Note: this page is out of date. Check with the local land agencies for current regulations.
This page collects fire restrictions for the Pacific Crest Trail in California. While we try to track this information, we still ask that you contact the local agencies for up-to-date regulations. Seasonal restrictions generally ban campfires, restrict smoking and certain types of stoves, even with a campfire permit.
Seasonal restrictions come online as each land jurisdiction determines that conditions require them. The language varies between jurisdictions and is not always as clear as it could be. Fire risk is extreme due to the current drought. We expect most of the agencies below to publish restrictions as the year progresses.
Please be fire safe!
- The restrictions are not PCT specific, they are in place broadly in the forests and parks that the trail passes through.
- 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.
Listed south to north:
CalFire administered lands
Applies to 31 million acres in California including much of the private and county land on the PCT.
A burn ban is in place. See press release.
BLM – California Desert District
Approximate PCT miles: 0 – 1; 3 – 15; 53 – 54; 65 – 70; 88 – 101; 206 – 207; 212 – 237; 444 – 450; 540 – 553; 568 – 580; 589 – 599; 610 – 634; 631 – 652.
Stage III fire restrictions are in effect for BLM sections of the PCT south of Walker Pass [PCT mile 652]. These restrictions include the following:
- Open fire of any kind is prohibited [including campgrounds, even with a campfire permit].
- Only controlled flame devices such as portable stoves fueled by petroleum or LPG products are allowed [campfire permit required for stove use].
- Smoking is only permitted within enclosed vehicles or camp trailers.
BLM Stage III Fire Restrictions news release
BLM Fire Restrictions 2014 Fire Restriction Order
Cleveland National Forest
Approximate PCT miles: 15 – 53; 112 – 125.
General year-round fire restrictions in are currently in effect for Cleveland National Forest. These restrictions include the following:
- Wood or charcoal fires are never allowed [even with a campfire permit] except in identified developed campgrounds and developed picnic areas within designated fire rings.
- Only gas and liquid stoves and lanterns, and jelly petroleum stoves are allowed [campfire permit required].
Cleveland National Forest General Fire Restrictions
Cleveland National Forest Fire Restriction FAQs
Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Approximate PCT miles: 53 – 88.
- A metal container must be used for all campfires. Ground fires are never permitted.
- Gathering or taking of any live, dead or downed vegetation is prohibited. Bring your own firewood.
Anza Borrego Desert State Park Information
San Bernardino National Forest
Approximate PCT miles: 167 – 184; 194 – 205; 236 – 264.
- Wood or charcoal fires are never allowed [even with a campfire permit] except in developed campsites.
- Liquid camp stoves require a valid California Campfire Permit.
- Smoking is allowed only in enclosed vehicles, developed sites or in an area cleared 3 feet in diameter.
San Bernardino National Forest Fire Information
Mt San Jacinto State Park
Approximate PCT miles: 184 – 189.
- Campfires are never allowed [even with a campfire permit], except in agency provided fire rings. Gathering of any dead or living wood, pinecones or needles for use in a fire is strictly prohibited.
Mt San Jacinto State Park Fire Information
Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area
- See San Bernardino National Forest.
Angeles National Forest
Approximate PCT miles: 364 – 444; 475 – 511.
- Wood and charcoal fires are never allowed [even with a campfire permit], except in designated sites, in agency-provided campfire rings.
- Gas and petroleum jelly stoves only. California Campfire Permit required for stove use.
- Smoking in enclosed vehicles, developed recreation sites or areas cleared 3-foot in diameter.
Angeles National Forest Fire Information
BLM – Central California District
Approximate PCT miles: 652 – 694.
Fire restrictions are in effect.
- No building, maintaining, attending, or using open fires, campfires, or stove fires. Lanterns and/or portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are permitted with a valid campfire permit.
- No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or at a developed recreation site, or designated fire safe area.
BLM – Central California District Fire Restrictions
Sequoia National Forest
Approximate PCT miles: 601 – 704.
