SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By SFNF
All Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) offices will be closed Monday, Oct. 12, in observance of Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Regular virtual business hours will resume on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
As fall colors reach their peak, SFNF officials anticipate a large number of visitors over the holiday weekend. If you plan to spend time on the forest, please recreate responsibly and follow state public health orders and Centers for Disease Control guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Although there are no fire restrictions on the SFNF, fire danger is unseasonably high due to above-normal temperatures and below-normal moisture.
Know before you go. Check the weather forecast and be prepared for seasonal fluctuations. Use good judgment and basic safety precautions when hiking, fishing or camping on the SFNF. Whether you are just out for the day or planning to stay overnight, always let someone know your plans, including your itinerary and when you expect to return home. Do not rely on cell phones for safety because you may not always have cell coverage in remote sections of the forest. Follow Leave No Trace principles:
· Plan ahead and prepare for your trip to enhance your experience and make sure you return home safely.
· Travel and camp on durable surfaces to prevent resource damage. Use constructed trails.
· Dispose of waste properly. Leave your campsite at least as clean as you found it and take your trash home with you.
· Leave what you find. Don’t damage live trees and plants and leave natural objects and cultural artifacts where you found them.
· Minimize campfire impacts, follow campfire safety tips and make sure your campfire is dead out before you leave the area.
· Respect wildlife by keeping your distance, and do not feed, touch or pick up wild animals.
· Be considerate of other visitors. Respect quiet time in developed campgrounds. Keep dogs on leashes and clean up after your dog.
Stay up to date on seasonal closures by checking the SFNF website and following the forest on Facebook and Twitter. For additional information please contact your local Ranger District or Forest Headquarters.
