Department of Forestry
Chapter 629
Division 25
FOREST PARK AND RECREATION AREAS
629-025-0040
General Forest Recreation Rules and Public Conduct
(1) Sanitation.
(a) On all State Forest Land, a Person may not in any manner, unless otherwise authorized, cause any rubbish, garbage, refuse, organic or inorganic waste, diseased or dead animals, recreational vehicle sewage, or other offensive matter or any abandoned property or material to be placed or left on State Forest Land. A Person may not:
(A) Dispose of any cans, bottles and garbage except in designated places or receptacles;
(B) Drain sewage or petroleum products or dump refuse or waste other than grey water except in places or receptacles provided for that purpose;
(C) Dispose of any household, commercial or industrial refuse or waste brought as such from private or municipal property, including but not limited to automobiles, household appliances and furnishings;
(D) Pollute or contaminate water supplies or water used for human consumption;
(E) Use a refuse container or disposal facility for any purpose other than for which it is supplied; or
(F) Remove items from containers designated for recyclables, garbage, sewage or waste without authorization from the Forester.
(b) A Person may not wash any clothing, dishware, cookware, or other materials in any lake, stream, river, well pump or other body of water on State Forest Land.
(c) A Person may not deposit human waste within 100 feet of any campsite, trail, or body of water. Human waste must be disposed of by burying to a depth of a least six inches.
(d) Where toilet or sewage facilities are provided, a Person may not dispose of human waste except in those facilities.
(2) Occupancy and Use.
(a) On State Forest Land, a Person may not:
(A) Camp longer than 14 days out of any 35-day period; or
(B) Camp more than a total of 42 days during a consecutive 12 month period; or
(C) Camp longer than the period of time specifically authorized or established by the Forester in writing; or
(D) Camp within 25 horizontal feet of the high water mark of any body of water or in other areas posted closed to Camping by the Department; or
(E) Leave personal property unattended longer than 48 hours on State Forest Land or 24 hours in a Designated Recreation Area; or
(F) Leave personal property or possessions overnight in a Day Use Area without prior written permission from the Forester. Unattended personal property is considered Camping for the purposes of determining the length of stay at a given site. Personal property left unattended longer than 48 hours on State Forest Land or more than 24 hours in a Designated Recreation Area without permission of the Forester may be removed by the Department.
(b) The Forester may establish camping stay limits that are shorter in order to address public safety concerns, or protect and conserve forest resources.
(3) Property and Resources. On all State Forest Land, unless under contract with the Forester, a Person may not:
(a) Deface, disturb, remove or destroy any public property, structures, or any scientific, cultural, archaeological or historic resource, natural object or area;
(b) Deface, remove or destroy plants or their parts, soil, rocks, or minerals, or cave resources.
(4) Animals.
(a) A horse or other animal may not be hitched or confined in a manner that may cause damage to any tree, shrub, improvement, or structure.
(b) The Forester may undertake any measures deemed necessary (including removal of the animal from State Forest Land or requiring the animal be kept under physical control) to protect forest resources or improvements and to prevent interference by the animal with the safety, comfort, and well-being of others, including Department of Forestry employees and its contractors.
(c) A Person may not bring an animal other than a dog or cat - or in designated areas, llamas, alpacas, mules, horses, donkeys, or goats - onto State Forest Land.
(5) Construction of Trails and Shelters. On State Forest Land, a Person may not modify, construct, or cause to be constructed any trail, shelter, building, or other facility or improvement without written permission of the Forester.
(6) Firewood Collection.
(a) A Person Camping may collect and possess up to one quarter of a cord of firewood for their personal use while Camping on State Forest Land except where otherwise prohibited in these Division rules.
(b) A Person may not remove from State Forest Land firewood which has been collected for use while Camping on State Forest Land without a valid firewood permit except as allowed by ORS 164.813.
(c) Firewood must be collected only from dead and down material that is 12 inches or less in diameter at its largest point. No standing trees, living or dead, may be felled for conversion into firewood.
(7) Campfires.
(a) Fires must be confined to camp stoves or fire grates or other fireproof structures provided by the Department for such purposes. Such structures must be less than four feet in diameter or four feet in length.
