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Recreation Information - Emergency closures & what's open

The Eldorado National Forest re-opened many recreation opportunities on the forest as of Saturday, September 19, when the Regional Emergency Forest Closure Order 20-13 was rescinded for nine forests, including the Eldorado. Each forest is implementing forest specific Forest Order(s) to address continuing fire danger and recreation concerns. The Eldorado is limiting camping to developed campgrounds. There is also an emergency fire closure area for the Fork Fire, which includes facilities within the Crystal Basin Recreation Area.

Other key points forest visitors should know:

Emergency Fire Prohibition - Regional Order 20-23 - Prohibits all fires and ignition sources except using a portable lantern or gas stove within a developed recreation site.

Emergency Camping Prohibition - Forest Order 03-20-15

No Overnight Camping in dispersed areas, including wilderness areas - Forest Order 03-20-15 prohibits camping forest-wide except for designated developed campgrounds. This includes both the Desolation and Mokelumne Wilderness areas.
Developed Camping Only – Camping in designated developed open campgrounds is allowed. Check the Campground Status page on the forest website to determine which facilities are open. At this time of year, many campgrounds have closed for the season. Campgrounds located within the Fork Fire closure area are also closed.

Forest Access – Forest System lands, roads and trails are open, except for those included within the Fork Fire closure area.

Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM). Find out where you can legally operate your vehicle.
Fork Fire Closure - Forest Order 03-20-19 (closure area reduced in size as of 9/25).

Day Use – Day Use facilities, such as picnic areas and trailheads, are open except for those facilities that are co-located with a campground that is closed for the season or located within the Fork Fire closure area. Day hiking in the Desolation and Mokelumne Wilderness areas is allowed.

Hunting - Allowed with applicable license and tags in accordance with California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife regulations.

Recreational Target Shooting - Allowed on the Eldorado National Forest, but not recommended at this time; restricted on other nearby public lands. Please shoot responsibily; review the Firearms Use guide and be aware of property boundaries.

Campfire Permits - Campfire permits are required for the use of open fires, such as wood (campfire), barbecues (charcoal) and portable stoves (gas) on federally managed lands. A campfire permit does not give a person permission to access or camp on National Forest or private lands.

When these National Forest lands are under FIRE RESTRICTIONS and/or a FIRE BAN at minimum wood, and charcoal fires are prohibited and under extreme fire conditions gas may also be prohibited. Exceptions to these prohibition will be listed in the Forest or Regional Order.
- Emergency Fire Prohibition - Regional Order 20-23 prohibits ALL fires and ignition sources except using a portable lantern or gas stove within a developed recreation site.
When a Campfire permit is obtained, it is the permittee's responsibility to find out and understand the rules, regulations, and fire restrictions for their destination.
NOTE: Fire.ca.gov Health and Safety Codes 13009. Expense of fighting fires, liability for.
Any person who negligently, or in violation of the law, sets a fire, allows a fire to be set, allows a fire kindled or attended by him or her to escape onto any public or private property will be financially responsible for the firefighting costs.

Fork Fire Information

The fire is located off Wentworth Springs Road. north of Gerle Creek Reservoir.

Fork Fire Information: (916) 500-4712, Visitor Information phone number.
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7165/
El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, (530) 213-3899 (evacuation information)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EldoradoNF
Twitter:@EldoradoNF
WebCam: http://www.alertwildfire.org/tahoe/?camera=Axis-Bunker

Know Before You Go

OFFICES - Our virtual offices are staffed to provide visitor information. The phone #s and hours are on the left side of this page.
CHECK CURRENT CONDITIONS/STATUS - Check out our Current Conditions web page for the status of campgrounds, roads, facilities, weather, fire, forest closure orders and other regulations.
CAMPING OUTSIDE OF CAMPGROUNDS (Dispersed Camping)
- Currently, not allowed due to fire danger. Emergency Camping Prohibition - Forest Order 03-20-15

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COVID19 Information and Links

Continuing our service to you while doing our part to address the COVID-19 Pandemic is very important. This page contains the links to related documents and websites for the Eldorado NF, federal, state and local governments that pertain to this forest.