Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests
From Recreation.gov
O'hara Campground no longer has an active water system. Water is available at Cedar Flat and Johnson Bar Campground.
Weed Free Hay Order 04-2021-03
Prohibited by this order: Possessing, storing, or transporting non-pelletized hay, straw, or mulch in the Intermountain Region, unless it is certified as weed free by the state where the product originated.
Fireworks and Spark Arrestor Order 04-2021-01
Prohibited by this order: Possessing, discharging, or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device. 36 CFR §261.52(t)Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order as described…
Explosives and Exploding Target Order 04-2021-02
This order prohibits the use of explosives and exploding targets on National Forest System lands within the Intermountain Region.
Northern and Intermountain Regions Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness
This order implements visitor use requirements for activities within the Restricted Area and on the Restricted Trails, as required by the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area Management Plan (November 2003).
Northern and Intermountain Regions Salmon Wild and Scenic River: Occupancy and Use
This order enacts visitor use restrictions for activities within the 80-mile-long wild segment of the Salmon Wild & Scenic River corridor, including a one-quarter mile buffer from the river, as required by the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area Management Plan (November 2003).
South Fork Salmon River Road Repair Closure
A landslide has closed the South Fork Salmon River Road from Poverty Overlook on the south side to Poverty Flat Campground on the north side.
Granite Mountain Over Snow Vehicle Closure
The purpose of this order is to protect public safety during commercial cat skiing and grooming operations.
Chamberlain Airstrip Campground Restriction
The purpose of this Order is to protect resources, and the quality and wilderness character of the area as well as to avoid user conflicts between agency stock and private stock users in the area.
Big Flat Campground Area Closure
The purpose of this Order is to protect public safety prior to and during reconstruction of Big Flat Campground, which was severely damaged during the 2024 Lava Fire. The purpose of this order is to protect the public from hazards associated with post fire events, such as flooding and falling…
Wilderness Camping and Grazing Restrictions
The purpose of this Order is to protect fragile, high elevation, water-based natural resources within the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness from stock and user impacts.
Big Creek Area Boating Restrictions
The purpose of this Order is to protect Chinook Salmon and steelhead.
South Fork Salmon River East Trail Prohibitions
The purpose of this Order is to protect public safety due to unsafe creek crossings on the Described Trail.
Lost Valley Closure Area
The purpose of this order is to protect a federally listed, threatened species and its occupied habitat.
Calf Pen Area Closure
The area adjacent to NFS Road #50073 has been identified as a sensitive area for a federally listed, threatened species.
South Fork Salmon Road Weight Restrictions
The purpose of this Order is to protect public safety and prevent potential resource damage during spring thaw conditions.
Commercial Hauling
The purpose of this order is protect public safety and National Forest resources.
Over-Snow Vehicle Closure
The purpose of this order is to protect public safety and natural resources.
Payette Occupancy and Use- 14 Day Stay Limit
The purpose of this order is to address competition for campsites and to protect public safety and natural resources.
Frank Church Wilderness Occupancy and Use
The purpose of this order is to implement visitor use requirements for activities within the restricted area and on the restricted trails, as required by the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area Management Plan (November 2003).
Brundage Mountain Resort Snowcat Route Closure
The closure of the snowcat routes to over-snow vehicles provides for the safety of persons recreating or using the area.
Gordon Titus Upper Elevation Parking Lot Winter Restrictions
To provide for public health and safety related to noise and to reduce user conflicts at high usewinter recreation areas.
South Fork Salmon River and Big Creek Float
The purpose of the order is to implement permit requirements for float boating on the South Fork of the Salmon River and Big Creek as required by the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area Management Plan.
Weed Free Forage & Mulch Products Order for the Northern Region
It is illegal to possess, store or transport straw, hay, grain, seed or other forage or mulch products on Forest Service lands without documentation that the product is certified as “weed free” by a state certification process that meets or exceeds the North American Weed Free Forage standards.
