Forest order opens select recreation sites

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MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. — Recreation sites damaged by wildfire are slowly reopening for public use.

Mendocino National Forest officials issued a forest order on Thursday to supersede a previous order that had closed a number of campgrounds, trailheads and off-highway vehicle trails damaged or posing safety hazards from the 2020 August Complex and 2018 Ranch wildfires.

While the order still contains a number of closed recreation sites, it also reflects the removal of several sites now ready for public use. Notably, the Dixie Glade and Little Doe campgrounds, as well as the Lower Nye trailhead, are open to the public.

Three off-highway vehicle trails within the Stonyford Riding Area (trail nos. 85307, 85324 and 85324A) also have reopened.

“While people need to recognize the inherent risks of recreating outdoors, especially after natural disasters, our staff is working extremely hard to get our developed recreation sites back online for the public,” said Mendocino Forest Supervisor Ann Carlson. “As our crews continue repairing damages and mitigating hazards, we hope to have more sites available to the recreating public and will update closure orders accordingly.”

The new forest order goes into effect Friday, June 4.

A complete listing of recreation sites and their open or closed status can be found on the Mendocino National Forest’s recreation webpages at www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino.