If you plan to
visit national forest areas during the
Independence Day holiday (July 4th) weekend,
“Know
before
you go,”
suggests acting Idaho Panhandle National Forests
Supervisor Maggie Pittman. What’s important to
know?
Read on!
Fireworks are prohibited on all national
forests year-round.
Even if it’s
“green,” please practice good sense by using
caution with fire and smoking at all times, in
all places.
Drown, stir
and check your campfire for heat with your bare
hand.
ALL
fires must be DEAD OUT before leaving the site.
Responsible Motorized Use.
Please stay on designated routes and
obtain the appropriate travel maps before you
go. On the Coeur
d’Alene River,
Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint and Priest Lake Ranger
Districts visitors should carry the
FREE Motorized Vehicle Use
Maps, available at Forest Service Offices
throughout north Idaho.
No mud bogging is allowed anywhere
on National Forest system lands.
Idaho
traffic laws apply to all motor vehicles
including off-highway vehicles (OHVs) and
motorcycles of all types.
Beware of …Snow?
Although crews continue to make progress
clearing trails and roads, shady areas and high
elevations still may have several feet of snow,
making vehicle travel on some roadways tricky.
Vehicles can break through snow’s rotten
crust and leave travelers “stuck.”
Cell phone coverage may not be available
to contact emergency responders so it’s best to
avoid the temptation to plow on through in snowy
areas.
It could get worse the farther you go!
For the latest information on road
conditions, including closures and construction,
please visit the Idaho Panhandle National
Forests’
“Road Status” web page.
Recreation Information.
Due to late snowpack, construction or
flood damage, some recreation sites may not be
open during the 4th of July holiday
weekend. Visit the Idaho Panhandle National
Forests’
“Recreation” web page to check the status of
your favorite site!
Camping.
Camping is allowed for up to 14 days
within any 30-day period in developed recreation
sites; undeveloped recreation sites;
campgrounds; wilderness areas; and other general
forest areas (previous limit was up to 14 days
within a 45-day period).
Keep
it Clean to Avoid Bear Encounters!
Bears often develop a strong liking for
human and pet foods.
Store food in hard-sided vehicles or
bear-proof containers; keep sleeping areas,
tents and sleeping bags free from food and food
odors; and wash up, change clothes and remove
all scented articles nearby before going to bed.
Wild bears avoid people, but bears
conditioned to human food can be aggressive and
may be euthanized if problems occur.
For more information on the
Idaho Panhandle National Forests please visit
our website,
or contact your
local Forest Service office.
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