Northern Region Camping & Target Restrictions, Pallet Prohibition
This order defines the maximum length of occupation at a single location or cumulatively at any number of locations within a calendar year, within the states of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Idaho
Northern and Intermountain Regions Salmon Wild and Scenic River: Occupancy and Use
This order enacts visitor use restrictions for activities within the 80-mile-long wild segment of the Salmon Wild & Scenic River corridor, including a one-quarter mile buffer from the river, as required by the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area Management Plan (November 2003).
Northern and Intermountain Regions Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness
This order implements visitor use requirements for activities within the Restricted Area and on the Restricted Trails, as required by the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area Management Plan (November 2003).
Annual Mill Creek Area Climbing Closure
The Stevensville Ranger District is reminding everyone of the annual climbing closure in the Mill Creek area to allow for nesting of cliff-dwelling raptors. The closure will start February 1st of each year and continue until it has been determined that no raptors are nesting in the area or until…
Bitterroot National Forest Food Storage Order
The purpose of this Order is to protect public safety and wildlife by minimizing human-bear interactions.
Alcohol Prohibitions
This Order describes acts that are prohibited upon lands, roads and trails within the National Forest System administered by the Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region in regards to alcoholic beverages.
Aquatic Invasive Species
This Order prohibits 1) possessing, storing, or transporting any aquatic invasive animal species AND 2) prohibits possessing, storing, or transporting any aquatic or riparian invasive plant species - on National Forest System lands in the Pacific Northwest Region as specified in the Order.
Restrictions on Use of Forage and Mulch Products
This Order prohibits unloading, storing, or using any straw, hay, grain, seed, or other forage or mulch products that are not state-certified weed free on the National Forest System lands, roads or trails in any Closure Area as specific in the Order. Some examples of these include hay bales, hay…
Fireworks and Explosives are always Prohibited
Fireworks and explosives (including explosive targets) are always prohibited on national forest lands. The prohibition of fireworks and exploding targets on national forest system lands is part of a set of permanent fire safety regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), listed below.…
Occupancy and Use of Wild and Scenic Snake River Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Prohibitions on all National Forest System Lands with in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, in the State of Oregon and Idaho within a 1/4 mile of the Snake River Between Hells Canyon Dam, river mile 247.5, down stream to the Oregon-Washington boarder at river mile 176.0.
Hells Canyon Wilderness Occupancy and Use
To provide for resource protection, the following acts are prohibited within the Hells Canyon Wilderness, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest: Hitching or tethering of horse(s) or other saddle or pack animal(s) to trees at campsites in the Hells Canyon Wilderness except for the purposes of loading or…
Eagle Cap Wilderness Occupancy and Use
To provide for resource protection, the following acts, listed in the forest order below, are prohibited within the Eagle Cap Wilderness, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
Snake River Fire Restrictions - 06/01 -09/30
Pursuant to 36 CFR, Sec. 261.50(a), building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire is prohibited on all National Forest System Lands (within the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, in the State of Oregon and Idaho) within a ¼ mile of the Snake River between Hells Canyon…
Forest Order: Anthony Lakes Over-the-Snow and Wheeled Vehicles
Prohibitions on vehicle use off road in areas around Anthony Lakes.
Forest Order: Tri-Forest 14-Day Stay Limit
Prohibitions for camping on the Umatilla, Wallowa-Whitman, and Malheur National Forests for a period longer than 14 days within any 30-day period.
Forest Order: Hells Canyon National Recreation Area - Domestic Sheep and Goats
Prohibitions on possessing, storing, or transporting any domestic sheep or goat in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.
From Recreation.gov
Lookout Butte lookout is currently closed due to the discovery of structural deficiencies in the tower. For public safety, the tower and surrounding area are closed to the public until repairs can be completed.
Weed Free Forage & Mulch Products Order for the Northern Region
It is illegal to possess, store or transport straw, hay, grain, seed or other forage or mulch products on Forest Service lands without documentation that the product is certified as “weed free” by a state certification process that meets or exceeds the North American Weed Free Forage standards.
