Rules and Guidelines
Off Highway Vehicles (OHV)
An off-highway vehicle permit is required by the State of Oregon if you want to operate your off-highway vehicle on public land. The State establishes and administers OHV permits and regulations.
You can find more information on the Oregon State Parks website or by calling Oregon Parks and Recreation Department information center at 1.800.551.6949.
Remember
OHV Permits are State of Oregon permits for operating your vehicle on public land.
Many trail heads, day use areas and overnight campgrounds also require a separate Forest Service user fee. Check individual recreation site pages to see which sites require a recreation pass or fee.
The State of Oregon establishes and administers OHV permits and regulations. Find operating and operator requirements for ATVs at the Oregon State Parks website or by calling Oregon Parks and Recreation Department information center at 1.800.551.6949.
OHVs are a great way to combine America’s love of motor vehicles with the love of the outdoors. To make your time in the outdoors safe as well as enjoyable, you need to know the laws governing OHV use on public land and etiquette for riding. The cornerstone of any outdoor recreation activity is respect: respect for yourself; respect for others and respect for the environment. See Tread Lightly's tips for responsible ATV riding.
Required to ride:
- For all requirements, visit Oregon State Parks ATV webpage.
- A muffler that complies with Oregon's 96db sound limit.
- A helmet if under 18 years old.
- A valid ATV permit sticker affixed to your vehicle.
- A USDA approved spark arrester.
- Don't ever ride while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Proper safety gear.
The most current Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) is your guide for where you can ride. It displays National Forest System roads and trails that are open to summer motorized travel. Routes not shown on the MVUM are not open to public motor vehicle travel.
The Forest is home to two designated Off Highway Vehicle trail riding areas. These areas provide trail riding in forested settings.
Please remember these important guidelines:
- Mudding is illegal. Vehicles are required to stay on designated routes.
- Driving through wet meadows, streams or lakeshores, or on roads that have not yet dried out from snowmelt damages roadways and sensitive wildlife habitat.
- Some areas are closed for habitat or resource protection reasons. These areas are posted closed or have gates or berms closing them.
- When fire closures and use restrictions are issued because of high fire danger levels in the woods, off highway vehicle use may be prohibited.
- Paved Forest roads are closed to OHV use, unless these vehicles are equipped to be street legal and registered to operate on public roads. Roads that are signed and physically closed to motorized vehicles are also closed to OHV traffic.
- The Forest roads where you can ride are also used by a mixture of vehicles including large trucks used for logging and construction. Most vehicle operators on these Forest roads are not used to sharing the road with OHV traffic, so OHV riders need to drive defensively! Travel these roads cautiously and contact the local Ranger District office ahead of riding to find out if timber sales are currently operating in the area.
Forest Service approved spark arresters are required year round on Forest Service and BLM lands. Most approved spark arresters are stamped as such someplace on the unit. Just because it is "stock" does not make it legal. Motocross bikes do not come stock with spark arresters. If you have a motocross bike (for example RM, YZ, KX, SX, CR, etc.) please check it or risk being sent home or cited. If your silencer is stamped "Not For Road Use" or "For Closed Course Competition Only" or if you can stick a small rod all the way through the silencer, it is not a spark arrester.
What is mudding?
Mudding is when you drive through wet meadows, fields, streams, lakeshores and lakebeds spinning tires to throw mud, ripping up the vegetation and creating deep mud holes -- with the goal of testing the rig's power and getting as muddy as possible.
What happens if you are caught mudding?
- Possessing or operating a motor vehicle except on designated routes identified on the Motor Vehicle Use Map is prohibited (36 CFR 261.13). Additionally, "It is prohibited to operate any vehicle off Forest Development, State or County roads... in a manner which damages or unreasonably disturbs the land, wildlife, or vegetative resources." (36 CFR 261.15)
- You could be fined up to $5000. In addition, the Forest Service may bring a civil suit against you to pay for the costly restoration.
What's wrong with mudding?
Mudding rips up native plants.
- When plants are gone, there is nothing to stop soil from washing into nearby streams and lakes. Muddy streams and lakes are bad for fish, wildlife, recreationists, and towns dependent upon water and tourism for survival.
- When native plants are gone, noxious weeds move in. A meadow of native grasses and flowers may soon become a field of thistles and knapweed.
Mudding compacts soil.
