The Forest Service has issued a Regional Order that prohibits overnight camping in developed campgrounds in Los Padres National Forest and seven other California national forests. The Regional Order will be in effect from December 8 through January 6, 2021.
Day-trips to developed day use areas, trail use, and backpacking are still allowed, so long as social distancing, masks, and prohibitions on gatherings are followed.
ForestWatch has put together a list of guidelines to protect yourself and others while visiting public lands. View the list here.
All designated campgrounds in the LPNF will be closed. The Forest Service order is consistent with the Governor’s stay-at-home order, which prohibits explicitly overnight stays at campgrounds.
According to a Forest Service news release, the purpose of the Regional Order is to protect visitors and U.S. Forest Service employees by reducing potential exposure to COVID-19 and mitigating any further burden on emergency responders and healthcare facilities. Camping in developed sites poses an increased risk:
- It encourages people from multiple households to congregate together.
- It endangers camp hosts and Forest Service employees who interact with the public.
- It requires people to spend time in confined, poorly-ventilated spaces such as camp restrooms and outhouses where virus transmission is more significant.
Read the full news release and additional information by visiting Los Padres National Forest’s public website.
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