Shoshone National Forest and the US Forest Service Ask People to Recreate Responsibility this Fourth of July Holiday Weekend
Written by Caleb Nelson on June 29, 2022
With July 4th just around the corner, the Shoshone National Forest is sharing a “few reminders” to ensure folks have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.
Courtesy of Shoshone National Forest
Shoshone National Forest Supervisor Diane Taliaferro says, “On Monday, June 27th, our fire personnel responded to the report of an unattended campfire on Carter Mountain west of Cody,”
“Thankfully our crews were able to get to the fire in time to safely put it out; it is imperative that campfires are always fully extinguished prior to walking away,” Taliaferro adds. Currently, there are no fire restrictions on the Shoshone National Forest. Recent weeks of rainfall have helped keep fire warning levels in the range of low to moderate.
Folks can find more information about good campfire building and safety practices here at the Smokey Bear Campfire Safety website.
As a reminder, the Forest Service states, “fireworks are always illegal on all federally managed lands” and this includes Shoshone National Forest, a region that plays a crucial role in fire prevention. According to data provided by Shoshone National Forest, almost 90% of all wildfires on public lands are started by humans, and it is the responsibility of every forest visitor to recreate responsibly.
Two roads and one campground on the northern portion of the Shoshone National Forest will remain closed due to the recent flooding that made national headlines and impacted communities all over Wyoming and Montana. Clarks Fork Canyon Road, Forest Service Road 119, the Morrison Jeep Trail, and Forest Service Road 120 will remain closed in addition to the closure of the Big Game Campground.
On the Wind River Ranger District, a portion of the Forest Service Road 515, Barbers Point Road, will stay closed to “mitigate resource damage” while the remaining snowmelt runs off, the Forest Service explains.
Another specific reminder, the Shoshone National Forest has a “forest-wide storage order” in place regarding food and other attractants. The purpose of this storage order is to lessen the potential for human-wildlife conflicts (for example, the recent grizzly attack in Park County).
