High Uintas Wilderness Occupancy and Use

U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service
Ashely National Forest
Roosevelt-Duchesne Ranger District 
Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests
Evanston and Mt. View Ranger Districts Heber-Kamas Ranger District

High Uinta’s Wilderness Occupancy And Use

PROHIBITIONS

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50 (a)the following acts are prohibited on
the National Forests within the High Uinta’s Wilderness in the Roosevelt-Duchesne Ranger Districts on the Ashley National Forest and the, Evanston and Mt. View Ranger Districts, Heber-Kamas Ranger District on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests. Described below and shown on the attached map incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A. This Order will be in effect May 5, 2026, and shall remain in effect until May 5, 2031, unless rescinded.

1. Using the High Uinta Wilderness with a group size exceeding 14 people as described below and shown on attached map, this includes all pedestrians, equestrians and hikers. [36 CFR 261.58 (f)]
   1. For the purpose of this order, a group is any assemblage of persons traveling,
      camping, or sharing a social experience within one mile of each other.
2. Using a saddle or pack animals in a group exceeding 15 livestock as described below and shown on attached map, this includes all pedestrians, equestrians, hikers, saddle and pack animals. [36 CFR 261.55 (c)]
   1. For the purpose of this order, a group is any assemblage of saddle or pack animals traveling and camping within one mile of each other.
3. Terrain permitting, camping within 200 feet of any occupied campsite, trail, lake, pond, stream, spring, or any other water source. Where terrain prohibits camping as far away from the listed features as possible as described below and shown on attached map, this includes all pedestrians, equestrians, hikers, saddle and pack animals.[36 CFR 261.58 (e)]
4. Camping for a period longer than 14 consecutive days in one drainage and within one mile of previous campsite as described below and shown on attached map, this  includes all pedestrians, equestrians, hikers, saddle and pack animals. 
   [36 CFR 261.58 (a)]
5. Short cutting a switchback in a trail as described below and shown on attached map, this includes all pedestrians, equestrians, hikers, saddle and pack animals.[36 CFR 261.58 (e)]
6. Restraining a saddle or other pack animals for longer than one hour within 200 feet of any water source or tying a horse or other pack animals directly to a tree for more than one hour. A saddle or other pack animal must be moved if damage to the tree, soil or vegetation at the base of the tree is occurring, as described below and shown on attached map, this includes all pedestrians, equestrians, hikers, saddle and pack animals.[36 CFR 261.58 (aa)]
   1. For the purpose of this order, restraining includes hitching, tethering, keeping, tending, maintaining, bedding, corralling, or storing of a saddle or other pack animal at one location.

EXEMPTIONS

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Persons with Forest Service Permit specifically exempting them from this Order or a written determination by a Forest Service authorized officer that a permit is not required under 36 C.F.R. § 251.50(e)(1) or (2).
2. Any federal, state, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting resource in the performance of an official duty.
3. Federal or state administrative personnel in performance of an official duty.

DESCRIBED 

All Forest Service System lands within the High Uinta’s Wilderness in the Roosevelt-Duchesne Ranger Districts on the Ashley National Forest, the Evanston and Mt. View Ranger Districts, and Heber-Kamas Ranger District on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests as shown on attached map.

PURPOSE

To protect watersheds, habitat for wildlife, including rare and endangered species, maintenance of soil and water quality, ecological stability for plant and animal gene pools, and unsurpassed

IMPLEMENTATION

1. This Order will be in effect when signed May 5, 2026, and shall remain in effect until May 5, 2031, unless rescinded.
2. A map identifying the road is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A. For a digital version of this Order and Exhibit A, go to Ashley National Forest https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/ashley/alerts and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest - Alerts & Notices (usda.gov).
3. Unless otherwise expressly defined in this Order, the terms used in this Order are defined by the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture, 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299. If there are terms in this Order that are not expressly defined in the Order or 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299, their meaning shall be determined by their plain language definitions.
4. A violation of the above prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.
5. Contact the Ashley National Forest Supervisors Office, Vernal, Utah (435) 789-1181, Roosevelt-Duchesne Ranger Districts, Duchesne, Utah (435) 738-2482, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests, Supervisor’s Office, South Jordan, Utah (801) 999-2103, Evanston Ranger District Office, Evanston, Wyoming (307) 789-3194, Mt. View Ranger District Office, Mt. View, Wyoming (307) 782-6555 and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests Supervisor’s Office in South Jordan, Utah (801) 999-2103, for more information about this Order.
6. This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in/on the High Uinta’s Wilderness.

Signed and issued on 5th day of May 2026.