- Healthy soil should bounce a bit when you walk on it. Tire tracks create hard, dried up soil. This hard soil doesn't allow water to move into the ground. Instead, water runs down tire tracks and into creeks and lakes, bringing mud and pollutants with it.
- It is hard for plants to grow in compacted soil -- imagine trying to extend your legs through a concrete floor.
Mudding smothers fish.
- Salmon and trout need cold streams with gravel and cover to build their nests and bury their eggs. Young fish grow up in between the gravel, safe from predators. Driving through streams destroys gravel areas, and can smother young fish.
Mudding harms wildlife.
- Meadows and wetlands provide important breeding, rearing, and foraging habitats for many birds and other animals. When vehicles tear up these areas, they remove nesting and hiding cover, decrease available forage, interfere with feeding, and push animals out into areas where they may not survive. The damage affects wildlife from the largest elk to the smallest shrew, and from bald eagles to hummingbirds.
Mudding is expensive.
- The repair work for just one site can cost thousands of dollars. Multiply that by the number of impacted meadows across the country, and you can see that the cost to taxpayers is immense. Each year, managers of public lands must spend time and money repairing roads damaged by illegal early season drivers.
Mudding is unsightly and ruins favorite recreation sites.
Mudding is also driving on roads that have not yet dried out from rain and snowmelt.
What can you do to help?
- Recognize that mud on a truck often means damaged habitat and the need for repairs that will be costly to all taxpayers.
- Tell your friends, neighbors, family members and classmates that you don't appreciate them destroying your public land.
- Seek out areas where the use of off road vehicles is permitted, and get involved with the groups that maintain those areas. Make sure you are using the right trail for your vehicle-there are signs posted at the trailheads.
- When you see mudding activity, call local law enforcement authorities.
Campground Regulations
For the full list of rules and regulations, see 36 CFR 261, Subpart A.
The following are prohibited:
- Discharging a firearm or any other implement capable of taking human life, causing injury, or damaging property (36 CFR 261.10d)
- Operating or using in or near a campsite, developed recreation site, or over an adjacent body of water without a permit, any device which produces noise, such as a radio, television, musical instrument, motor or engine in such a manner and at such a time so as to unreasonably disturb any person (36 CFR 261.10i)
- Knowingly or intentionally possessing any controlled substance in violation of Federal law (36 CFR 261.10p)
- Marijuana is considered a controlled substance under Federal law
- Building, attending, maintaining, or using a fire outside of a fire ring provided by the Forest Service for such purpose or outside of a stove, grill or fireplace. (36 CFR 261.16b)
- Without permission, failing to have at least one person occupy a camping area during the first night after camping equipment has been set up. (36 CFR 261.16h)
- Leaving camping equipment unattended for more than 24 hours without permission. (36 CFR 261.16i)
- Failure to pay any recreation fee (36 CFR 261.17)
Length of Stay
Camping is prohibited for more than 14 calendar days in a 30-day period.
Due to overcrowding and resource damage to the campgrounds listed below, additional regulations were put into effect May 11, 2007.
Occupancy Limits
- Single-occupancy site:
maximum of eight people and two vehicles [additional fees for second vehicle]
maximum two tents - Multiple-occupancy site:
maximum of 12 people and three vehicles [additional fees for third vehicle]
maximum three tents
Only campers in registered campsites are allowed in campgrounds between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The following campgrounds are affected by these regulations:
Detroit Ranger District
- Breitenbush Campground
- Cleator Bend Campground
- Cove Creek Campground
- Humbug Campground
- Hoover Campground
- Marion Forks Campground
- Riverside Campground
- Santiam Flats
- Shady Cove Campground
- Southshore Campground
- Whispering Falls Campground
Middle Fork Ranger District
- Black Canyon Campground
McKenzie River Ranger District
- Alder Springs Campground
- Big Lake Campground
- Big Lake West Campground
- Box Canyon Horse Campground
- Cold Water Cove Campground
- Cougar Crossing Campground
- French Pete Campground
- Frissell Crossing Campground
- Ice Cap Creek Campground
- Lakes End Campground
- Limberlost Campground
- Lookout Campground
- McKenzie Bridge Campground
- Mona Campground
- Olallie Campground
- Paradise Campground
- Scott Lake Campground
- Slide Creek Campground
- Sunnyside Campground
- Trail Bridge Campground
Yes, dogs are allowed within these guidelines:
- In Forest Service developed sites such as campgrounds and picnic areas, dogs and other pets (other than a service animal) must always be restrained or on a leash no more than 6 feet long (36 CFR 261.16j).
