Basic Guidelines for

Winter Recreation

in the National Forests

of the Intermountain Region

United States

Department of

Agriculture

Forest 

Service

Intermountain

Region

Ogden,

Utah

TO
Basic Guidelines for

Winter Recreation

in the National Forests

of the Intermountain Region

Many people enjoy outdoor winter recreation in the National 

Forests of the Intermountain Region. Because of the pristine 

beauty of a winter forest, hazards of winter recreation sometimes go unnoticed. Wind, cold, snow, or whiteout can quickly 

turn an outing into a tragedy. Knowledge of the area, weather 

conditions, route, and the limitations of your body and equipment–plus a little common sense–can ensure your outing is safe 

and enjoyable.

Most National Forest System land is open for winter travel. 

However, some areas have restrictions such as motorized vehicle 

closures; avalanche area closures in ski areas; and closure of 

hazardous roads. These closed areas can be identified on Forest 

Visitor Recreation Maps, which are available from the District 

Ranger or Forest Supervisor Offices.

❑1
Sharing Winter 

Recreation Resources

The beauties of backcountry winter can be enjoyed in a variety 

of ways: snowmobiling, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, 

and hiking. A successful winter recreation experience depends 

on National Forest users treating one another and the land with 

courtesy and respect.

In some National Forests, many winter recreationists must share 

the same areas and routes. The following suggestions will help 

provide a safe and enjoyable outing for everyone:

❖ Operate snowmobiles at a minimum speed near skiers, 

snowshoers, and hikers. Maintain that speed until well 

beyond those on foot. Snowmobilers should be able to stop 

within half the visible distance ahead.

❖ Skiers, snowshoers, and hikers should remember that 

snowmobile operators are generally not able to hear other 

approaching trail users. On steep topography, snowmobiles 

are generally limited to the developed trail surface. Common 

courtesy and respect will ensure that all trail users can enjoy 

their winter travel.

❖ Snowmobilers are not permitted on developed ski areas or 

on some trails used for cross-country skiing. These restrictions 

are posted, but check with the local District Ranger for full 

information.

❖ Hikers who walk in an uphill ski track ruin the track for 

skiers. Hikers should make their own track.

❖ Dogs can quickly ruin groomed ski tracks. For the benefit and 

enjoyment of others, consider leaving your pet at home. If 

you do take your dog, consider skiing on nongroomed trails 

or in lightly used areas.

❖ If a party is skiing a slope, any other party should ask 

permission before they ski it. This is not only a common 

courtesy, but it makes good avalanche sense.

Preparations for 

Safety

Before you leave, notify a responsible person of your planned 

route of travel, and time of departure and return. Be sure to 

check with that person when you return.

Clothing and Equipment

Layers of clothing, which can be adjusted to prevailing conditions, are best. A good quality windbreaker jacket and wind 

pants are excellent. Avoid tight-fitting clothes and boots which 

may restrict circulation. Take extra socks, gloves or mittens, 

warm cap, extra sweater, matches in a waterproof container, 

candle, firestarter (000 steel wool works well when pulled 

apart), a lightweight aluminum stove, nylon cord, general-purpose knife, head lamp, high-energy food, space blanket, first-aid 

kit, wide tape for repairs, small metal container for melting 

snow, insulated water bottle, map, compass, light shovel, and 

avalanche transceiver if in avalanche terrain.

Snowmobilers should carry tools for emergency repairs, including: extra spark plugs, extra gas, emergency flares, and drive 

belt. Experienced snowmobilers also carry snowshoes (in case of 

machine failure), as well as the normal emergency and survival 

gear for winter.

2 ❑ ❑3
Food and Water

A good rule is “lightweight but loaded,” meaning loaded with 

calories. Plan your meals to ensure a diet of high-energy foods.

