Is Permit Required For Forest Service Camping

These official Sequoia National Forest Camping ground Rules were gathered from Orders issued by the Supervisor of Sequoia National Forest, along with information published by the U.S. Wood Service, and from the U.Due south. Code of Federal Regulations…

sequoia national forest, kings canyon overlook — Kings Coulee Overlook, Sequoia National Forest, Photo by katgustaf, FreeRoam

Sequoia National Forest Camping Rules

Passes and Permits

Boondocking (dispersed camping) does non require the purchase of a pass or let for nigh of Sequoia National Wood. The following are exceptions…

Golden Trout Wilderness, i of six wilderness areas inside Sequoia NF, requires a let for camping. The permit is free at any forest service role at wilderness entry points. (see, Wilderness Permits, Sequoia National Forest)
Bivouac let is required by the California Department of Forestry and Burn down Prevention (CalFire) statewide. The let is free, and can be obtained by downloading information technology from CalFire's website. (see, Burning Permits, CalFire)
Certain trailheads, picnic areas, gunkhole ramps, volition require a Recreation Pass, issued at any national forest role. An Interagency Pass volition suffice in these cases. These passes merely cover 24-hour interval-utilise activities. (see, "Recreation Passes", Sequoia National Forest).
River Utilize Permits are required for any kind of boating on the Kern River. (encounter, River Apply Permits, Sequoia National Forest).
There are several developed campgrounds in Olympic National Forest that volition crave per-night fees. (See, Camping & Cabins, Sequoia National Wood).

Areas Off-Limits to Camping

Sequoia National Forest allows camping ground anywhere and everywhere inside of its boundaries. Yet, the forest may close certain areas from time to time depending upon the flavour, potential for impairment, or to repair roads. Refer to the latest woods orders to find out which areas are currently closed. (See, "Forest Orders", Sequoia National Forest).

Maximum Length of Stay

As of May nineteen, 2019, the maximum length of stay for camping inside Olympic National Woods is 14 days in any 30-day catamenia, regardless of dispersed areas or developed areas. (Come across, "Forest Lodge 0513-xix-09″, Occupancy and Use)…

The 30-day period begins as presently as you set up camp.
The 14 day limit applies to any part of Sequoia NF, even if yous choose to pack up and move to another part of the wood.
Once you exhaust the xiv day limit, you must pack upwardly military camp and exit Sequoia NF entirely. You can return to camping ground inside the wood after the xxx-day menstruum exhausts.

Campfire Restrictions

Campfires are by and large allowed for nearly all of Sequoia NF, just because of California'south propensity for wildfires, burn bans are ofttimes issued. (see, Road, Fire, and Atmospheric condition Conditions, Sequoia National Forest)

Apply of barbecues, gas grills, or other cooktops for outdoor utilise, also requires a campfire allow.
Within developed campgrounds, campfires are restricted to metal containers provided at each camp, or your own metallic containers, barbecue grill, or cooktop.

Gathering Firewood

You're free to gather dead and down firewood to build a campfire while camping at Olympic National Wood. (See, Dispsersed Camping Information, Sequoia National Woods).

You may non cut down continuing trees, dead or alive.
Yous cannot transport any woods for domicile utilise or for resale (a permit is required).

Camping ground Setbacks

When camping outside of developed campgrounds (see Dispersed Camping Information, Sequoia National Forest)…

Your campsite must be 200 feet or more from a torso of h2o (lake, pond, stream, river)
Your military camp must be 1/4 mile or more from a developed campground or trailhead.
Your campsite must be 1/four mile or more from an archaeological or historical site.
Your campsite must be 1/4 mile or more from a major highway.

Fireworks and Explosives

Lighting off fireworks and explosives is prohibited year-round at Sequoia National Forest.

Weapons

You can bring your guns into Sequoia National Woods for target shooting and self-defense. In that location are rules that apply, yet. (see, Hunting, Sequoia National Forest)…

Target shooting is prohibited in areas designated as Wilderness. Sequoia NF has vi such areas. (see, Wilderness, Sequoia National Forest)
Sequoia NF may issue temporary, target shooting bans, in certain areas. Check the latest forest orders for specifics. (see Forest Orders, Sequoia National Forest)
You cannot shoot inside or within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area.
Do not use bottles, glass, or other targets that shatter into tiny pieces.
You cannot shoot across, or on, roads or bodies of water, or where people or property are exposed to injury or impairment.
You lot cannot shoot into a cave.
You cannot shoot into areas that cause resource damage. Don't shoot trees, rocks, stumps, or non-game animals.
Firing tracer bullets or incendiary ammunition is prohibited. (run into, CFR Title 36, Chapter Two, § 261.5 Burn down)

Vehicle Rules

Vehicles are required to remain on designated routes identified on Sequoia National Forest's "Motor Vehicle Use Maps".

