04/26/2021
Ashley National Forest Seeks Public Assistance
Managing Dispersed Camping
Vernal, Utah … The Ashley National Forest received unprecedented visitation in 2020 with many people seeking recreational opportunities that provided unique challenges with social distancing and created land management issues that cannot be corrected by forest staff alone.
The Forest needs the public’s assistance to ensure access for the increasing demand being placed on dispersed camping sites. Please help us to continue to provide the great recreational experiences many have come to expect on the Ashley National Forest.
Dispersed camping on the Ashley National Forest provides for a 16 day stay limit, which is the longest stay limit out of all the National Forests in the State of Utah. After 16 days campers should move a minimum of five road miles to a new location to provide others the opportunity to enjoy popular locations and not return to the same location for a minimum of 30 days. Those setting up dispersed camps must occupy the camp the first night and occupy the site overnight once every 72 hours after that to avoid citations and ensure their property is secure. To find out if dispersed camping is allowed in an area please refer to our Motorized Vehicle Use Maps. If there are small dots adjacent to the route, then dispersed camping is allowed in that area.
As a result of the busy 2020 season the Forest is still working to remove abandoned campers from the Forest, if you see a site you suspect has been abandoned please contact our office at 435-789-1181.
Remember leaving trailers unattended and more than the 16 day stay limit in one location not only removes the opportunity from others but will degrade the health and diversity of the location over time.
In 2020, the dumping of grey and black water during the stay or prior to departing dispersed campsites was another issue. Many people were pulling into locations that were made unusable by the actions of those that were there prior. Digging holes and running black or grey water into them and simply covering them up when departing is not an acceptable method of disposing of human waste and poses a health risk for those that follow. For those recreating on the Ashley National Forest that need to relieve themselves please find a natural area away from normal traffic, bury your waste do not leave it exposed, as it is unsightly and can pose a health risk to those that follow. Please bring a shovel and bury the waste and any paper products used at least six to eight inches deep and cover it when you are finished.
Please help us preserve the health of our National Forests and recreate responsibly by planning to pack all of your trash out with you. Please don’t burn your trash in your fire ring and leave a mess for campers that follow. Please take your trash home to dispose of it, overfilling our dumpsters or trash receptacles simply causes additional work for our employees. If the dumpsters or trash receptacles are full do not stack additional trash alongside the containers, please take your trash home to dispose of it. Help us keep the Forest clean and not attract rodents or other scavengers to our trash collection locations.
Everyone that recreates on the Ashley National Forest has a part to play in sustaining the wonderful recreation opportunities the Uinta Mountains have to offer. Help us sustain those opportunities for current and future generations to enjoy by doing your part to leave the Forest a little better than you found it.
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