Water is often difficult to find in winter. The only water available to you may be what you carry in containers or melt from 

snow. Under exertion, the body loses as much as 2 to 4 quarts 

of fluid per day. Body fluid must be replaced to maintain good 

physical condition. Eating snow provides only limited water 

(10 to 20 percent); it also drains energy and cools the body 

temperature. The best method to melt snow is on a small, 

lightweight backpacking stove, not by body contact. Save your 

energy.

Litter and Sanitation

Litter and debris can mar the quality of a winter recreation 

experience–particularly when viewed against a mantle of white 

snow. Help others enjoy their winter travel in the National 

Forest by carrying out what you carry in. Carry your food in 

burnable containers or easily compressed packages that require 

little space in your pack.

Always consider what effects your actions may have on other 

parties and the environment after the snow melts–the visual 

impact, plus possible water contamination. Although there are 

no universally accepted “correct” methods to dispose of human 

waste in the winter wilderness, here are some options:

❖ If toilet facilities are available, use them–even if it means 

shoveling snow to get the door open. If facilities exist, it is 

because the site is popular, and further impact should be 

minimized.

❖ Disperse your impact by using scattered latrine sites, which 

are more biodegradable than a group latrine.

❖ Latrine sites should be far from any trail, campsite, or water 

source.

❖ If possible, dig down to the dirt and use a “cathole”.

❖ In deep snow, bury any waste just below the snow’s surface.

❖ If on a glacier, drop waste in a crevasse.

❖ For proper disposal, pack waste out in a plastic bag. Some 

authorities consider this the best means of waste disposal in 

winter.

❖ Burn used toilet paper with a match or lighter, or pack it out.

4 ❑ ❑5
Hazards of

Winter Recreation

Snow Avalanches

Both large and small avalanches have tremendous force, and 

are a serious threat to winter travelers. The more time you 

spend skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and 

on other winter activities, the greater are your chances of being 

caught by a snow avalanche.

Understanding the basic dangers can help you avoid being 

caught by a snow avalanche. It is important for you to learn and 

understand how profoundly weather affects avalanche hazard 

conditions. Another recommended step would be to take an 

avalanche class and learn to analyze hazards before venturing 

into avalanche terrain. This knowledge may help you survive if 

you become buried in one.

Snow avalanches are complex, natural phenomena. Experts do 

not fully understand all the causes and, therefore, cannot predict 

avalanches with certainty. The general guidelines in this folder, 

however, will help an informed observer develop sound judgment about the presence and degree of avalanche danger.

General observations

Look for signs of recent avalanche activity and old slide paths; 

listen for sounds and cracks; be alert to changing snow conditions.

❖ RECENT AVALANCHE ACTIVITY – If you see new 

avalanches, suspect dangerous conditions. Contact the 

Avalanche Forecast Center, if possible.

❖ OLD SLIDE PATHS – Generally avalanches occur in the same 

area. Watch for avalanche paths, such as pushed-over small 

trees or trees with broken limbs. Avoid steep, open gullies 

and slopes.

❖ SOUNDS AND CRACKS – If the snow sounds hollow, 

particularly on a leeward slope, conditions are probably 

dangerous. If the snow cracks and the cracks continue to 

form, it indicates that slab avalanche danger is high.

❖ NEW SNOW – Be alert to dangerous conditions with one 

foot or more of new snow.

❖ OLD SNOW – When the old snow depth is sufficient to 

cover natural anchors such as rocks and brush, additional 

snow layers will slide more readily. An underlying layer of 

loose snow is more dangerous than a layer of compacted 

snow. Check the underlying snow layer with a ski pole, ski, 

or rod.

❖ WET SNOW – Rainstorms or spring weather with warm 

winds and cloudy nights will warm the snow cover. The 

resulting free and percolating water may cause wet snow 

avalanches. Wet snow avalanches are more likely to occur on 

south slopes and slopes with exposed rock.

Types

There are two principal types of snow avalanches–loose snow 

and slab.

