Silver City, NM, May 27, 2020 -- The Gila National Forest will be reopening six more recreation sites by May 29, 2020. Forest Services officials are working hard to reopen sites as soon as possible and as conditions allow.  Some of the factors considered when deciding to open a site include state and local health and safety guidelines, seasonal availability and facility conditions. Other recreation areas and campgrounds may not be immediately open and available for use.  The sites that will be reopening are Iron Creek, Upper Gallinas, and Railroad Canyon Campgrounds on Silver City Ranger District, Dipping Vat and Aeroplane Mesa Campgrounds on Reserve Ranger District, and the Kingston Campground on the Black Range Ranger District. 

On April 15, 2020 the USDA’s Forest Service Southwestern Region enacted a campfire ban.  The following is prohibited under the April 15 campfire restriction order:

• Igniting, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, including charcoal grills, barbecues, coal and wood burning stoves.

Violating the campfire ban may result in an appearance in federal court, fines, and possible time in jail. Forest visitors will still be able to use pressurized liquid or gas devices (stoves, grills or lanterns) with shut-off valves, in an area at least three feet from any flammable materials. While these restrictions are in place, the majority of the five national forests in New Mexico are still open, and dispersed camping – outside of developed campsites – and other recreation opportunities are available.

We encourage visitors to contact our ranger districts or check the Gila National Forest website for specific recreation sites prior to traveling or making plans. Closure information can be found on the Southwestern Region website at http://fs.usda.gov/goto/r3/safety.

Visit the Interactive Visitor Map at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ivm for more information on available activities. For additional information on COVID-19, go to https://www.coronavirus.gov. For information on the Gila National Forest, check out our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/gila.