Sawtooth National Recreation Area - Occupancy and Use

United States Department of Agriculture
U.S. Forest Service
Sawtooth National Forest
Sawtooth National Recreation Area

Occupancy and Use
 

PROHIBITIONS:

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50 (a) and (b), the following are prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) lands in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA), located within the Sawtooth National Forest, described below and shown on the attached maps incorporated into this Order as Exhibits A-F (the “Described Area”):

1. Occupying a campsite within a developed campground or designated dispersed camping area in the Described Area, at the same site or within a 30-mile radius of the same site, for more than 10 days during any 30-day period. 36 CFR 261.58(a)
2. Occupying a campsite, outside of a developed campground or designated dispersed camping area at the same site or within a 30-mile radius of the same site for more than 10 days during any 30-day period between May 1st and September 15.th 36 CFR 261.58(a) and (e)
3. Occupying a campsite, outside of a developed campground or designated dispersed camping area at the same site or within a 30-mile radius of the same site for more than 16 days during any 30-day period between September 16th and April 30th. 36 CFR 261.58(a) and (e)
4. Camping any place other than in a developed campground or designated dispersed campsite identified with a universal camping symbol, within the following areas as shown in Exhibit::
   1. Big Wood River Watershed (except within 300 feet of Forest Road 158 located in the upper Boulder Creek basin) (Exhibit A).
   2. Stanley Basin Complex, including within 1/4 mile either side of Forest Road 619 (aka, Iron Creek Road) (Exhibit B);
   3. Within 1/4 mile either side of the Salmon River from the fish weir at the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery downriver to the eastern boundary of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (Exhibit D) 36 CFR 261.58(e).
5. Camping any place other than in a developed campground within the following areas as shown in Exhibit:
   1. Redfish Lake Complex (Exhibit C);
   2. Between Forest Roads 208 or 362, and Pettit Lake (Exhibit E). 36 CFR 261.58(e)
   3. Between Forest Roads 208 or 362, and Pettit Lake. 36 CFR 261.58(e)
   4. Within 1/4 mile of Alturas Lake (Exhibit F); or
6. Camping or occupying a campsite in a developed campground in the Described Area with more than 8 people in a single unit, 16 people in a double unit, or in excess of the posted capacity at any camp unit. 36 CFR 261.58(f)
7. Being in a developed recreation site between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., except for a person who is camping or who is visiting a person camping in a developed campground, or if the site is posted as a Dark Sky viewing area. 36 CFR 261.58(u)

EXEMPTIONS

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

1. Persons with a Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), 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 fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.
3. Forest Service administrative personnel in the performance of an official duty.

DESCRIBED AREA

The Described Area is all NFS lands identified in Exhibits A through F, where the Described Area is located within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Sawtooth National Forest, in Custer, Blaine and Boise Counties, Idaho. The Sawtooth, Cecil D Andrus White Cloud, and Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness Areas are not part of the Described Area.

Big Wood River Watershed (Exhibit A) – The Big Wood River Watershed Described Area is shown in Exhibit A and is all NFS lands within the Big Wood River watershed, accessed from State Highway 75 excluding the Hemingway-Boulder Wilderness Area. Further described as the area from the Southern boundary of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, approximately 7 miles North of Ketchum, Idaho, and within Section 3, Township 5 North, Range 17 East, to the Galena Summit located within Section 7, Township 6 North, Range 15 East. Boise Meridian, Blaine County, Idaho.

Stanley Lake Complex (Exhibit B) – The Stanley Lake Complex Described Area is shown in Exhibit B, located approximately 5 miles west of Stanley, Idaho and accessed from State Highway 21 via Forest Road #455 and is further described as the NFS lands within the Stanley Lake Creek drainage on the south side of State Highway 21 to approximately ¼ mile upstream of the inlet to Stanley Lake; including the area within ¼ mile of Stanley Lake and Forest roads #455, #638, #640, and #640A. Located in Township 11 North, Range 12 East, S ½ Section 22, S ½ Section 23, E ½ Section 25, N ½ Section 26, Section 27, S ½ Section 28, Section 33, and N ½ Section 34, Boise Meridian, Custer County, Idaho.

Redfish Lake Complex (Exhibit C) – The Redfish Lake Complex Described Area is shown in Exhibit C and is all NFS lands located approximately 5 miles south of Stanley, Idaho accessed from State Highway 75 via Forest Road #214 and further described as the lands and waters, within the Redfish Lake Creek drainage on the south side of State Highway 75 upstream of the inlet to the Sawtooth Wilderness Area boundary (approximately 6 miles); including the area within ½ mile of Redfish Lake and Forest roads #213, #214, and #214A. Located in Township 9 North, Range 13 East in Section 2, 3, 9, 10, 15, 16, 21, 22 and Township 11 North, Range 12 East in Section 22, 26, 34, 35, Boise Meridian, Custer County, Idaho.

Salmon River Corridor (Exhibit D) – The Salmon River Described Area is shown in Exhibit D and is described as the Upper Main Salmon River, and includes NFS lands from Holman Creek at the eastern boundary of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, located within Section 25, Township 11 North, Range 16 East, upstream approximately 31 miles to about 1 mile upstream of the Buckhorn Roadside Rest stop (to the fish weir across the Salmon River at the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery), located within Section 36, Township 10 North, Range 14 East, Boise Meridian. The Salmon River Described Area is located within Custer County, Idaho.

Pettit Lake Complex (Exhibit E) - The Pettit Lake Complex Described Area is shown in Exhibit E and is all NFS lands located approximately 21 miles south of Stanley, Idaho accessed from State Highway 75 via Forest Road #208 and further described as the lands and waters, within the Pettit Lake Creek drainage on the west side of State Highway 75 upstream to the Sawtooth Wilderness Area boundary (approximately 3 miles); including the area within ¼ mile of Pettit Lake and Forest roads #208, and #361, and #362. Located in Township 7 North, Range 13 East in Section 36 and Township 7 North, Range 14 East in Sections 31, 32, Boise Meridian, Custer County, Idaho.

Alturas Lake Complex (Exhibit F) - The Alturas Lake Complex Described Area is shown in Exhibit F and is all NFS lands located approximately 24.5 miles south of Stanley, Idaho accessed from State Highway 75 via Forest Road #205 and further described as the lands and waters within 1/4 mile of Alturas Lake. Located in Township 7 North, Range 13 East in Sections 24, 25 and Township 7 North, Range 14 East in Sections 19, 20, 29, 30 Boise Meridian, Custer County, Idaho.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Order is to protect natural resources and public health and safety.

IMPLEMENTATION

1. This Order shall be in effect from June 19, 2026, at 0800 through December 31, 2031 unless rescinded.
2. Maps identifying the Described Area are attached and made part of this Order as Exhibits A-F. For a digital version of this Order and Exhibits, go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/sawtooth/alerts
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. Further information regarding this Order may be obtained at the Sawtooth National Forest Supervisor’s Office, Jerome, ID, 208-423-7500, the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Headquarters, 208-727-5000, or the Stanley Ranger Station, Stanley, ID, 208-774-3000, or found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/sawtooth/alerts
6. This Order supersedes any previous orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same Described Area.

/Digitally Signed, see attached order/

CASEY JOHNSON
Forest Supervisor
Sawtooth National Forest