❖ Loose snow avalanches start in a small area and grow as the 

quantity of snow increases upon descent. Loose snow moves 

as a formless mass with little internal cohesion.

❖ Slab avalanches, on the other hand, start when a large area 

of snow begins to slide at once. Slab avalanches are simply 

a stronger layer of snow overlying a weaker layer of snow. 

There is a well-defined fracture line where the moving 

snow breaks away from the stable snow. Slab avalanches 

are characterized by the tendency of snow crystals to stick 

together. There may be angular blocks or chunks of snow in 

the slide.

PLAY SAFE. If in doubt, stay out of avalanche hazard areas. During periods of high or extreme avalanche hazard, back-country 

travel IS NOT recommended and should be confined to avalanche-free areas.

6 ❑ ❑7
The Facts Tell the Story

❖ 95 percent of avalanche accidents are triggered by the 

victim.

❖ 95 percent of accidents occur in the backcountry. Av a lanche 

workers control avalanches with explosives at most ski areas 

and above highways. But, as soon as you cross a ski area 

boundary or leave the highway, you must become your own 

avalanche expert.

❖ Most avalanche victims are 15 to 35 years old, male, 

ed u cat ed, and intelligent. They may be backcountry skiers, 

snowmobilers, snowboarders, or climbers. Although most 

are very skilled at their sport, they have low to moderate 

avalanche skills.

❖ Almost all avalanche accidents involve slab avalanches, 

which are similar to a dinner plate sliding off an inclined 

table. Slab avalanches occur when the additional weight of 

new snow, wind-blown snow or a person overloads the 

strength of a buried weak layer.

❖ Most fatal avalanches are small–less than 3 feet deep, less 

than 300 feet wide and less than 600 vertical feet.

Avalanche Terrain

There are four terrain factors affecting snow avalanches; slope 

steep ness, slope profile, slope aspect and ground cover.

❖ SLOPE STEEPNESS – Few avalanches occur on slopes with a 

steepness of 30 degrees or less. On slopes steep er than 45 

degrees, the snow sluffs con tin u ous ly so slabs do not tend to 

build up. The danger zone exists between 30 and 45 degrees, 

with avalanche danger reaching its maximum at 38 degrees. 

For comparison, the steepest slopes at most ski areas are 

between 35 and 40 de grees–prime steepness for triggering 

an avalanche. It is best to avoid slopes that are as steep as an 

expert slope at a ski area.

❖ SLOPE PROFILE – Dangerous slab avalanches are more likely 

to occur on convex slopes, but may also occur on concave 

slopes. Short slopes may be as dangerous as long slopes!

8 ❑ ❑9

60 (173%)

45 (100%)

30 (60%)

Less

frequent

Frequent

Rarer

Sluffs

Wet snow

Large avalanches

Most

common

Concave

Convex

Tension zone

Usual fracture line
❖ WIND – Wind erodes snow from the upwind side of any 

obstacle–such as a ridge–and deposits it on the down wind 

side. Wind can deposit a tre men dous amount of snow in a 

very short period of time, which forms dan ger ous wind slabs. 

Always avoid steep slopes with recent deposits of winddrifted snow.

❖ STORMS – About 80 percent of all avalanches occur during, 

and shortly after, storms. Be extra cautious during these 

periods. Loose, dry snow slides easily. Moist, dense snow 

tends to settle rapidly, but during windy periods can be 

dangerous.

❖ SNOWFALL – Snow falling at the rate of one inch or more 

per hour rapidly increases avalanche danger. Observe general 

snow-crystal types by letting them fall on a dark surface. 

Small crystals–needles and pellets– create more dangerous 

conditions than the usual, star-shaped crystals.

❖ SLOPE ASPECT – Snow on north-facing slopes is more 

likely to slide in midwinter. South-facing slopes are 

dan ger ous in the spring and on sunny days. Leeward 

slopes are dan ger ous because wind-deposited snows 

add depth and create hard, hollow-sounding wind slabs. 