(b) All flammable material must be cleared for a distance of five feet around and 10 feet above any fire grate or other fireproof structure used to contain a campfire.
(c) A fire may not be left unattended and every fire must be extinguished before its user leaves the site.
(8) Traffic Rules.
(a) When operating a Vehicle on State Forest Lands, a Person may not violate the basic speed rule or exceed posted speed limits, willfully endanger Persons or property, or act in a reckless, careless, or negligent manner.
(b) A Person may not obstruct or hinder the flow of traffic on a Forest Road.
(c) A Person may not operate a Vehicle on State Forest Road in violation of Oregon traffic laws.
(d) A Person may not block, obstruct or interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic on a Forest Road, parking area, trail, walkway, pathway or common area. The Department may tow a vehicle at the owner’s expense if the Vehicle is left unattended for more than 24 hours or is parked in a fire lane, roadway, campsite, entry way, driveway, closed area or other location in a manner that threatens the resource, impedes operations of a Designated Recreation Area, public safety, forest practices as defined under ORS 527.620, or any combination thereof.
(9) Target Shooting.
(a) A Person may not:
(A) Place targets on live trees or shoot live trees for any purpose;
(B) Shoot across or along any road or trail;
(C) Shoot carelessly, recklessly, or without regard for the safety of any Person, or in a manner that endangers, or is likely to endanger, any Person or property;
(D) Shoot glass of any kind;
(E) Shoot appliances, furniture, or other materials determined by Department personnel or a law enforcement officer to be garbage;
(F) Shoot targets other than non-exploding targets commercially manufactured for the specific purpose of target shooting, except for paper targets privately manufactured by the Person or persons engaging in target shooting; or
(G) Engage in target shooting or other shooting related activity at times between one half-hour after sunset until one half-hour before sunrise.
(H) Shoot into a stream, waterfall, pond, lake, or other body of water.
(b) A Person engaged in target shooting must:
(A) Remove from State Forest Land all shell casings, targets, and other debris resulting from the target shooting activity; and
(B) Use an appropriately sized, non-flammable, natural backstop or a commercially-manufactured bullet recovery system of sufficient size to capture all projectiles.
(10) Concessions. A Person may not:
(a) Operate a concession on State Forest Land, either fixed or mobile, solicit, sell or offer for sale, peddle, hawk, or vend any goods, wares, merchandise, food, liquids, or services without written permission of the Forester;
(b) Advertise any goods or services by any means whatsoever.
(11) General Conduct. A Person may not:
(a) Use a metal detector or similar device on State Forest Land without written permission of the Forester;
(b) Obstruct, harass or interfere with any Department personnel or volunteer, or any peace officer in the performance of their duties;
(c) Enter or occupy any building, facility or portion of a Designated Recreation Area or Designated Trail that has been closed to public access;
(d) Occupy or interfere with access to a structure, office, lavatory or other facility in a manner which interferes with the intended use of such a structure or facility;
(e) Engage in fighting or promoting, instigating or encouraging fighting or similar violent conduct which may threaten the physical well-being of a Person;
(f) Engage in activities or conduct which creates a public nuisance or hazard; or
(g) Engage in public indecency as defined in ORS 163.465.
(h) Excessive noise: A Person may not operate or use any noise-producing machine, vehicle device, or instrument, including, but not limited to: audio-visual equipment, televisions, radios or stereos, amplifiers, or chainsaws in such a manner that is disturbing to another Person.
(12) On State Forest Land, a Person must use hay, straw, and other livestock forage that is certified by The Oregon Department of Agriculture to be weed-free according to North American Weed Management Association standards. A database of certified growers in Oregon may be obtained through The Oregon Department of Agriculture Weed Free Forage Program.
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 530.050
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 530.010 - 530.040
History:
DOF 3-2018, amend filed 05/18/2018, effective 05/18/2018
DOF 2-2018, amend filed 05/01/2018, effective 05/01/2018
DOF 1-2016, f. & cert. ef. 3-11-16
DOF 4-2005, f. & cert. ef. 3-1-05
FB 3-1995, f. & cert. ef. 9-15-95