Memorial Day weekend, honoring the heroes who gave their lives in military service to this nation, also marks the start of summer visits to national forests, reports Lassen National Forest. Some sites with lingering snow, road damage or wet conditions may remain closed. Staff continue to use all available resources to open these areas for the public to safely enjoy.
“We are excited to welcome visitors this Memorial Day weekend,” said Amber Marshall, LNF public affairs officer. “Before heading out, plan ahead, check access and review tips to stay safe on our new forest website.”
With temporary closures or delayed openings at some recreation sites, LNF appreciates visitors’ patience. Safety is the forest’s top priority. Updated site status, availability for recreation sites, current conditions and the Park Fire Closure Order with area map are all available on the website. LNF recreation sites reservations are available online as well, through recreation.gov.
Visitors can enjoy their time in Lassen National Forest by following these tips:
Know before you go. Check in with local Forest Service offices for closures and alerts. Use the forest website to check for updates on recreation sites.
- Do not enter cold, rapid water. It may be colder than swimmers realize and dangerous, both for them and for first responders.
- Never enter the water to rescue a victim. Throw something that floats and call 911.
- Do not drive through high waters. Water often moves faster than it appears.
Note surroundings. Many campgrounds and trails are near lakes and rivers with changing water conditions.
- Be aware of winds and avoid areas with dead standing trees.
- Look up before choosing a trail, parking a car or setting up camp.
- No matter how tempting, do not park a car illegally and block emergency vehicle access.
Pack essentials. Always bring food, water, clothes for changing weather, first aid supplies, lights, a navigation aid and a smartphone, while being prepared for reception to be spotty or unavailable. Hikers, riders and campers should give a detailed travel plan and GPS location upon arrival to someone not on the trip, in case of an emergency.
Observe all posted signs and warnings. There may not be barriers or signs at each closed location, and GPS is not always reliable for current closures and conditions. Gates should never be opened when closed, even if GPS shows the best route through the area. Citations may still be issued even if no signs exist when a forest order is in place.
Additional weather and planning resources include:
- California Department of Transportation QuickMap
- National Weather Service Weather Watches, Warnings and Advisories
- California Office of Emergency Services