Windward slopes generally have less snow; and the 

snow is compacted, but usually strong enough to resist 

move ment. Wind ward slopes are usually safer than 

leeward slopes.

❖ GROUND COVER – Large rocks, trees, and heavy brush 

help anchor the snow; however, avalanches can start even 

among trees. Smooth, grassy slopes are more dangerous 

and should be avoided.

Weather Factors

Many weather factors affect the chances of a snow avalanche 

occurring: tem per a ture, wind, storms, and snowfall.

❖ TEMPERATURE – Snow remains in an unstable condition 

under cold tem per a tures. It will settle and stabilize rapidly 

when tem per a tures are near, or just above, freezing. 

Rapid changes in weather conditions (wind, tem per a ture, 

snowfall) cause snowpack ad just ments which may affect 

stability and cause an avalanche.

10 ❑ ❑11

Snow is anchored

Snow slides easily

Snow is deposited on leeward slope

and forms slabs
Route Selection and Precautions

The safest routes are along ridgetops, slightly on the wind ward 

side away from cornices. If you cannot travel the ridges, the 

next safest route is out in the valley, far from the bottom of 

slopes.

❖ Avoid disturbing cornices from above or below. Gain the 

ridgetop by detouring around cornice areas. If you must 

cross dangerous slopes, stay high and near the top.

❖ If you see avalanche fracture lines in the snow, avoid them 

and similar snow areas.

❖ Take advantage of areas of dense timber or rocky out crops as 

islands of safety. Use them for lunch and rest stops. Spend as 

little time as possible on open slopes.

❖ Snowmobilers should not cross the lower part of slopes. Do 

not drive a snow mo bile across especially long, open slopes 

or known avalanche paths. The game of “high mark” is 

especially dangerous.

❖ IF YOU MUST ASCEND OR DESCEND A DANGEROUS 

SLOPE, GO STRAIGHT UP OR DOWN THE EDGE–DO NOT 

TRAVERSE BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE SLOPE.

❖ Never travel above other people. Any avalanche you trigger 

will bury both you and them. 

❖ Choose the best route by constantly evaluating slope 

steepness, what direction the slope faces with respect to wind 

and sun, the effectiveness of anchors, and the consequences 

of a slide.

❖ Always obey signs posting slope closures due to avalanche 

danger. When traveling in a group, only one person at a time 

should cross avalanche terrain. Half the party should always 

wait in an island of safety to rescue the others, if nec es sary.

❖ Remove ski pole straps, ski safety straps, loosen all 

equip ment, put on mitts, cap, and fasten all clothing before 

you travel in any areas where there is avalanche danger. 

Keep your day pack strapped to your body. Carry and know 

how to use an avalanche transceiver. Carry a sectional probe 

and collapsible shovel.

❑ ❑13

Wind

Safest route

Dangerous

Usually

safe route

Cornice

Safe route

Potential

avalanche path

Never

Usually safe route
Avalanche Survival

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN AN AVALANCHE . . .

❖ Discard all equipment, except your day pack.

❖ Get away from your snowmobile.

❖ Make swimming motions, try to stay on top and work your 

way to the side of the avalanche.

❖ Before coming to a stop, put your hands in front of your 

face and try to make an air space in the snow.

❖ Try to remain calm.

IF YOU ARE A SURVIVOR . . .

❖ Check the safety of other surviving party members.

❖ Ensure that it is safe to travel onto the avalanche debris.

❖ Mark the place where you last saw the victims.

❖ Search for victims directly down slope below the last seen 

point. If they aren’t on the surface, scuff or probe the snow 

with a pole or stick (after locating them with an avalanche 

beacon).

❖ REMEMBER–YOU are the victim’s best hope for survival.

❖ Do not desert victims and go for help, unless help is only a 

few minutes away. After 30 minutes, the victim has only a 

50 percent chance of surviving.

