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  • Sawtooth Wilderness Area Occupancy and Use

    This order covers occupancy and use requirements for the Sawtooth Wilderness area on the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. 

Alert Start Date: March 1, 2025

Alert End Date: March 1, 2030

Rec Sites Affected:

Sawtooth Wilderness

Order Number: 0414-04-161

Associated Documents

Sawtooth Wilderness Area Occupancy and Use Order Map - Exhibit A Map - Exhibit B Map - Exhibit C Map - Exhibit D Map - Exhibit E Map - Exhibit F

Forest Order

U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service 
Sawtooth National Forest
Sawtooth National Recreation Area

Sawtooth Wilderness Area Occupancy and Use

PROHIBITIONS

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50 (a) and (b), the following are prohibited on all National Forest System (NFS) lands and trails within the Sawtooth Wilderness Area, shown on the attached map incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A (“Described Area”):

  1. Entering or being within the Described Area without a Forest Service-approved self-registered permit, group permit, or special use authorization. 36 C.F.R. § 261.57(a)
  2. Being in the Described Area with a group of more than 12 persons from May 1st through November 30 and more than 20 persons from December 1st through April 30th. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(f)
  3. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a campfire within ¼ mile from an NFS Trail or within 200 yards from Sawtooth Lake, Alpine Lake, Saddleback Lakes, Goat Lake, or Scenic Lake, which are shown on Exhibit B. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(a)
  4. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a campfire within the following drainages: Pettit and Yellow Belly Lake Creeks, Goat Creek (tributary of the South Fork of the Payette River), Alpine Creek (tributary of Alturas Lake Creek), which are shown on Exhibit B. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(a)
  5. Building, maintaining, attending, or using any fire or campfire without using a stove, brazier, fire pan or fire blanket to contain charcoal or ash. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(a)
  6. Being on an NFS Trail with a dog, except for dogs assisting persons with disabilities or engaged in lawful hunting with a person in possession of a valid Idaho hunting license and Hound Hunter permit, on a leash that is more than 15 feet from July 1st through Labor Day. 36 C.F.R. § 261.55(a)
  7. Possessing or transporting a dog within the Goat Creek drainage (tributary of the South Fork of the Payette), shown on Exhibit C. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(s)
  8. Possessing more than 14 head of horses, mules, donkeys, burros, llamas, or goats. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(s)
  9. Possessing horses, mules, donkeys, burros, or goats in the Goat Creek drainage (tributary of the South Fork of the Payette), and Alpine Creek drainage, as depicted on the map attached hereto as Exhibit D. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(s)
  10. Possessing horses, mules, donkeys, burros, or goats within 200 yards of Edith Lake, shown on Exhibit E, while camping overnight. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(s)
  11. Being on an NFS Trail with horses, mules, donkeys, burros, or goats, except if they are under direct or indirect control and within 50 feet of the person responsible for them. 36 C.F.R. § 261.55(a)
  12. Grazing horses, mules, donkeys, or burros within the Salmon River drainage, shown on Exhibit F. 36 C.F.R. § 261.57(e)
  13. Grazing horses, mules, donkeys, burros, llamas, or goats within 200 yards of any lake. 36 C.F.R. § 261.57(e)
  14. Hitching, tethering, or hobbling horses, mules, donkeys, burros, llamas, or goats within 100 feet of any lake, stream, or springs, to live trees for more than one hour. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(aa)
  15. Possessing horses, mules, donkeys, burros, llamas, or goats within a campsite for purposes other than loading or unloading for periods of longer than one hour, except pack goats when bedded near sleeping areas.  36 C.F.R. § 261.58(s)
  16. Possessing, storing, or transporting unprocessed plant material such as hay, straw or other bulk livestock feed for bedding, feeding or other uses.  36 C.F.R. § 261.58(t)
  17. Entering or being in the Described Area with fixed climbing anchors that are not removable without tools such as hammers, chisels, or crowbars.  36 CFR 261.57(a)
  18. Camping in violation of posted signs. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(e)
  19. Shortcutting a switchback in a trail. 36 C.F.R. § 261.55(e)
  20. Depositing any human waste within 100 feet of springs, lakes, streams, or campsites, or failing to bury human waste outside those areas.  36 C.F.R. § 261.57(g)

EXEMPTIONS

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

  1. Persons with a 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.
  3. Forest Service administrative personnel in the performance of an official duty. 

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Order is to protect natural resources and wilderness character.

IMPLEMENTATION

  1. This Order shall be in effect from February 20, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. through February 20, 2030 at 11:59 p.m., unless rescinded.
  2. A map identifying the Described Area and other areas within the Described Area are attached and made part of this Order as Exhibits A-F. For a digital version of this Order and Exhibits, go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/‌r04/‌sawtooth/‌alerts
  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 Sawtooth National Forest Supervisor’s Office, Jerome, ID, (208) 423-7500, the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Headquarters, (208) 727-5000, or the Stanley Ranger Station, Stanley, ID, (208) 774-300, for more information about this Order. 

  6. This Order supersedes any Order prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same Described Area.

     

/Digitally signed, see order attached/

Jake Strohmeyer
Forest Supervisor
Sawtooth National Forest

Contact Name:

Sawtooth National Recreation Area – Stanley Ranger Station

Contact Number:

(208) 727-5000

Last updated March 16, 2025

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