Sierra National Forest
Sierra National Forest is a national forest in California.
Current notices posted by the managing agency. Checked Sept. 30, 2026.
- Closure: Forest Order - Reopen Ross Crossing Dispersed Camping, Stevenson Trail bridge closure The net effect of this order is to reopen Ross Crossing Dispersed Camping Area, and close the bridge onStevenson Trail (i.e. adding and removing them from Exhibit A of the Forest Recreation Closure list) Since July 2, 2026.
Check current closures and fire restrictions for Sierra National Forest on the managing agency's own page.
Sierra National Forest map
Sierra National Forest boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
3 fire restriction orders are recorded for this unit as of Sept. 30, 2026. Each links the signed order.
- Sierra National Forest Fire Restrictions Effective Aug. 7, 2026. This order restricts fire use, smoking, internal combustion engines, and open‑flame tools to specific designated areas or conditions. Outside those approved locations, all such activities are prohibited under 36 C.F.R. § 261.52.
- Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness Campfire Restrictions Effective Aug. 7, 2026. Forest Order 05-15-00-26-09 prohibits fires/campfires above 10,400 ft south of the specified ridgeline boundary, and above 10,000 ft north of it, as well as within the areas designated in Exhibits A - O (Ansel Adams/John Muir Wilderness) under 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(a).
- Wilderness Campfire Restrictions Order Effective June 18, 2024. Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness Campfire Restrictions within the Sierra National Forest
Common questions
- Sierra National Forest has 4 district offices: Bass Lake Ranger District in North Fork (559-877-2218), High Sierra Ranger District in Auberry Road Prather (559-855-5355 ext.0), High Sierra Ranger Station in Kaiser Pass Road Lakeshore (559-841-8323), and Sierra National Forest in Tollhouse Road CLovis (559-297- 0706).
- Sierra National Forest is managed through 2 ranger districts: Bass Lake Ranger District and High Sierra Ranger District.
Camping on Sierra National Forest
Fire restrictions change by district and season: check the current alerts and restrictions before you go.
Sierra National Forest maps
- Interactive forest map from the Forest Service
- Motor Vehicle Use Maps: which roads are open to which vehicles, and so where you can legally drive to a dispersed site
- Forest visitor map
Ranger district offices
| Bass Lake Ranger District | North Fork, CA | 559-877-2218 | Mon - Fri; Hours: 8:00am - 4:30pm; Closed: Sat. & Sun. & Federal Holidays |
| High Sierra Ranger District | Auberry Road Prather, CA | 559-855-5355 ext.0 | Open: Monday - Sunday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
| High Sierra Ranger Station | Kaiser Pass Road Lakeshore, CA | 559-841-8323 | Open for the season |
| Sierra National Forest | Tollhouse Road CLovis, CA | 559-297- 0706 | Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm; Closed NOON-12:30pm; Closed Weekends & federal holidays. |
Fishing and water
Fishing inside the boundary: Black Rock Reservoir fishing , Chiquito Creek West Fork fishing , Corrine Lake fishing , Courtright Reservoir fishing , Dinkey Creek fishing , Edison Lake fishing , Fish Creek fishing , Florence Lake fishing , Huntington Lake fishing , Mammoth Pool Lake fishing , Merced River, Section ll fishing , Mono Creek fishing , Nelder Creek fishing , Portal Forebay fishing , San Joaquin River, South Fork fishing , Ward Lake fishing , with stocking records and species on fishypedia.com.
- Pine Flat Reservoir fishing (right at the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
- Bass Lake fishing (right at the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
- Wishon Reservoir fishing (0.1 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
- Big Creek, Madera fishing (0.2 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
- Lewis Creek fishing (0.2 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
Public lands next to Sierra National Forest
- Wilderness areaDinkey Lakes Wilderness lies inside Sierra National Forest.
- Wilderness areaKaiser Wilderness lies inside Sierra National Forest.
- Wilderness area Most of Ansel Adams Wilderness lies inside Sierra National Forest.
- Wilderness area Most of John Muir Wilderness lies inside Sierra National Forest.
- National forestSierra National Forest borders Inyo National Forest.
- Wilderness areaSierra National Forest borders Monarch Wilderness.
- National forestSierra National Forest borders Sequoia National Forest.
- Wilderness areaSierra National Forest borders Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sierra/offices (accessed 2026-09-28)
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sierra (accessed 2026-09-28)