- In other areas, regulations about dogs defer to the county or local community. They may have ordinances requiring your dog to be on a leash in specific areas. In all cases, dogs should at least be under voice control.
- Clean up dog waste.
- Leave aggressive or unusually noisy dogs at home.
- For the safety of others and your dog, we recommend keeping your dog on a leash wherever you're hiking.
Remember to bring extra water, first aid supplies, and an ID tag for your dog.
The following guidelines must be followed when collecting firewood for camping:
- Wood may NOT be removed from National Forest land.
- Only dead and downed forest litter may be harvested.
- Wood cut must be less than 12 inches in diameter.
- Wood must fit in the fire ring.
- Cutting of ANY standing live tree or ANY dead standing snag is strictly PROHIBITED.
- Wood that is tagged for a permit (painted, tagged, or numbered) may not be gathered for campfire wood.
- Chainsaws may be used, except in campgrounds, Wilderness, and some specially designated areas (for example, around Waldo Lake)
- Firewood may be collected along roadsides, away from popular camping areas and campgrounds.
- Avoid collecting firewood within 100 feet of streams or wet areas.
- A maximum of ¼ cord (32 cubic feet) of wood may be hauled at any one time without a Forest Product Removal Permit.
- All current fire precautions MUST be followed. [see below]
Fire Precaution Requirements for Gathering Firewood
Fire Season on the Willamette National Forest is typically from mid-May to mid-October. It is your responsibility to make sure you know the current Fire Precaution Level BEFORE you start cutting.
The daily Fire Precaution Level can be determined by calling one of our offices, by checking our fire page, or by checking the Smokey Bear sign in front of our offices or on primary roads entering forest land.
The following equipment is required while using a power saw during fire season:
- Your saw exhaust system must be in good repair with a screen-type spark arrester of 0.023” or less.
- A shovel, long handled with a round point and an 8” blade.
- A pressurized chemical fire extinguisher of not less than 8 oz. capacity.
Fire Precaution Levels and Restrictions for Firewood Gathering Using Power Saws:
- Level I- A one hour fire watch is required after ceasing saw operation. No other restrictions.
- Level II- A one hour fire watch is required after ceasing saw operation. In addition, chainsaw operation must end at 1 P.M.
- Level III- Woodcutting activities prohibited.
- Level IV- Woodcutting activities prohibited.
Dispersed Camping
Dispersed camping is the term used for camping anywhere in the National Forest outside of a designated campground. Dispersed camping means there are no toilets, no picnic tables, no trash cans, no treated water, and no fire grates. There are extra responsibilities and skills necessary for dispersed camping. By applying Leave No Trace practices, you will ensure a safe, clean and positive experience for your family and the environment.
Current Conditions
Visit our alerts page before your trip to learn about any fire restrictions and any closures or restrictions on dispersed camping.
Choosing a Campsite
You can stay in your chosen site for up to 14 days in a 30-day period. Establishing residency is against federal regulation.
If you are going to an area where others have camped before, pick an established "hardened" site. Many existing "campsites" - areas where others have camped before you - are located near water on riverbanks and lakeshores. Whether you are using an existing site or camping in an area where camping use is not evident, it is important to follow these steps:
Camp, on bare, or compacted soil when possible, to avoid damaging or killing plants and grass. Keep activity on durable ground to prevent site expansion.
Park vehicles on roads and barren ground to avoid disturbing vegetation. Some roads are closed to protect wildlife or because they are not safe for travel. You can find out about road closures by using the Motor Vehicle Use Maps and by calling the local ranger
Where no campsites exist, camp at least 100 feet away from a water source, as plants and wildlife near water are especially fragile.
When camping at existing sites near water, be prepared to wash dishes and to bathe well away from your campsite to avoid polluting streams and lakes.
Select a campsite with good natural drainage to eliminate the need to trench or level tent sites.
Avoid creating new "roads" to access your campsite.
Refrain from cutting or damaging vegetation, including standing dead trees. Use removable ropes instead of nails to hang things from trees.
Campfires
Many wildfires are caused by human activity, including escaped campfires from dispersed campers. Campfires are generally allowed when you are dispersed camping UNLESS there are fire restrictions in effect due to high fire danger conditions. It is YOUR responsibility to know if fire restrictions are in effect before you go camping.
Campfire Tips:
Use camp stoves for cooking, to minimize the use of downed wood for fuel. Animals, insects and microorganisms need downed, rotting wood to survive.