Off-road driving is allowed only in areas designated for OHV utilise. Sequoia NF has several OHV areas. (run into OHV Riding & Camping, Sequoia National Wood)
Vehicles may be driven off of roads for the purpose of reaching a camping ground location or moving a vehicle clear of traffic, as long as they driven on previous-used, well-impacted soil, and does not impairment plants or creature habitats.
You cannot build your ain roads, nor articulate out plants and copse to get your vehicle into some place. (encounter, CFR Championship 36, Chapter II, § 261.10 Occupancy and use)
Vehicles (including bicycles) are prohibited within any areas designated as "Wilderness". (see, Wilderness, Sequoia National Forest).

Motor Vehicle Use Maps

These are the Forest's official road maps. They indicate which roads are open to street-legal vehicles just, and which are open to both street-legal and not-street legal vehicles. For further discussion on this read, "How to Use Motor Vehicle Maps (MVUM) to Notice Free Camping".

Sequoia NF, Hume Lake Ranger District, 2008 (PDF)
Sequoia NF, Kern River North Ranger District, 2010 (PDF)
Sequoia NF, Kern River North Ranger District, Wilderness Inset, 2010 (PDF)
Sequoia NF, Kern River Due south Ranger Commune, 2010 (PDF)
Sequoia NF, Kern River Southward Ranger District, Lake Isabella Inset, 2010 (PDF)
Sequoia NF, Western Divide Ranger District, 2008 (PDF)

Nude Camping

Sequoia National Forest does non accost the subject field of public nudity in improver to regulations concerning "Disorderly Conduct" (see below).

Notwithstanding, country laws withal apply to U.South. Forest Service lands…

California Penal Code 314 (CA Penal Lawmaking § 314) – makes public nudity a misdemeanor if the nude person knows there are other persons nearby who might be offended. (run into, CA Penal Code § 314, California Country Legislation)

Disorderly Conduct

The following are acts prohibited (meet, CFR Title 36, Affiliate Ii, § 261.iv Disorderly conduct)…

Inciting others into violence,
Fighting, and
Causing public inconvenience, annoyance, or creating alarm by making unreasonably loud noises.

Flying Drones

Drones (unmanned aircraft systems UAS) are allowed inside Sequoia National Wood. The Wood does not accept any additional rules aside from the national rules adopted by the U.Due south. Forest Service. Beneath is a summary of the national rules (see Know Where to Fly, U.S. Woods Service)…

Drones cannot fly higher up 400 anxiety, and must remain clear of obstacles.
Drones cannot take off from, country inside, nor wing over areas designated as "wilderness". Olympic National Woods has five such areas (encounter, Wilderness, Sequoia National Forest).
Drones cannot be flown in areas where the FAA has established temporary flight restrictions. (see Temporary Flight Restrictions, Federal Aviation Administration)
Drones cannot be flown over or near wild animals.

Pets

Pets are allowed inside Sequoia National Forest, with certain restrictions.

Outside of adult areas (campgrounds, trails, trailheads), pets do non have to be leashed or confined, however they must be under your control at all times.
Inside adult areas, pets take to be both leashed or confined, and under your command at all times.
Inside areas designated as Wilderness, pets must exist leashed at all times.

Sanitation Rules

The following are prohibited (Reference, CFR Title 36, Chapter II, § 261.11 Sanitation)…

Possessing or leaving behind, trash, litter, debris in an exposed, unsanitary condition,
Dumping sewage or waste h2o (gray water) on the footing, and
Bringing in trash from domicile to dump into a forest trash container.

Pooping into a hole is still permitted. Sequoia National Forest requires you lot to dig at to the lowest degree six inches deep, and at least 200 feet from a ocean. (see "Dispersed Camping Information", Sequoia National Forest).

Additional Information

Sequoia National Woods Official Website, U.Due south. Forest Service
National Forest Rules for Adult Campgrounds, Boondocker's Bible Legal Database
All National Forest Manufactures, Boondocker's Bible Knowledgebase
All Articles Near Camping in California, Boondocker's Bible Knowledgebase

Telephone Numbers

Sequoia National Wood, Main Role – (559) 920-1588
- Hume Lake Ranger District – (559) 791-5758
- Kern River Ranger District – (760) 549-9533
- Western Separate Ranger District – (559) 920-0460