MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – The Mendocino National Forest has issued a new forest order that opens several recreation areas previously closed by the Ranch fire.

Forest Order No. 08-19-02 is effective June 4, 2019 until July 1, 2020 and is available here: https://tinyurl.com/y3f2xtwo .

On the Grindstone Ranger District, the following campgrounds are open: Davis Flat, North Fork, South Fork, Fouts, Mill Creek, Gray Pine Group and Mine Camp.

In addition, the RV Dump Station, Nail Track OHV Play Area and Day Use, Little Stony Day Use (all OHV trails and roads remain closed in the area) and Little Stony Campground (all OHV trails and roads remain closed in the area) are open as well as the following trails and roads:

Trail 85342 – loop out of Davis Flat Campground
Trail 85341 – north of County Road 43A (M10) – connector trail to campgrounds in Fouts
18N10 – leads to Mine Camp
17N64 – spur to South Fork Campground
17N47 – spur to Fouts Campground
17N60 – spur to RV Dump Station
18N03D – spur to Davis Flat Campground
18N03 – open to junction of 18N03A
18N03A – spur to North Fork Campground
18N08 and 18N08A (access roads to Happy Camp private property)
County Road 42 (Goat Mountain Road) to Little Stony Day use area
County Road 43A Fouts Springs Road open to M10 (Fouts Campground Complex)

The following are open on the Upper Lake Ranger District:

Middle Creek Campground Novice area
Forest Trail No. 60 Erickson Ridge 4x4
Forest Trail No. 61 Coyote Rock
Forest Trail No. 63 Browns Gulch
Forest Trail No. 65 Powder House 4x4 (north of M1)
Forest Trail No. 66 Refuge 4x4
Forest Trail No. 67 Rattlesnake 4x4
Forest Trail No. 69 Windy Point

Please remember that there is a seasonal closure, from May 18 to September 8, which affects the following trails on the Upper Lake district:

Forest Trail No. 62 Oak Flat Access (also known as Forest Road No. 18N40)
Forest Trail No. 64 Powder House
Forest Trail No. 65 Powder House 4x4 (south of M1, also known as Forest Road No. 19N46)

Forest Supervisor Ann Carlson explained, “Roads and trails in these opened areas have been evaluated and hazards have been reduced. In addition, with the end of the wet season, there is much less risk of resource damage from concentrated use of the 20 miles of OHV trails outside the fire area.” Carlson adds, “Although Forest Order 08-19-02 currently goes to July 2020, we are constantly evaluating conditions and reducing hazards in order to open more of the fire area.”

For more information, check the forest website https://www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino , Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MendocinoNF/ , Twitter @MendocinoNF or call 530-934-3316.