The U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service have released restrictions that essentially ban campfires, restrict smoking and certain types of stoves on much of the Pacific Crest Trail, even with a campfire permit. The restrictions are not PCT specific, they are in place broadly in the forests and parks that the trail passes through.
This page compiles the temporary fire restrictions for the Pacific Crest Trail between Tuolumne Meadows and the Oregon border. Along with the Southern California restrictions, campfires are banned on most of the PCT in California. See our general page on fire information.
This is not an exhaustive list. For instance, it does not include permanent restrictions relating to fire bans around certain lakes. Nor did we summarize the restrictions on fireworks and combustion engines.
Please consult the agency websites for the full language of the restrictions. Usually, stoves that use gas or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed, other types of stoves are not. Smoking is not allowed on much of the trail and it is restricted in other places.
Listed north to south:
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Read the Rogue River-Siskiyou NF restrictions.
Approximate PCT miles: 1,706 – 1,823.
- No building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire on any Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest protected lands except in certain designated recreation sites. Commercial stoves fired by liquid fuel or propane are permitted. The Sky Lakes Wilderness is exempt from this Order.
- No smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building, certain designated recreation sites, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is cleared of all flammable material.
Klamath National Forest
Read the Klamath NF restrictions.
Approximate PCT miles: 1,583 – 1,706.
- No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, except in the Trinity Alps, Russian, Marble Mountain, and Siskiyou Wilderness Areas and certain Designated Recreation Sites. However, persons with a valid California Campfire Permit may use a portable stove or lantern using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel.
- No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or a building, within certain Designated Recreation Sites, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren of all flammable material.
Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Approximate PCT miles: 1,414 – 1,570
Read the Shasta-Trinity NF restrictions.
- No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, except within:
- certain Developed Recreation Sites
- certain Designated Fire Safe Sites
- the Trinity Alps Wilderness
- However, persons with a valid California Campfire Permit may use a portable stove or lantern using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel.
- No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building; within certain Developed Recreation Sites; within certain Designated Fire Safe Sites; within 10 feet of certain reservoirs; and within the Trinity Alps Wilderness provided that the area is at least fifty feet from any vegetation.
Castle Crags State Park
- No known seasonal restrictions.
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park
- No known seasonal restrictions.
Lassen Volcanic National Park
- No known seasonal restrictions.
Lassen National Forest
These restrictions ended at midnight on September 26th.
Read the Lassen NF restrictions.
Approximate PCT miles: 1,221 – 1,409.
- No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, except in the Thousand Lakes Wilderness and certain Designated Recreation Sites. Persons with a valid California Campfire Permit may use a portable stove or lantern using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel.
- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, certain Designated Recreation Sites or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
Plumas National Forest
Read the Plumas NF restrictions.
Approximate PCT miles: 1,221 – 1,294.
- No open fires, campfires or charcoal fires will be allowed outside of designated areas even with a valid California Campfire Permit. However, lanterns and portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed as long as the forest visitor has a valid California Campfire Permit.
- No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated recreation site.
Tahoe National Forest
Read the Tahoe NF restrictions.
Approximate PCT miles: 1,122 – 1,221.
- No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, charcoal fire, campfire, or stove fire, except within the ovens, stoves and fire rings provided at certain Recreation Sites. Persons with a valid California Campfire permit may use a portable stove or lantern that uses gas, kerosene, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel.
- No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, within an exempt Recreation Site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Read the LTBMU restrictions.
- No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, charcoal fire, stove fire, or campfire, except within the grills and fire rings provided in certain Exempted Recreation Sites. Persons with a valid California Campfire Permit may use a pressurized gas or contained fuel stove.
- No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, within an Exempted Recreation Site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
Eldorado National Forest
Read the Eldorado NF restrictions.
Approximate PCT miles: 1,068 – 1,123.
- No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, except within the stoves and fire rings provided in certain Developed Recreation Sites. Persons with a valid California Campfire permit may use a portable stove or lantern that uses gas, kerosene, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel.
- No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a Developed Recreation Site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Read the Humboldt-Toiyabe NF restrictions.
Approximate PCT mileage: 998 – 1,077 (the PCT follows the border of the Humboldt-Toiyabe and Stanislaus National Forest from miles 1,010 – 1,045).
- No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire. Portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed.
- No smoking, outside an enclosed vehicle or building.
Stanislaus National Forest
Read the Stanislaus NF restrictions.
Approximate PCT mileage: 1,010 – 1,045 (the PCT follow the border of the Humboldt-Toiyabe and Stanislaus National Forest from miles 1,010 – 1,045).
- Normal restrictions are in place along the PCT. Fire restrictions are in place for areas of “High” risk and the PCT is not included in that designation. No fires above 8,000 feet in Mokelumne Wilderness.
Yosemite National Park
Approximate PCT miles: 929 – 998.
- Normal restrictions are in place. Fires must be below 9,600 feet and in an existing fire ring.