IF THERE IS MORE THAN ONE SURVIVOR . . .

❖ Once you recover all victims, send one person for help, and 

have them mark the route so a rescue party can follow it 

back.

❖ Contact the ski patrol, the local sheriff, or Forest Service 

personnel.

❖ Administer first aid.

❖ Treat for suffocation and shock.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is the medical name for getting too cold. Believe 

it or not, most cases of hypothermia happen in the summertime 

in temperatures between 30 and 60 degrees F. Hypothermia can 

quickly overcome a victim who falls into cold water or who is 

caught in a rainstorm without proper clothing.

Hypothermia is aggravated by wet, wind, and exhaustion. Water quickly reduces the insulating ability of clothing to near zero. 

Wind not only evaporates water cooling the skin further, but it 

drives cold air through the clothing. A rain or wind jacket can 

dramatically reduce heat loss.

If your party is exposed to wind, cold, and wet–THINK 

HYPOTHERMIA! Watch yourself and others for symptoms.

Stages of hypothermia

❖ Shivering (the body is attempting to generate heat).

❖ Vague, slow, slurred speech.

❖ Indifference, sleepiness, apathy, and listlessness. 

Paradoxically, victims sometimes feel warm and take off their 

clothing just when they need it most.

❖ Immobile, fumbling hands, frequent stumbling, lurching gait.

❖ Unconsciousness, slow breathing, slow pulse.

❖ Freezing of extremities.

❖ Death.

14 ❑ ❑15
Treatment

The victim may deny he is in trouble. Believe the symptoms, not 

the victim. Even mild symptoms demand immediate treatment.

❖ Get the victim out of the wind and rain, strip off all wet 

clothes.

❖ If the victim is only mildly impaired, give him warm liquids. 

Get him into warm clothes and a warm sleeping bag. Wellwrapped, warm (not hot) rocks or canteens will hasten 

recovery.

❖ If the victim is semiconscious or worse, try to keep him 

awake. Give him warm liquids. Leave him stripped. Put the 

victim in a sleeping bag with another person–also stripped. 

If you have a double bag, put the victim between two warm 

donors. Skin to skin contact is the most effective.

❖ Build a fire to warm the camp.

Defense Against Hypothermia

❖ STAY DRY – Put on rain gear before you get wet. Put on 

wool or polypropylene clothing before you start shivering. 

When clothes are wet, they lose about 90 percent of their 

insulating value–wool and polypropylene lose less; cotton 

and down lose more.

❖ GET OUT OF THE WIND – Wind multiplies the problem 

of staying warm. Even a slight breeze carries heat away 

from the body and refrigerates wet clothing by evaporating 

moisture from the surface. NEVER IGNORE SHIVERING. 

Persistent or violent shivering is a clear warning that you are 

on the verge of hypothermia.

❖ BUILD A FIRE – Concentrate on making your camp as secure 

and protected as possible. A storm-proof tent provides the 

best shelter, but even plastic sheeting and twine can be rigged 

for a lifesaving, foul-weather shelter.

❖ CLOTHING – Cotton clothing is a good choice in warm 

temperatures, but is extremely dangerous in cold, wet 

conditions. Down clothing is as bad, wool is slightly better 

and synthetic clothing, such as pile, is the best. Any time 

you may encounter wet weather during an outing, bring 

synthetic clothing such as pile or polyester. Don’t forget rainor wind-protective clothes that cover the head, neck, body 

and legs. Heat is lost most quickly through the head, hands 

and feet.

❖ FOOD AND WATER – Because your body must generate 

enough heat to counter heat loss, low blood sugar or 

dehydration, hypothermia can occur more easily. Carry highenergy food–nuts, jerky, and candy–and keep nibbling during 

hypothermia weather. Also drink plenty of fluids.

❖ COLD WATER – Submersion in cold water quickly drains 

heat from the body. The cold that kills is cold water running 

down neck and legs, cold water held against the body by 

wet clothes, or cold water flushing body heat from the 

surface of the clothes. Fifty degree water is unbearably cold. 

