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Carson National Forest

Cannabis Possession Prohibited

Order 03-00-00-21-002 prohibits possessing, storing, or transporting a cannabis plant, any part of a cannabis plant, or any substance derived from a cannabis plant within the Southwestern Region National Forests in the State of New Mexico and the National Grasslands in the states of Texas and…

Offices Closed July 3

All Carson National Offices are closed on federal holidays, including in observance of Independence Day on July 3 and the Fourth of July weekend. Some services are available online:Firewood PermitsCampground ReservationsCurrent Fire Restrictions

Closed: Supervisor's Office (Taos) June 30 and July 1

The Supervisor's Office in Taos is closed to public services the week of June 29, 2026, due to unplanned staffing issues. We apologize for the inconvenience.Some services are available online:Firewood PermitsCampground ReservationsCurrent Fire Restrictions

Overview

Carson National Forest encompasses 1.5 million acres of Northern New Mexico spanning the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, San Juan Mountains, and San Juan Basin, with elevations ranging from 6,500 to over 13,000 feet (including Wheeler Peak, New Mexico's highest point). The forest is currently open with LOW fire danger across all zones. Current alerts include: Forest Road 17 closed for maintenance; active timber harvesting operations on Camino Real Ranger District (FR 476, 115A, 115B); pile burning operations ongoing through winter depending on conditions; bridge collapse on West Fork Santa Barbara Trail (#25) 2.3 miles from trailhead; beaver dam flooding on Placer Fork Trail (#72); Capulin Trail (#494) and FR 10AA temporarily closed to motorized vehicles; and ongoing trail maintenance addressing blowdown from 2021 windstorm. Christmas tree and firewood permits are available online. The forest provides diverse recreation opportunities including hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and mountain biking across sagebrush to alpine tundra ecosystems.

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