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  • R1-2023-01 Northern Region Camping Restrictions

    Regional Camping Restriction Order that prohibits within all Northern Region (Region 1) National Forest System (NFS) lands within Montana:

    • camping or otherwise occupying a single site for over 16 consecutive days; and/or
    • camping or otherwise occupying any number of sites for 32 cumulative days in a calendar year.

    AND

    Prohibits within all Northern Region (Region 1) NFS lands within North Dakota and South Dakota:

    • camping or otherwise occupying a single site for over 14 consecutive days; and/or
    • camping or otherwise occupying any number of sites for 28 cumulative days in a calendar year.

    Definitions:

    Definitions for the purpose of this order are as follows:

    1. The term “camping” means the temporary use of National Forest System lands for the purpose of overnight occupancy without a permanently fixed structure.
    2. The term “occupying” means the physical presence of a person or any personal property.
    3. The term “site” means the campsite or place that is occupied and all NFS lands within 1/2 mile radius

    PURPOSE:

    1. To alleviate environmental stress and damage associated with longer-term utilization of Forest Service System lands such as soil erosion or compaction.
    2. To limit human and animal waste product contamination contributing to fecal bacteria in waterways.
    3. To limit the overgrazing of a single area by livestock.
    4. To allow forest users have equal access to recreational areas and activities

    EXEMPTIONS:

    Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.S0(e), the following persons are exempt from the prohibitions in the order:

    1.  

Alert Start Date: January 1st, 2023

Alert End Date: December 31st, 2025

Order Number: R1-2023-01

Associated Documents

R1-2023-01 Northern Region Camping Restrictions

Forest Order

Order Number: # R1-2023-01

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
U.S. FOREST SERVICE 
NORTHERN REGION

CAMPING RESTRICTIONS

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551, and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited on all National Forest System lands administered as National Forests, National Grasslands and Experimental Forests within the Northern Region in the states of Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota (the “Affected Area”). The Affected Area includes all land, roads, and trails located within the boundaries of the following National Forests and National Grasslands:

Affected Areas: 

The following National Forests, Grasslands and Experimental Forest:

  • Bitterroot
  • Beaverhead-Deerlodge
  • Custer-Gallatin
  • Flathead
  • Kootenai
  • Helena-Lewis & Clark
  • Lolo
  • Denbigh
  • Little Missouri
  • Grand River
  • Cedar River
  • Sheyenne

Prohibitions:

National Forests in Montana:

  1. Camping or otherwise occupying a single site for over 16 consecutive days within a calendar year. 
    36 C.F.R. § 261.58(a)
  2. Camping or otherwise occupying any number of sites over 32 cumulative days within a calendar year. 
    36 C.F.R. § 261.58(a)

National Forest, Experimental Forest and Grasslands in North and South Dakota:

  1. Camping or otherwise occupying a single site for over 14 consecutive days within a calendar year. 
    36 C.F.R. § 261.58(a)
  2. Camping or otherwise occupying any number of sites over 28 cumulative days within a calendar year. 
    36 C.F.R. § 261.58(a)

Purpose:

  1. To alleviate environmental stress and damage associated with longer-term utilization of Forest Service System lands such as soil erosion or compaction.
  2. To limit human and animal waste product contamination contributing to fecal bacteria in waterways.
  3. To limit the overgrazing of a single area by livestock.
  4. To allow forest users have equal access to recreational areas and activities

EXEMPTIONS:

  1. Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.S0(e)1 the following persons are exempt from the prohibitions in the order:
    Persons with a special use authorization or other Forest Service authorization specifically exempting them from the effect of this order. 36 C.F.R. § 261.S0(e)(l)
  2. Any Federal, State, or Local Law Enforcement Officer or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty. 36 C.F.R. § 261.S0(e)(4)
  3. Any Forest Service employees in the performance of their official duties. 36 C.F.R. § 261.S0(e)(S)

IMPLEMENTATION:

This Order will be effective on January 1, 2023 at 0001 and shall remain m effect through December 31, 2025 at 2359 or until rescinded, whichever occurs first.

  1. Unless otherwise defined in this Order, the terms in this Order are defined in accordance with 36 C.F.R. § 261.2. If there are terms in this Order that are not defined in the Order or in Forest Service regulations, their meaning is determined by their plain language definition.
  2. A violation of the above prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.
  3. Further information regarding this Order may be obtained at the Regional Office located in Missoula, MT, or by calling 406-329-3648.
  4. This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts within the listed affected areas.

 

Executed in Missoula, Montana, this 19th day of December.

/s Melany Glossa for Leanne Marten, Regional Forester

Contact Name:

Northern Region Office of the Regional Forester

Contact Number:

406-329-3648

Last updated March 3rd, 2025

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