Many people who try to swim even short distances in cold 

water find that their muscles suddenly lose strength and they 

can no longer swim.

❖ PREVENT EXHAUSTION – Make camp while you still have 

a reserve of energy. Prolonged exposure greatly reduces 

your normal endurance and drains valuable energy reserves. 

If exhaustion forces you to stop, however briefly, body 

heat production will drop instantly to 50 percent or more. 

Immediately, violent, incapacitating shivering may begin. You 

may slip into hypothermia in a matter of minutes.

❖ APPOINT A FOUL-WEATHER LEADER – Make the bestprotected member of your party responsible for calling a halt 

before the least-protected member becomes exhausted or 

goes into violent shivering.

16 ❑ ❑17
Wind Chill

Wind, temperature, and moisture all greatly affect the safety 

of the winter traveler by contributing to loss of body heat. The 

following “wind chill” chart illustrates the effects of wind and 

temperature on a dry, properly clothed person. If clothing is 

wet, the net effects of wind and temperature are much greater.

Dehydration

At rest, an adult requires 2 quarts of water daily; and, up to 4 

quarts of water are required for strenuous activity. Stamina decreases up to 25 percent when an adult loses 1-1/2 quarts of water. Avoid dehydration–simply drink as often as you feel thirsty.

Wind Chill Cooling Power of

Wind Expressed as “Equivalent Chill Temperature”

 mph Temperature (F)

 Calm 40 30 20 10 5 0 –10 –20 –30 –40 –50 –60

Equivalent Chill Temperature

5 35 25 15 5 0 –5 –15 –25 –35 –45 –55 –70

10 30 15 5 –10 –15 –20 –35 –45 –60 –70 –80 –95

15 25 10 –5 –20 –25 –30 –45 –60 –70 –85 –100 –110

20 20 5 –10 –25 –30 –35 –50 –65 –80 –95 –110 –120

25 15 0 –15 –30 –35 –45 –60 –75 –90 –105 –120 –135

30 10 0 –20 –30 –40 –50 –65 –80 –95 –110 –125 –140

35 10 –5 –20 –35 –40 –50 –65 –80 –100 –115 –130 –145

40 10 –5 –20 –35 –45 –55 –70 –85 –100 –115 –130 –150

Increasing Danger Great Danger

Danger (Flesh may freeze (Flesh may freeze

within 1 minute) within 30 seconds)

Example: At 10°F, a 25 mph wind speed produces a –30°F chill temperature.

Frostbite

Frostbite is caused by exposing inadequately protected flesh to 

subfreezing temperatures. Tissue damage results from reduced 

blood flow to the extremities, as opposed to hypothermia, 

which causes lowering of the body’s rate of metabolism.

❖ SYMPTOMS – Loss of feeling and a dead white 

appearance.

❖ TREATMENT – Restore body temperature as quickly 

as possible, preferably by immersion in a water bath 

of less than 110 degrees temperature, or by other 

effective means. If it is necessary to continue travel, 

the affected area should be covered and the victim 

moved immediately to a location where treatment 

and evacuation can be obtained.

❖ PREVENTION – Party members should periodically 

check their companions, especially the nose and 

cheeks, for signs of frostbite. Snowmobilers, due to their 

speed of travel, are particularly susceptible to frostbite.

Altitude Sickness

At 10,000 feet, air contains only two-thirds of the volume of 

oxygen that it contains at sea level. In addition, the higher air 

pressure at sea level easily forces available oxygen through the 

thin lining of the lungs into the bloodstream. At higher elevations, there is less air pressure and the available oxygen is not 

so easily forced through the lung walls.

❖ SYMPTOMS – Listlessness, loss of appetite, weakness, apathy, 

nausea, dizziness, and drowsiness.

❖ TREATMENT – Stop and rest, breath deeply a few times. 

