it in Pack it out. Make sure you take away any trash or waste that you create while visiting.

For more information on tips for planning ahead, please visit the Be Outdoor Safe webpage at https://www.beoutdoorsafe.org/.

Region 5 has developed a web map to help visitors find out which recreation areas are open on nearby forests, including campgrounds, day use sites, and trails on National Forests in California. View the GIS map at https://go.usa.gov/xwurX.

As we’ve seen across California this summer, wildfires and smoke are a serious concern for everyone. Please follow all posted campfire restrictions. As a reminder, ALL campfires outside of pre-approved, designated campsites, are STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Additionally, please note that fireworks are NOT permitted on any National Forest.

Visitors are also urged to take the precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) along with local health and safety guidance. For tips from the CDC on preventing illnesses like the coronavirus, go to: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention.html.

The Forest Service manages 18 National Forests in the Pacific Southwest Region, which encompasses over 20 million acres across California, and assists State and Private forest landowners in California, Hawaii and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. National forests supply 50 percent of the water in California and form the watershed of most major aqueducts and more than 2,400 reservoirs throughout the state. For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/R5.