Forest Updates
CRITICAL UPDATE
Updated Sept. 19, 2020: Forest Supervisor Jason Kuiken signed Forest Order STF-16-2020-19, Temporary Camping, Occupancy and Use Restrictions, which prohibits recreational target shooting and dispersed camping in the moderate and high fire hazard areas on the forest, but opens the forest for day use between sunrise and sunset, and authorizes some camping in some developed campgrounds.
The current forest order outlines authorized activities on the forest based on the three fire hazard zones normally in use for fire restrictions. View the forest order and map for hazard area locations.
For an explanation of what is prohibited and authorized by the forest order, read our Forest Order Fact Sheet.
View Regional Order 20-14, Emergency Fire Restrictions.
Updated Sept. 14, 2020: Randy Moore, the Regional Forester, signed Regional Forest Order 20-12, extends the regional closure of all national forests in California until Sept. 21, 2020. This action was taken due to the unprecedented fire risk and extreme fire behavior in established wildfires burning on 13 of the 18 national forests in California. Randy Moore also signed an extension for the fire restrictions forest order, Regional Forest Order 20-11. Visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r5 to view the new forest orders and other supporting documents. Get answers about fire restrictions, closures and how hunting is impacted during this regional closure by reading our regional FAQs.
Most of California remains under the threat of unprecedented and dangerous fire conditions with a combination of extreme heat, significant wind events, dry conditions, and firefighting resources that are stretched to the limit. Due to these conditions, the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region is announcing the temporary closure and increased fire restrictions to provide for public safety and reduce the potential for human caused fire starts.
Air quality is directly related to the amount of smoke in the air and prevailing winds. Currently the Stanislaus National Forest and surrounding communities are experiencing periods of unhealthy air quality. Before traveling to the forest, visitors are encouraged to check on any active fires in the area at inciweb.nwcg.gov for federal fire incidents, or https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/ for any CalFire incidents. In addition, due to the many active fires you may find very smoky conditions across the forest, so we recommend you check the local air quality at www.airnow.gov.
Due to the large number of people, you are urged to practice social distancing and DO NOT feed bears or other wildlife. It is very dangerous and wildlife are always the ones who lose when they become acclimatized to thinking of people as food sources - they are the ones who are killed to prevent greater danger to the humans who thought it was not a big deal.
Finally, many visitors are not practicing good stewardship and are not taking all their trash with them when they leave. Please bring large trash bags and PACK OUT EVERYTHING YOU BRING WITH YOU! If you find that trash dumpsters are full (and they almost always are) please take your trash bags with you and dispose of them at home, or in a dumpster or trash can that isn't overflowing.
Updated Aug. 31, 2020: Attention backpackers and hikers in the Emigrant Wilderness! Read some important info about water sources before you head to the back country in the drop-down section titled Wilderness Permits below.
While visiting the forest, stay alert for any fire conditions and be prepared to react quickly if you are contacted by firefighters. Remember that due to critical fire conditions there are NO FIRES allowed anywhere on the forest except in developed campgrounds. Do your part and help keep our forest healthy!
Updated July 23, 2020: Are you looking for a Stanislaus National Forest map during our virtual services? Our partner, 3 Forests Interpretive Association, or 3FIA, offers National Forest Visitor Maps for sale online! Learn more about other online map tools.
Updated July 27, 2020: Dispersed Camping
Many people enjoy the solitude and primitive experience of camping away from developed campgrounds and other campers. Dispersed camping is the term used for camping anywhere in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a designated campground. Dispersed camping means no services like trash removal, and few or no facilities such as tables and fire pits, are provided. Visitors are reminded that under Forest Order STF-16-2020-08 fire restrictions are in effect at all elevations of the forest. Campfires are not authorized at any dispersed camping and wilderness camping sites through Nov. 30, 2020. See the section below titled Fire Restrictions to read more about why campfires are allowed only in developed campgrounds.
