White Mountain National Forest Info – Memorial Day Weekend

Campton, NH May 20, 2020– The Forest is pleased to announce that most Forest campgrounds will be open by May 22 in New Hampshire, and in early June in Maine. The public is strongly encouraged to check current status of campgrounds on our website before planning your trip: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/whitemountain/recreation While most campgrounds will open, large group sites and some dispersed camping areas such as Tripoli Road will remain closed as we continue to revisit our closure decisions and our ability to follow CDC guidance ensuring visitor and employee safety.

National Forest hiking trails are open. We are encouraging people to practice all social distancing and COVID19 precautions recommended by public health agencies when recreating.

  • If trailheads are full, it is wise to choose a less crowded area or come back at a different time.
  • Avoid visiting the forest if you are sick.
  • Stay at least six feet apart from others, including having your dog on a leash and close to you.
  • Follow the Pack it In Pack it Out rule. Take your trash with you when you leave. Trash overflowing the receptacles becomes litter and can be harmful to wildlife and attract bears.
  • Be cautious and hikeSafe. Choose low-risk activities to avoid injury. This will help lower the burden on our hospitals and health care system.
  • Please make arrangements to use the restroom before or after your visit to the forest as the restrooms facilities on the National Forest remain locked. Unmanaged waste creates a health hazard for our employees and for other visitors.

The White Mountain NF is taking the risks presented by COVID-19 seriously and will continue to monitor the local situation and Forest operations to meet changing information, safety protocols, and recommendations from federal, state and local officials. We are committed to providing customer service and advancing recreation opportunities in an adaptable manner while monitoring health data and state orders.

Visitors are asked to stay as local as possible when choosing a site to visit and to pack out everything they bring, especially trash. Visitors are also urged to take the precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) along with local health and safety guidance. For tips from the CDC on preventing illnesses like the coronavirus, go to: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention.html.

Responsible recreation will help expand access to facilities, services and other opportunities. Certain services may still be unavailable, so visitors are asked to plan accordingly and to remain flexible.

Contact information for the White Mountain National Forest is available online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/whitemountain/home.

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