HANDBOOK FOR CAMPERS IN THE NATIONAL 

 FORESTS IN CALIFORNIA. 



California contains a great number and variety of fine camp- 

 ing places. Most of these are in the mountains and within the 

 boundaries of the National Forests. This is an advantage so 

 far as camping is concerned, since the development of the 

 National Forests for the perpetuation of the timber supply and 

 the protection of stream flow has increased their attractiveness 

 for recreation purposes. Roads and trails built by the Govern- 

 ment are open to the public and make many regions available for 

 camping that were formerly inaccessible. Telephone lines, built 

 to enable lookouts to report fires promptly and the rangers to 

 summon fire crews without loss of time, connect the most re- 

 mote portions of the Forests with the outside world and can be 

 used for the transmission of important private messages. At 

 many Forest stations and public camps campers' registers are 

 kept for the convenience of the public. 



No restrictions on camping are imposed by the Government 

 except those which a reasonably considerate camper would im- 

 pose upon himself. Care with fire is, of course, essential, and 

 campers are urged to use the improved public camps wherever 

 they have been provided. On several of the Forests, because of 

 the extreme inflammability of the cover, campers are required 

 to secure permits before building fires. On all the Forests, with- 

 out exception, camp fires must be totally extinguished before 

 being left. 



Streams must not be polluted and camps must be kept in 

 sanitary condition and left in good order. At many camp sites 

 the Forest Service provides tools to keep the camp clean and to 

 cover the camp fire with earth before leaving. These should be 

 used and afterwards replaced. 