R1-2023-02 - NCDE Food and Wildlife Attractant Storage Order
Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem Food/Wildlife Attractant Storage Order for the Flathead, Lolo, Kootenai, Helena-Lewis and Clark, and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests within the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem.
Order 01-15-00-25-01: Bob Marshall, Scapegoat, and Great Bear Wilderness Restrictions
Occupancy and Use and Trail Restrictions for the entire Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, as well as trail, stock, and camping restrictions on Our Lake Trail and lake area (Helena-Lewis and Clark NF), beneath the Chinese Wall (Helena-Lewis and Clark NF), and Castle Creek Riverside Campsite (Flathead…
West Fork Dry Creek Road and Trails 274 and 572 Closure
Road and trail access in the West Fork Dry Creek area is closed through Nov. 30, 2026, due to hazardous blowdown. Only authorized personnel and exempt landowners may enter.
East Fork Big Creek Road & Trail Closure- Superior Ranger District
Due to recent weather, East Fork Big Creek Road (Forest Service Road 428) is closed from milepost 1.35 junction with 16046 (lodgepole) to milepost 1.85 seasonal gate closure turnaround. This closure is for public health and safety due to hazardous conditions resulting from flood and wind damage…
Forest, Regional and Other Regulations
Welcome to the Lolo National Forest As a visitor to the national forests, you must follow certain rules to protect the forest and natural environment, and to ensure your health and safety.Forest and Regional RegulationsAll bear attractants, including any type of food and garbage, must be stored in…
Deer Creek Road & Snowmobile Trail Closed on Superior Ranger District
Deer Creek Road #236 and Deer Creek Loop Snowmobile Trail (SNO-70.1) on the Superior Ranger District are closed due to flood and wind damage to the road, bridge crossing, and trail.
Ward Creek Road Closure- Superior Ranger District
Due to the recent weather event a portion of the Ward Creek Road is closed. For your health and safety please avoid travel in this area.
From Recreation.gov
Reservations for the 2026 season will be made available starting January 1, 2026.
Overview
The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests encompass 4 million acres of diverse terrain in north-central Idaho, ranging from the rugged canyons of the Salmon River to moist cedar forests and rolling Palouse uplands. The forests are currently open with fire danger rated as Very High. Recent alerts include a closure of Fish Creek Campground, Pavilion, and surrounding roads (FSR 4600 and FSR 221) due to windstorm damage and hazardous snags as of December 19, 2025. Seasonal winter restrictions are in effect at the Lolo Pass Winter Recreation Area for snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and dog use. The forests are known for cold, snowy winters (with snow depths of 1-10 feet) and hot, dry summers, offering extensive winter recreation including over 350 miles of groomed trails near Elk City. A new Land Management Plan was finalized in January 2025 after a comprehensive planning process. The forests contain four wilderness areas and provide diverse recreation opportunities year-round. Water quality issues were noted at Laird Park Campground in summer 2025. Always check current conditions before visiting as weather can be extreme and variable, especially at higher elevations.
Top Campgrounds
- Adams Ranger Station
- Apgar Campground
- Austin Ridge Lookout
- Castle Creek Campground
- Crooked River
- Crooked River Campground #4
- Fish Creek Group Use
- Fish Creek Pavilion
- Five Mile Campground
- Glade Creek Campground
- Halfway House Campground
- Iron Phone Junction Campground
- JERRY WALKER CABIN
- Johnson Bar Campground
- LEGGETT CREEK
- Lookout Butte Lookout
- Mystery Saddle Camp
- Nelson Creek Campground
- O'hara Saddle Campground
- Oxbow Campsite
- Rainy Day Campground
- Rocky Bluff Campground
- Sing Lee Campground
- South Fork Campground
- South Fork Group Site 5
- Walde Lookout Cabin
- Wild Goose Campground
- Wildhorse Campground
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