Fire restrictions are in effect.
- No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, charcoal fire, campfire, or stove fire except in certain areas.
- Stoves and lanterns with shut-off valves, using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed with a valid California Campfire Permit.
Sequoia NF Fire Restriction Order
Sequoia NF fire restriction announcement
Inyo National Forest
Approximate PCT miles: 704 – 754; 902-930.
Temporary fire restrictions are in effect outside of many of the primary Wilderness Areas on Inyo NF. These restrictions include the following:
- No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire except in certain areas.
- Lanterns and/or portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are permitted with a valid campfire permit.
- Smoking is allowed only in enclosed vehicles, developed sites or in an area cleared 3 feet in diameter.
Permanent fire restrictions are always in place:
- Fires are prohibited for all areas above 10,400 ft. in elevation and they are prohibited for all areas above 10,000 ft. in elevation north of Mt. Emerson and Glacier Divide.
- Additional areas are closed to campfires below 10,000 ft near: Badger Lakes, Chicken Spring Lake, Duck Creek, Ediza Lake, Emerald Lake, Garnet Lake, Kearsarge Pass/ Onion Valley (includes Golden Trout Lakes and Robinson Lake, Minaret Lakes, Mt Whitney area, Pine Creek, Purple Creek, Ruby Lake, Rush Forks, Shadow Lake & Creek, Shepherd Pass (within 1,000 ft of Anvil Camp), Taboose Creek, Thousand Island Lake, and Waugh Lake.
- During periods of elevated restrictions, alcohol stoves are generally not specifically prohibited, but stoves using liquid fuel must be pressurized which eliminates many lightweight alcohol burners.
Inyo National Forest Fire Restrictions press release
Inyo National Forest Fire Restrictions Order
Inyo National Forest Campfire Restrictions Maps
Inyo National Forest Fire Information
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
Approximate PCT miles: 754 – 856.
- Campfires are never allowed above 10,000 feet elevation.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park fire restrictions page
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park Minimum Impact Restrictions
Sierra National Forest
Approximate PCT miles: 856 – 902.
Temporary fire restrictions are in effect. These restrictions include the following:
- No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire except in certain areas.
- Portable stove using contained gas, or pressurized liquid fuel with a fuel shut off valve are allowed with a valid California Campfire permit.
- Smoking is allowed only in enclosed vehicles or buildings or within certain designated recreation sites.
Permanent fire restrictions are always in place:
- No campfires above 10,000 feet north of the San Joaquin River/Kings River divide, and above 10,400 feet south of the divide. Site-specific campfire closures at Shooting Star Meadow (Muir Trail Ranch area) and Quail Meadow.
Sierra NF Fire Restriction Order
Devils Postpile National Monument
- No known seasonal restrictions.
Yosemite National Park
Approximate PCT miles: 929 – 998.
- Campfires are never allowed above 9,600 feet elevation.
- Fires are allowed in existing fire rings only. Construction of new fire rings is not permitted.
Yosemite National Park Wilderness Regulations
Stanislaus National Forest
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).
Temporary fire restrictions are in effect. These restrictions include the following:
- No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, charcoal fire, campfire, or stove fire except in certain areas.
- Portable stoves or lanterns that uses gas, kerosene, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed with a valid California Campfire permit.
- Smoking is allowed only in enclosed vehicles, developed sites or in an area cleared 3 feet in diameter.
Stanislaus National Forest Fire Restrictions
Permanent fire restrictions are always in place in Emigrant Wilderness:
- No campfires above 9,000 feet in Emigrant Wilderness.
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
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).
Stage I fire restrictions are in effect. These restrictions include the following:
- No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire (using wood, charcoal or any other material), campfire, or stove fire except a portable stove using gas or pressurized liquid fuel, outside of a developed fee campground or picnic area (except by permit).
- No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or at a developed campground or picnic area.
