The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Urges Caution when Recreating this Memorial Weekend

It is time to gather up the family and gear and head to your favorite recreation spot. Memorial Day weekend is the kick off for the summer, and traditionally it is a very busy weekend on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Forest visitors can enjoy biking, camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, and many more recreations activities this summer.

With its 6.3 million acres, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is the largest National Forest in the lower 48 states. The Forest has 60 campgrounds, 14 picnic areas, and 53 trailheads throughout Nevada and portions of eastern California. The public can also visit the Forest’s two visitor centers: Galena Creek Visitor Center in Reno, Nevada, and the Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway in Mount Charleston, Nevada. In addition, there are 24 wilderness areas, 1,716 motorized trails, and 1,812 non-motorized trails to explore.

The public should keep in mind that while some recreation sites on the Forest are accessible, some recreation facilities, roads, and trails may not be accessible this Memorial Day due to recent wet weather and late snow thaw. To check on your favorite campground or road or trail conditions, please contact the local Ranger District (number listed below).

To ensure public safety and prevent resource damage, the Forest urges the visitors to refrain from driving or hiking on soft, muddy roads or trails and choose more hardened designated routes until ground conditions change. Proper and responsible use of the Forest’s road and trail systems are important to ensure roads and trails remain in good condition for all visitors.

Persons may be held criminally and/or civilly liable for any resource damage they cause. The public is asked to report any resource damage they may find by contacting their local Ranger District office.

Forest users planning to use livestock on National Forest lands are permitted to use only certified weed-free straw, hay, or pellets. The Forest is also asking equestrians to stay off higher elevation trails until conditions become dryer.

Memorial Day weekend is a time to enjoy the outdoors with friends and family. However, it is important for Forest users to celebrate responsibly and to be careful with fire. The Forest is encouraging visitors to follow several fire safety tips for safe celebrating this holiday:

Do not leave campfires unattended.
Clear vegetation and dry debris down to bare soil within 10 feet around your campfire.
Be sure to completely put out campfires, leaving the site cold to the touch.
Make sure lighting and heating devices are cool before refueling.
Ensure cigarettes, cigars, and tobacco pipes are fully extinguished when not in use.
Use caution when operating vehicles in close proximity to vegetation.
Spark arresting devices must be properly installed and maintained on all internal combustion engines.
Also, before venturing onto the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, please pick up a map with the appropriate level of detail for your planned activities:

For motorized travel: Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) are available at all Forest Service offices, and may be downloaded from https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/htnf/home/?cid=stelprdb5417362. In addition, the MVUM can be downloaded to a mobile device, such as an iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch or Android (4.0.3 or newer), directly through the Avenza PDF Maps Mobile App. For detailed instructions, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/htnf/maps-pubs.
For hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding: Topographic maps are recommended. Visit the US Geological Survey for online purchases: https://store.usgs.gov/.
Forest visitor maps and wilderness maps: Are available at all Forest Service offices. Visitor maps are also available online at: https://www.nationalforestmapstore.com/.
For additional information on how to obtain a MVUM or other maps or on the status of Forest campgrounds, trails, and roads during this Memorial Day weekend, please contact any of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s offices.