Update: 8:55 am Sept 8, 2020
***NEW*** The Pacific Southwest Regional Forester has signed another Forest closure order (attached) closing backcountry areas to camping, including Luther Pass, Watson Lake and Blackwood Canyon campgrounds and camping along the Tahoe Rim Trail. Overnight camping will still be allowed in Desolation Wilderness and within 500ft of the Pacific Crest Trail on the West Shore. This closure goes into effect Sep. 8 through Sep. 14, 2020, at which time it will be re-evaluated.
As a reminder, the regional closure order, closing all developed recreation sites in the Tahoe Basin, went into effect Sep. 7, 2020, and will be re-evaluated on a daily basin. FYI, under the new Regional Emergency Fire Restrictions, propane stoves are no longer permitted on National Forest lands. Anything with a flame is prohibited on National Forest lands in the Tahoe Basin.
The Tahoe Basin is under Red Flag/Critical Fire Weather Warning from 5AM – 8PM tonight
 While wood and charcoal are banned during fire season, under Red Flag Weather conditions no outdoor open flames are permitted in the North Tahoe Fire and Meeks Bay Fire service areas, including gas and propane firepits/grills or pellet grills/smokers. Thank you for helping us to spread the word to our residents and visitors. We encourage anyone who sees an illegal fire to call it in to 911 with a description of whether it is under control or not so that only the necessary resources are dispatched, and as a reminder outdoor burning of wood and charcoal are never permitted at short-term rentals in eastern Placer County.
All day Use Areas and Dispersed Camping Locations Temporarily Closed in California
Regional Order No. 20-08
USDA Forest Service
Pacific Southwest Region
Developed Recreation Site Closure
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 551 and 36 C.F.R. 261.50(a), and to provide for public safety and protect
natural resources, the following act is prohibited on the National Forest System lands listed
below. This Order is effective from September 7, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, through
September 14, 2020.
Entering or using a Developed Recreation Site, except trailheads, in the National Forests
listed below. For purposes of this order, a Developed Recreation Site includes
campgrounds, day use sites, boat launches and related facilities.
a. Eldorado National Forest
b. Tahoe National Forest
c. Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
d. Mendocino National Forest
e. Plumas National Forest
f. Lassen National Forest
g. Shasta Trinity National Forest
h. Six Rivers National Forest
i. Klamath National Forest
j. Modoc National Forest
36 C.F.R. 261.58(b).
Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:
- Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails,
or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this
Order - Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting
force in the Performance of an official duty.
This prohibition is in addition to the general prohibitions contained in 36 C.F.R. Part 261,
Subpart A.
A violation of this prohibition is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual
or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.
16 U.S.C. 551 and 18 U.S.C. 3559, 3571, and 3581.
Done at Vallejo, California, this 7th day of September 2020.