HTNF Stage I Fire Restrictions news release
HTNF Bridgeport Ranger District Fire Restriction Order
HTNF Carson Ranger District Fire Restriction Order
Eldorado National Forest
Approximate PCT miles: 1,068 – 1,123.
Temporary fire restrictions are in effect. These restrictions include the following:
- No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, charcoal fire, campfire, or stove fire except in certain areas.
- Portable stoves or lanterns that uses gas, kerosene, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed with a valid California Campfire permit.
- Smoking is allowed only in enclosed vehicles, developed sites or in an area cleared 3 feet in diameter.
Eldorado National Forest Fire Restrictions
Eldorado National Forest fire restrictions page
Permanent fire restrictions are always in place in Desolation Wilderness:
- Campfires are always prohibited in the Desolation Wilderness [even with a campfire permit].
- Portable gas stoves, a jellied-petroleum stoves, pressurized liquid fuel stoves or a completely enclosed portable wood burning camp stoves are permitted in the Desolation Wilderness with a campfire permit.
Desolation Wilderness Area – Restricted Use Order
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
- No known seasonal restrictions.
Tahoe National Forest
Approximate PCT miles: 1,122 – 1,221.
Temporary fire restrictions are in effect. These restrictions include the following:
- No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, charcoal fire, campfire, or stove fire except in certain areas.
- Portable stoves or lanterns that uses gas, kerosene, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed with a valid California Campfire permit.
- Smoking is allowed only in enclosed vehicles, developed sites or in an area cleared 3 feet in diameter.
Tahoe National Forest Fire Restrictions
Plumas National Forest
Approximate PCT miles: 1,221 – 1,294.
Temporary fire restrictions are in effect. These restrictions include the following:
- No open fires, campfires or charcoal fires will be allowed outside of designated areas supervised by a campground host.
- Portable stoves or lanterns that uses gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed with a valid California Campfire permit.
- No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated recreation site.
Plumas National Forest Fire Restrictions
Lassen National Forest
Approximate PCT miles: 1,221 – 1,409.
Temporary fire restrictions are in effect. These restrictions include the following:
- No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire except in certain areas.
- Portable stoves or lanterns that uses gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed with a valid California Campfire permit.
- Smoking is allowed only in enclosed vehicles, buildings, designated sites or in an area cleared 3 feet in diameter.
Lassen National Forest Fire Restrictions
Lassen Volcanic National Park
- Campfires are always prohibited in the backcountry of Lassen National Park.
Lassen National Park Wilderness Information
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park
- No known seasonal restrictions.
Castle Crags State Park
- No known seasonal restrictions.
Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Approximate PCT miles: 1,414 – 1,570.
Fire restrictions are in effect. These restrictions include the following:
- No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire outside of certain developed areas.
- Only stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed [with a valid California Fire Permit.]
- No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, developed recreation site or other designated fire-safe site.
Shasta-Trinity NF Fire Restrictions news release
Shasta-Trinity NF Fire Restriction Order
Klamath National Forest
Approximate PCT miles: 1,583 – 1,706.
Fire restrictions are in effect. These restrictions include the following:
- No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, except in Designated Recreation Site.
- Portable stoves or lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed with a valid California Campfire Permit.
- No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or a building, within the Designated Recreation Sites, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren of all flammable material
Klamath NF Fire Restriction Order
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Approximate PCT miles: 1,706 – 1,823.
- No known seasonal restrictions.
Legal consequences
In National Parks and National Forests, violation of campfire prohibitions is subject to punishment by a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than six months or both. Persons may also be responsible for resource damage, suppression costs and any injuries that occur if they are found liable for causing a wildfire.
On BLM land, any person convicted of knowingly and willfully violating a Fire Prevention Order can be fined up to $1,000, receive up to 12 months in jail, or both. That person is also liable for the cost of damages and suppression of the fire.
Help us with this page
This information is hard to keep up-to-date. Please help us by sending updates to [email protected]