Mancos/Dolores Camping Restrictions

Associated Documents

Forest Order

PROHIBITIONS

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a), the following are prohibited on the National Forest System Lands (NFS) on the Mancos-Dolores Ranger District, San Juan National Forest, described below and shown on the attached maps incorporated into this Order as Exhibits A, B, C, D (“Described Areas” and “Described Roads”):

1. Camping in the Transfer Campground Described Area, except if legally camping within Transfer Campground, or in the McPhee Reservoir Described Area. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(e)

    

2. Camping within 300 feet of the Described Roads.  36 C.F.R. § 261.58(e)

    

3. Camping within 300 feet of the Described Trailheads and Day Use Recreation Sites. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(e)

EXEMPTIONS

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order or a written determination by a Forest Service authorized officer that a permit is not required under 36 C.F.R. § 251.50(e)(1) or (2).

2. Any Federal, State, or Local Officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

DESCRIBED AREAS AND ROADS

Transfer Campground Described Area (Exhibit A) – All NFS lands within one mile of Transfer Campground, which includes portions of Sections 7, 8, 17, 18, and 19, Township 37 North, Range 12 West, 

McPhee Reservoir Described Area (Exhibit B) –All NFS lands along the shore of McPhee reservoir from their boundary with the Town of Dolores in the east to May Canyon in the west. Continuing west past May Canyon all Lands between the southern shoreline of McPhee Reservoir south to the Forest Service Boundary, south and west to country road 25 and from the shore of the McPhee Reservoir north to CR X. T.38N, R.15W 

Described Roads (Exhibits A and B)

• NFSR #693, Joe Moore Road, which begins at CR P and ends at the private property north and east of Joe Moore Reservoir
  • NFSR #528, House Creek Road, which begins at its junction with NFSR #526, Dolores-Norwood Road and ends at the entrance of the House Creek Recreation Complex

Described Trailheads and Day Use Recreation Sites (Exhibits C and D)

Barlow OHV Trailhead                      T.40N, R.10W Section 33 

Box Canyon Trailhead                       T.37N, R.12W Section 19

Gold Run Trailhead                            T.38N, R.11W Section 31

Sharkstooth Trailhead                        T.37N, R.11W Section 17

Chicken Creek Ski Trailhead             T.37N, R.13W Section 32

Echo Basin Trailhead                         T.36N, R.12W Section 7

Boggy Draw Trailhead                       T.38N, R.15W Section 36

The Beach River Access                     T.37N, R.15W Section 16

Navajo Lake Trailhead                       T.41N, R.11W Section 22

Calico Trailhead                                 T.41N, R.11W Section 25

Priest Gulch Trailhead                       T.38N, R.12W Section 3

Bear Creek Trailhead                         T.38N, R.12W Section 9

Cross Mountain Trailhead                  T.41N, R.11W Section 23

Lower Stoner Trailhead                     T.39N, R.11W Section 18

East Fork Trailhead                            T.41N, R.10W Section 26

Empire Boat Access Site                    T.38N, R.13W Section 1

Geyser Springs Trailhead                   T.40N, R.11W Section 6

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Order is to protect public safety and natural resources.

IMPLEMENTATION

1. This Order shall be in effect from February 2, 2025; at 12 a.m. through December 1, 2029 at 12 a.m., unless rescinded.
2. Maps identifying the Described areas is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A. For a digital version of this Order and Exhibit A, B, C, and D go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sanjuan/alerts-notices.
3. Unless otherwise expressly defined in this Order, the terms used in this Order are defined by the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture, 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299. If there are terms in this Order that are not expressly defined in the Order or 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299, their meaning shall be determined by their plain language definitions.
4. 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.
5. Contact the Mancos Dolores Ranger District in Dolores, (970) 882-7296, and San Juan National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Durango, (970) 247-4874, for more information about this Order.
6. This Order supersedes previous Order SJ 2019 02 prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same Described Areas.

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