Mendocino National Forest

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.…

Temporary road closure on 16N21 Road

Forest Road 16N21 on Pitney Ridge in the Upper Lake Ranger District is temporarily closed for resource protection and to eliminate traffic incursions onto a contingency dozer line, which intersects with the road in multiple locations. Please see Exhibit A for a map of the road closure.

Logging traffic on Forest Highway 7

Forest Service contractors will be loading log decks from the Plaskett Keller Project and hauling them east on FH7 to the valley. Be prepared for traffic delays. Stay alert for logging crews near or on roads. And follow traffic signs along the haul route.

Overview

Mendocino National Forest is a 927,650-acre forest located in the North Coast Range of northwestern California, approximately 3 hours north of San Francisco and Sacramento. The forest is currently open but with significant operational considerations. Wet weather trail closures are currently in effect on both the Upper Lake District (since Dec. 20, 2025) and Grindstone District (since Dec. 23, 2025), restricting OHV trail use when 2+ inches of rain fall within 24 hours or soils become saturated. Forest roads are NOT plowed, making driving conditions hazardous and potentially impassable even with 4WD and snow tires. Critical to note: nearly 90% of the forest has burned within the last four years, creating persistent post-fire hazards including unstable landslides, hazard trees, rockfall, and debris that can block roads at any time. Several key roads have damage or access issues, particularly M10 (slides above Fouts Springs), M2/308 (slides blocking eastern access), and various others with unknown or compromised conditions. Cedar Camp Campground remains closed for public safety through June 2026. Trail 34 and Trail 85303 (Trail 3) are closed due to degradation and landslides. This is the only California national forest without a paved road entering it, offering primitive backcountry experiences but requiring high clearance vehicles and careful trip planning. Always check current conditions before traveling, as the dynamic post-fire landscape and winter weather create rapidly changing hazards.

Community Posts

No posts yet. Be the first to share your experience!