Chances are, when you read that title, your mind automatically went to either your regional park or a local dog park, but I’m talking about a different kind of park. Before the weather plummets into winter, why not think about taking a trip with your pup to one of our nearby state or national parks?
Before you go, however, you need to be aware of some “rules of the road.”
Regulations regarding dogs differ between our California state parks, forests managed by the U.S. Forest Service, and national parks and forests.
California State Parks
As a general rule, dogs are permitted in most State Parks, but there are some severe restrictions. First, your dog must always be on a leash no longer than six feet and physically under your control. While dogs may walk in developed areas and on roads, they are largely not permitted on trails, near rivers or creeks, or in the open forest or meadows.
With some exceptions, dogs are not allowed on state park beaches. You cannot leave your dog unattended, which means that they must remain in either your vehicle or your tent if you are not with them. Be aware that you may be required to show proof of your dog’s immunizations as well as a valid license, so be sure to carry those documents with you.
Service animals, of course, are allowed by law in any area open to the public. The state Park Service has a comprehensive list of its parks and each park’s dog-allowed policies at https://www.parks.ca.gov/dogs.
National parks and preserves
The National Park Service manages all national parks as well as many national monuments and other conservation and historical properties. The system includes 425 areas covering more than 85 million acres in every state, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
The policies regarding dogs at national parks are much less restrictive that those imposed by California: national parks welcome dogs in developed areas, on many trails and campgrounds and in some lodging facilities. Generally, your dog must be on a leash of six feet or shorter and is not allowed on swimming beaches. The National Park service has an interactive map of each park’s rules regarding pets at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/pets/visit.htm.
U.S. Forest Service lands
The U.S. Forest Service manages the nation’s 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands, on a total of 183 million acres. Dogs are allowed in all national forests, but in developed recreation areas and on interpretive trails they must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet. Certain designated Wilderness areas such as the Ishi Wilderness in the Lassen National Forest allow only leashed dogs. Most other areas within the national forests do not require dogs to be on a leash, but they should be under control at all times. As with national parks, dogs are prohibited in swimming areas. You can find a listing of all USFS lands at https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/forests-and-grasslands.
Bureau of Land Management lands
The Bureau of Land Management operates water projects such as dams, canals and powerplants in 17 western states. Unleashed dogs are welcome on most BLM-managed trails and open lands, but require the dog be under your control at all times. As with the Forest Service, the BLM does require that dogs be kept leashed in developed campgrounds or other improved areas.
Next time, I’ll talk about the parks and forests that are within easy driving distance of the Butte County area.
Some of these areas are nationally well-known like the Tahoe National Forest, others are hidden gems like the Caribou wilderness in Lassen National Park.
East Park Dam, some 70 miles southeast of Chico, which forms East Park Reservoir, is part of the Orland Project. East Park Dam is on Little Stony Creek in Glen County about 33 miles southwest of the town of Orland. Completed in 1910, the dam stores irrigation waters diverted and impounded from Little Stony Creek, Squaw Creek and Little Indian Creek. East Park Reservoir is 2.7 miles long and encompasses 1,820 acres. The reservoir has a total capacity of 52,000 acre-feet. There are 25 miles of shoreline, 10 miles of which are available for public use. The dam is a curved, concrete thick-arch gravity structure. East Park Dam was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in the mid-1980s.
Stony Gorge Reservoir Recreational Area, located approximately 18 miles downstream from East Park Dam and 20 miles west of the city of Willows. Stony Gorge Reservoir is a warm water fishery with an 18-mile shoreline offering boating, camping, hiking, picnicking, fishing, swimming and a disc golf course. Skippers’ Point boat launch and the surrounding day-use area are open year-round. Stony Gorge’s water reaches temperatures of up to 75 degrees in the summer, making it an ideal place for water sports. Anglers enjoy fishing for warm water species, such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie and catfish.
Stony Gorge provides many opportunities to experience a variety of wildlife and plant exploration activities. Hiking, bird watching and photography are popular activities all year.
So, what are some nearby parks and forests? The closest national forest is the Plumas National Forest, approximately 30 miles east of Chico. Encompassing over a million acres, this forest hosts the headwaters of the Feather River as well as its three main branches. It’s also known for its spectacular high elevation lakes, deep river canyons and serene mountain valleys. Just under 70 miles north of Chico is the the massive Shasta-Trinity National Forest, the largest national forest in the state with over 2 million acres. Another 20 miles will take you to what is probably the most familiar national forest to those of us in Northern California, the Tahoe National Forest. This is one of the most popular recreation forests in the nation, spreading from the foothills of the western slope to the 9400-foot Mount Lola on the Sierra Nevada crest.
Joan Merriam lives in Northern California with her Maine coon cat Indy, the infinite spirit of her beloved golden retriever Joey, and the abiding presence of her dog Casey, in whose memory this column is named. You can reach Joan at joan@joanmerriam.com.