Use existing fire rings whenever possible. This minimizes the scarring of new rocks, soil and plants and prevents campsite expansion.
Bring plenty of garbage bags to pack out all of your garbage, including food scraps. Burning garbage is unacceptable.
Select an area for your campfire away from meadows, and trees with low, overhanging branches, AT LEAST 100 feet from any water sources.
Use a fire pan, or learn how to build a Leave No Trace mound-fire.
If you do not bring your own firewood, collect only dead and downed wood that is on the ground, wrist size or smaller. Branches on live trees should be left intact. If a popular camping area does not have dead and downed wood, bring your own firewood and use a camp stove. Burn the wood completely to ash.
NEVER LEAVE A FIRE UNATTENDED.
You should have a bucket, shovel and axe available to control or extinguish escaped fire.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE YOUR CAMPFIRE, MAKE SURE IT IS DEAD OUT. Put your whole hand into the ashes - it should be cool to the touch.
Properly Dispose of Waste
Visitors who do not properly manage human waste, washing or garbage contaminate water and attract animals to campsites.
Human Waste - Dispersed camping often means no toilet facilities. Extra care must be taken to properly dispose of human waste.
To dispose of feces, dig a hole 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 100 feet from any water source, campsites or trails.
When you're done, fill the hole with the dirt you dug up and place your toilet paper in a sealed Ziploc baggie for disposal in a proper waste container.
Empty built-in or portable toilets at sanitary dump stations.
Waste Water and Washing
Do all washing and dispose of waste water at least 100 feet from any water source. Dig a small hole to act as a "sump" for dishwater.
Use small amounts of biodegradable soap.
Treating Your Water
Increased visitation to our National Forests has led to the contamination of water sources by invisible, microorganisms such as Giardia and Cryptosporium. These organisms can lead to serious illness when consumed by humans. No untreated water source can be considered safe for consumption.
Be prepared to treat undeveloped water sources or bring your own water. Heating to a rolling boil, using purification tablets or a filter, can all effectively treat water. Water from faucets in developed recreation areas has been tested and treated and is safe to use.
Camp Waste
Pack it in, Pack it out. This mantra applies to your camp waste as well as the waste left behind by previous campers. Be prepared to pack out all garbage, including tin, glass, plastic, paper and food scraps such as peels and bones.
Remember, your fire ring is not a garbage receptacle. Well-intended campers often consolidate their garbage in a fire ring expecting the following camper to burn or dispose of it properly. Garbage that is left behind is typically dispersed by animals making the cleanup job much more difficult and creates unwanted behaviors in birds, squirrels and bears. Yellow jackets are attracted to meat juices and sugars and can render a campsite unpleasant and unsafe for future use.
Respect Your Neighbors
Keep noise levels down to avoid disturbing other campers and recreationists in the area. If you bring pets, keep them in control at all times. Also, respect private landowners and refrain from camping and trespassing on private lands.
Have Fun!
If you follow the tips above, you can have a safe, low impact, primitive camping experience.
Wilderness Recreation
There are two types of permits required between June 15 and October 15 for entering all wildernesses in the Willamette National Forest. Visitors need a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit or a self-issue permit, depending on the trip.
Central Cascades Wilderness Permits
Central Cascades Wilderness Permits are required for all overnight use and 19 day-use trailheads in the Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, and Three Sisters Wilderness areas between June 15 and October 15. The permit system has been implemented to allow access into these well-loved wildernesses, but also to protect them for future generations.
Permits can be reserved on Recreation.gov beginning the first Tuesday of April every year. For day-use in these wildernesses at the 60 trailheads that do not require a permit, visitors will need to fill out and carry with them a free self-issue permit, available at those trailheads.
Free Self-Issue Permit
Unless a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit is required, all other visitors who enter Willamette National Forest wilderness areas will need a free self-issued wilderness permit. A permit is necessary June 15-Oct. 15 for each group entering the wilderness. Self-issue permits are free and available at wilderness trailheads.
Federal Regulations (36 CFR 261.18) for National Forest Wilderness
Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport is prohibited. This includes the use of motor vehicles, motorboats, motorized equipment, bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, portage wheels, and the landing of aircraft including helicopters. Flying drones or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) over wilderness areas is also prohibited.
The following are prohibited in all congressionally designated wilderness areas managed by the Deschutes and Willamette National Forests:
- Groups larger than 12 persons and 12 head of stock.
