Outdoor Safety & Ethics

phot of a hunter in orange walking a forest hunter walkign trailMake Safety a part of your trip to the Chippewa National Forest.

As a visitor to our National Forest, you will find many opportunities to explore nature and enjoy its many woodlands, river, lakes, and its endless recreational activities. To take full advantage of what the Forest has to offer you; prepare yourself in advance for each trip and adventure. It is important that you learn about the area, from its weather and terrain, to the rules and regulations.

Visitors should be considerate of other forest users, nature, wildlife and the lands that make up this Forest.

Safely spending time outdoors is a healthy way to stay active, spend time with your family, and reduce stress and anxiety. Taking personal responsibility will keep our outdoor-safe places, safe. ​​​​​​​

What can people do to help prevent wildfires?

  • Please keep wildfire prevention in mind when visiting your public lands. Your carefulness will reduce putting our firefighters and communities at risk.
  • When traveling to and from your public lands, ensure your chains are properly connected with any type of trailer. Dragging chains can easily spark wildfires.
  • Ensure your vehicle is equipped with a fire extinguisher and a proper and functioning spark arrester.
  • If a parking area for a trailhead or recreation site is full, don’t park on the side of the road and never park in tall, dry grass. The heat from your car can start a wildfire.
  • Know before you go. Check for closures and fire-related restrictions prior to leaving the house.
    • Fire restrictions are used to restrict certain activities on varying land ownerships during periods of extreme fire danger.
    • If campfires or grills are allowed, keep the fire small, never leave them unattended, and put it out completely before leaving. Remember, if it’s too hot to touch, then it’s too hot to leave.
    • If campfires are allowed, clear vegetation away from your campfire area and use a preexisting campfire ring when possible.
    • When enjoying a fire pit or a campfire, never leave a fire unattended and always keep your fires small, not tall.
    • Be prepared. Have the proper tools to extinguish a campfire before you light it. Bring a bucket, water, and shovel to drown and stir the campfire until it is completely out.
  • Make sure your campfire is cold to the touch before leaving it.
    • To completely extinguish your campfire, drown the fire with water, stir with your shovel, drown again, and feel for any heat using the back of your hand. Continue this process until no heat remains.
    • If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave. It’s as easy as Drown, Stir, Drown, Feel.

Learn more about safely enjoying the Forest: