Deschutes 14-Day Camping Order

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FORESTSERVICE DESCHUTESNATIONAL FOREST
BEND, OREGON
FOREST ORDER NO. 06-01-25-01 
OCCUPANCY AND USE/ CAMPING RESTRICTIONS

Pursuant to 16 USC §551 and 36 CFR §261.50 (a), the following acts are prohibited upon lands administered by the Deschutes National Forest as described in this order and depicted on the attached Exhibit A.

PROHIBITIONS:

1. Camping or otherwise occupying a single location (including leaving camping equipment and/or related supplies) for a period longer than 14 consecutive calendar days. [36 CFR§261.58(a)]
2. Camping, occupying, or otherwise leaving camping equipment and/or related supplies at any location on all national Forest lands described in this order for more than 28 calendar days total during a calendar year. [36 CFR 261.SS(a)]

DEFINITIONS:

For the purposes of this order, and pursuant to 36 CFR §261.2, the following definitions apply to this order:

• 'Camping' means the temporary use of National Forest Service System lands for the purpose of overnight occupancy without a permanently fixed structure.
• 'Camping Equipment' means the personal property used in or suitable for camping, and includes any vehicle used for transportation and all equipment in possession of a person camping. Food and beverage are not considered camping equipment.
• 'Location' means the occupied area, the occupied campsite, and the National Forest System lands in the immediate vicinity thereof.
• 'Special-use authorization' means a permit, term permit, lease or easement which allows occupancy, or use rights or privileges of National Forest System land.

EXEMPTIONS:

Pursuant to 36 CFR §261.S0(e), the following persons are exempt from this order:

1. Persons with a permit, written authorization by a Forest officer, or special use authorization specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission, and approved contractors and their agents directly engaged in approved work outlined in an operating plan or permit allowing extended stay in excess of this order.
2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of any organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

These prohibitions are necessary to protect public health and safety and to provide consistent public health and safety guidelines within the Pacific Northwest Region. This order will establish consistent limits of stay for camping across the Forest, protect visual quality, enhance safety by preventing user conflicts, and reduce resource damage and sanitation issues associated with long-term camping.

These prohibitions are in addition to general prohibitions pursuant to 36 CFR Part 261, Subpart A.

This Order becomes effective November 14, 2024, and will remain in force until November 15, 2026, unless the Order is rescinded sooner.

Executed in Bend, Oregon, this 15th day of November, 2024.

Violations of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both (16 USC§ 551; 18 USC§ 3551, § 3559, § 3571, and§ 3581}.