- Large groups multiply the impact on the resource and can be disruptive to others.
- Entering or being in Willamette National Forest wildernesses without a permit. Visitors need a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit or a self-issuing permit, depending on the trip.
- Information gathered from permits is vital in determining proper management.
- Hitching, tethering, picketing, or securing any pack or saddle stock within 200 feet slope distance of any permanent lake, stream, spring, pond or shelter.
- These areas are sensitive to the effect of repeated grazing and trampling. Once damage occurs, water quality may be affected by resulting erosion.
- Motorized equipment and mechanized equipment such as bicycles, wagons, carts or wheelbarrows (except wheelchairs).
- These uses are incompatible with the legal and ethical definition of wilderness.
- Discharging a firearm within 150 yards of a campsite or occupied area or across a body of water or in any manner or place whereby any person is exposed to injury.
- The indiscriminate discharge of firearms in areas of recreation use is dangerous.
- Camping or being within areas posted as closed for rehabilitation. These areas have been closed to allow recovery.
- Use of these sites inhibits restoration efforts.
- Cutting or damaging any live tree or vegetation except as authorized.
- Damaging or cutting live trees or shrubs is opposed to wilderness values and the concept of a natural environment.
- Storing equipment, personal property or supplies within the wilderness for more than 48 hours.
- Storing personal belongings disrupts the natural conditions of the wilderness and others' experience.
- Gathering a forest product, for example mushrooms and berries, except for personal on site use.
- Limiting collection of edibles, such as mushrooms and berries, to what you can consume during your visit assures future visitors the same sense of discovery and enjoyment.
- Commercial use and/or services within wilderness except by special use permit.
- This use is incompatible with the legal and ethical definition of Wilderness.
Violation of these and other laws, rules and regulations which apply to designated Wilderness are punishable by a fine or imprisonment. (16 U.S.C. 551, 18 U.S.C. 3559 and 3571).
Waldo Lake is one of the largest natural lakes in Oregon. It offers a uniquely peaceful setting on the water and along remote shorelines.
The Waldo Lake Area has some special regulations in place to preserve this uniquely peaceful and beautiful setting and to protect the lake and shoreline.
What are the rules?
- Generator and chainsaw use are prohibited in undeveloped areas around Waldo Lake.
- Boat motor use is restricted to electric motors only; 10 m.p.h. or less.
- Floatplanes are prohibited.
Other Area Regulations
- 14 day boat moorage limit. People must be staying at Waldo Lake while mooring their boats.
- Islands are day use only, no overnight camping or campfires.
Three Sisters Wilderness
- These areas require a Central Cascade Wilderness Permit for overnight use and some day use.
- Green Lakes basin, Moraine Lake basin, North and South Matthieu Lakes are designated camping areas and overnight campers must camp within 15 feet from an established post. If no campsites are available, campers must leave the lake basin.
- No Name Lake on Broken Top Tarn – No camping within ¼ mile of the high-water mark.
- Golden Lake – No camping within 250 feet of water or the high-water mark
- No camping within 100 feet of the high-water mark of lake or any water source in these areas:
- Linton Meadow area
- Minnie Scott Springs area
- Obsidian area, including
- Arrowhead Lake
- Glacier Creek
- Obsidian Creek
- Obsidian Meadows
- White Branch Creek
- Campfires are prohibited above 5,700 feet
Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Regulations
- These areas require a Central Cascade Wilderness Permit for overnight use and some day use.
- Pamelia Lake and Jefferson Park Area – No camping within 100 feet of high-water mark of lake or any other water source
- Campfires are prohibited above 5,700 feet and within these lake basins:
- Marion Lake
- Ann Lake
- Table Lake
Mt. Washington Wilderness Regulations
- These areas require a Central Cascade Wilderness Permit for overnight use and some day use.
- Campfires are prohibited above 5,700 feet and within these lake basins:
- Benson Lake
- Tenas Lake
Diamond Peak Wilderness
- Campfires are prohibited above 6,000 foot elevation.
Check with a local Ranger Station for further information and detailed maps.
Violation of these and other laws, rules and regulations which apply to designated Wilderness are punishable by a fine or imprisonment. (16 U.S.C. 551, 18 U.S.C. 3559 and 3571).
As part of a larger effort to reduce invasive species on national forest lands, weed-free feed is required in the 17 national forests and the Crooked River National Grasslands of the Pacific Northwest.