Dispersed camping takes a lot more effort than camping in a developed campground, but for those with an adventurous spirit, it can be a lot of fun. Be a responsible visitor and practice Leave No Trace principles, including Plan Ahead & Prepare; Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces (No Overnight Camping at trailhead or along trail); Dispose of Waste Properly (Pack it In, Pack it Out) Leave What You Find; Minimize Campfire Impacts; Respect Wildlife and Be Considerate of Other Visitors. For additional tips and suggestions, visit https://lnt.org/why/7-principles.
Fire Restrictions
May 29, 2020: Forest Supervisor Jason Kuiken signed Forest Order 16-2020-08, which prohibits campfires outside of open, developed forest recreation sites; limits areas where smoking is allowed; and limits the types of cookstoves—only liquid/gel stoves with an on/off switch are permitted. The fire restrictions are in effect for all elevations on the forest, including wilderness areas, and remain in effect through Nov. 30, 2020.
Human-caused ignitions are a significant fire management challenge for the forest and unintentional human-caused ignitions far outnumber intentional ones. When a forest fire ignites, the forest's proximity to large population centers and communities within the wildland-urban interface creates a situation where the risk of catastrophic property damage and loss of life is high. In California, over the past 10 years, escaped campfires ignited 25 percent of all wildfires. Reducing the number of these starts will best enable us to successfully suppress the fires that do occur while protecting the safety of our employees and the community.
Always remember—it's not just firefighters who are at risk during fire operations in this time of COVID-19—you shouldn't have to move to an evacuation center where your risk increases as the number of people increases. Don't forget—we depend on you to help minimize fire danger as much as you depend on us to fight fire!
Pinecrest Day Use and Campground
Jun 26, 2020: The Pinecrest day use area and campground is once again open to the public. The Forest Service has been working closely with Tuolumne County and state officials to ensure alignment with all state and county health regulations.
Pinecrest is a special and VERY popular recreation site, and we are glad we could open Pinecrest, but the operation is facing challenges due to social distancing and ensuring the health and safety of our employees and visitors.
- We are asking visitors to socially distance themselves from other parties in compliance with state and county health guidelines..
- Trash removal is limited - please pack and take all your trash and waste with you when you leave!
- Many roads within the basin are closed to public access, and other roads will be closed by barricade to prevent illegal parking. Permit holders will be granted access to their permitted facilities for appropriate purposes, though they may need to enter cabin tracts from an alternate road than normally used.
- Cabin permittees will be limited to two cars per cabin. Cabins on the south shore may park in their designated lot, as well as in parking spaces on Lakeshore past Rustic that have been closed to the public. Cabins on the north shore will be allowed to park on the south side of Pinecrest Avenue. All others should park at their cabins.
- The boat ramp is open.
- Campgrounds, resorts, and other businesses are allowed by state regulation to open, but they must adhere to any state or local restrictions. All permitted businesses are required to follow state and county health guidelines, and you may notice adaptations when you visit them.
- There will be no recreation event permits, group permits, or interpretive programs issued or offered this season. At this time, several of the camps and the Movies at the Amphitheater will not be operating.
- Restrooms will continue to be cleaned, following regional guidance for COVID-19 cleaning. Visitors will need to bring their own hand sanitizer and soap in the day use area.
There certainly will be adaptations to our current operations. We will do our best to provide enjoyable, safe recreation access to the Pinecrest Basin. This season will be very different and will go down in the history books for Pinecrest. If you make your way to Pinecrest Lake this summer, please respect the rules and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.
Open Campgrounds
Updated Sept. 19, 2020. Please note: Only these campgrounds are open at this time. For information about activities that are allowed on the forest, read the Sept. 19 update above. Please note fire restrictions prohibit any ignition sources of any kind: no campfires, propane or gel fuel stoves, no smoking. We will update this list as other recreation areas open.
