After a period of heightened precautions, both units are reverting to their standard fire regulations because fire danger has decreased. For people heading into the preserve or monument, that means some activities tied to campfires are allowed again — but with clear, non-negotiable limits intended to keep public lands safe.What’s Changed (And What Hasn’t)
The short version: fires are allowed again, but only in preexisting fire rings and approved containers. Officials are explicitly forbidding new fire rings. Collecting firewood or kindling inside the preserve remains prohibited — bring your own wood. When you leave camp, your fire must be cold to the touch. Do not leave any fire unattended.
Permitted fuel sources are limited. You may use charcoal briquettes or natural firewood — that is, fuels designed and commonly used for warmth or cooking. Lighting or maintaining fires with other materials is forbidden. That list includes, but is not limited to: flammable liquids, garbage, fireworks, plastics, aerosol canisters, batteries, and other manufactured or synthetic materials.
California boasts a remarkable distinction among the states of the U.S. It’s not just the golden beaches, towering redwoods, or sprawling deserts that make it a treasure trove of natural wonders. With nine national parks within its borders, California holds the crown for having the most national parks of any state in the nation:
The Inyo National Forest has announced the release of the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Coyote Flat Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreation Enhancement Project.
On June 21, 2008 a lightning strike ignited the Basin Complex Fire, a wildfire that swept through 162,818 acres near Big Sur, forcing evacuations, and burning most of the Ventana Wilderness area. The fire destroyed much of the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park located the western slope of the Santa Lucia Mountains, and severely damaged the Pfeiffer Falls Trail, an easy 1.5 mile out-and-back trail with views of redwoods and Pfeiffer Falls.
2020 was a difficult year for travelers, wanderers, adventurers, and explorers here in California. I did get out – sometimes with groups, sometimes furtively by myself – and was rewarded with solitude, silence, and freedom within the great cathedrals of nature that California offers from the deserts to the beaches, to the mountains and deep forests.