List of developed campgrounds by ranger district that are open:
Calaveras Ranger District
| Campground |
Status |
| Big Meadow Campground |
$19.00 per night fee charged; first come, first served |
Lake Alpine complex
Including Silver Tip, West Shore, Pine Marten and Silver Valley campgrounds (Backpackers campground is closed.) |
$30 per night fee charged,
Reservations only at www.recreation.gov. Updated 9/14/2020: Water service will be shut off at Pine Marten and Silver Valley campgrounds while repairs are made to the water pipe. No estimate of when water will be restored at this time. |
| Bloomfield Campground |
$12 per night fee charged; first come, first served |
| Hermit Valley Campground |
No fee, first come, first served |
| Highland Lakes Campground |
$12 per night fee charged; first come, first served |
| Mosquito Lakes Campground |
$8 per night fee charged; no water service; first come, first served |
| Pacific Valley Campground |
$10 per night fee charged; first come, first served |
| Sand Flat Campground |
No fee, first come, first served |
| Spicer Campground |
$30 per night fee charged; first come, first served |
| Stanislaus River Campground |
$19 per night fee charged; first come, first served |
| Union East Campground |
$16 per night fee charged; first come, first served |
| Union West Campground |
$16 per night fee charged; first come, first served |
| Utica - Sandy Flat Campground |
$16 per night fee charged, first come, first served |
| Utica - Rocky Point |
$16 per night fee charged, first come, first served |
Groveland Ranger District
| Campground |
Status |
| No campgrounds open at this time. |
|
Mi-Wok/Summit Ranger Districts
| Campground |
Status |
| Baker Campground |
$20 per night single site/ $40 per night double site fee charged; first come, first served |
| Deadman Campground |
$20 per night single site/ $40 per night double site fee charged; first come, first served |
| Hull Creek Campground |
$12.00 per night fee, $24.00 per double site fee charged; first come, first served |
Other recreational day use sites are also open. See the list of open day use sites (page 6).
Wilderness Permits
Aug. 31, 2020: If you are planning a back country trip, be aware of water access during backpacking trips. Water is drying up quite fast this summer, so lakes are really the only reliable source for water in the Emigrant right now - especially out of Crabtree and Gianelli trailheads. Creeks are almost completely dried up, including Piute Creek, West Fork Cherry Creek, and Buck Meadow Creek. Creeks in the Upper Emigrant, including Summit Creek and North Fork Cherry Creek can still be used as water sources and are still flowing but they are getting low as well. Know before you go!
June 11, 2020: FREE permits are required for overnight visits to the wilderness areas.
To reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Stanislaus National Forest has updated the process for obtaining overnight wilderness permits. NOTE: All visitors are responsible for knowing and abiding by all current regulations, including campfire prohibitions in place for the 2020 summer season. Read the current campfire restrictions and regulations in the Forest Order here. NO CAMPFIRES ARE PERMITTED in Wilderness. The Stanislaus National Forest does not have quotas for wilderness area access.
Forest Product Permits
June 15, 2020: If you are seeking a fuelwood permit, please call 209-288-6241 and leave a voicemail message with your name and telephone number. A front desk representative will call you and issue you a fuelwood permit over the phone. Once it is digitally signed by our front desk clerk they will mail the permit and the accompanying fuelwood tags to you. All fuelwood permits are free of charge during the 2020 collection season, but you must have your permit and tags with you when you are gathering wood on the forest. Our front desk representatives will be able to answer your questions when they call. We appreciate your patience while we developed a new process for issuing fuelwood permits.
- For other forest product permits, please call (209) 272-5455.
Forest Orders
Forest Supervisor Jason Kuiken believes there is nothing more critical to maintaining good relationships than communication. Residents, communities and ranger districts share a dedication to keeping the forest healthy, but sometimes Forest Service procedures and actions may not be clearly understood by those outside the agency. Jason is committed to engaging the community by sharing information about some of the actions being undertaken on the forest. Jason will post a series of notes highlighting some of the vital activities that go into regaining a healthy forest. 
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