Obtain nourishment from simple sugar, like candy or fruit 

juices. Travel to lower elevations.

❖ PREVENTION – Keep in good physical condition and eat 

a well-balanced diet. Avoid sudden trips to high altitudes 

which involve immediate physical exercise.

18 ❑ ❑19
Hyperventilation

This reaction to altitude is caused by too rapid breathing and a 

de crease of the carbon dioxide level in the blood.

❖ SYMPTOMS – Lightheadedness and feeling cold. Victims may 

be ap pre hen sive and excitable.

❖ TREATMENT – Calm the victim. Have him relax and breathe 

into a glove, bag, or hat, until normal breathing is restored.

❖ PREVENTION – Same as altitude sickness.

Lost or Injured

Avoid becoming lost by taking the precautions outlined in this 

guide. It is easy, however, to become disoriented during winter 

whiteouts, or when physically exhausted.

❖ If you are lost, injured, or your equipment has failed, keep 

calm. Decide on a plan. Trust your compass.

❖ Backtrack, if possible. If backtracking is impractical, remain in 

a safe place.

❖ Stay together, if possible. If not, send at least two people for 

help. Don’t abandon your snowshoes or skis.

❖ Build a fire, shelter, or snow cave. STAY WARM.

❖ Mark your base camp so it is visible from the air.

Distress Signals

Three smokes, three blasts of a whistle, three shouts, three 

flashes of light–three of anything that will attract attention.

Overdue Party

When someone is overdue–keep calm. Notify the County Sheriff 

or District Ranger in the trip area. Either of these officials will 

take the necessary steps to alert or activate the local search and 

rescue or ga ni za tion. If the missing person(s) returns later, be sure 

to advise the Sheriff or District Ranger immediately.

Ground-to-Air Signals

Visible emergency signals are easily made in large open areas. 

An SOS can be stamped in snowfields or grassy meadows. Brush 

piles or evergreen boughs can also be used. Listed below are 

emergency codes for ground-to-air signals.

20❑ ❑21

REQUIRE DOCTOR

SERIOUS INJURY

AM PROCEEDING

IN THIS DIRECTION

YES

AFFIRMATIVE

REQUIRE MEDICAL

SUPPLIES

ALL WELL

REQUIRE FOOD

AND WATER

NO

NEGATIVE

UNABLE TO

PROCEED
For Your Protection

As a user of National Forest System lands, you have significant 

responsibility for personal safety during any activity you might 

pursue. The Forest Service installs signs and other information 

devices at various locations where site conditions warrant. 

However, the size of the National Forests and the variety of 

natural and manmade conditions limits placement of signs or 

other specific warnings and necessitates the use of more general 

education efforts.

Hazards include, but are not limited to: changing weather conditions, snow, avalanches, landslides, caves, overlooks, falling 

trees or limbs, high or rushing water, contaminated water, wild 

animals, becoming lost or over exerted, hypothermia, remnants 

of mining and other activities involving excavation, tunnels 

and shafts, decaying structures and a variety of equipment, and 

changing road and trail conditions. You may also be exposed to 

unreasonable acts of others.

The Forest Service does not manage or control all of these occurrences. It is your responsibility to know the hazards inherent 

to your activities and to use proper safety procedures and equipment to minimize the risks.

To help National Forest visitors enjoy their outdoor winter recreation, the Forest Service provides information regarding local 

conditions. This information is available from any of the following Forest Service offices.

For More Information

For recorded avalanche advisories, call:

IDAHO Ketchum ........................................................... (208) 622-8027

McCall .............................................................. (208) 634-0409

UTAH Salt Lake City (3 minutes) .................................... (801) 364-1581

Salt Lake City (5 minutes) .................................... (801) 364-1591

Logan ................................................................ (435) 797-4146

Ogden ................................................................(801) 621-8600

Park City ............................................................(801) 649-2250

Provo ................................................................ (801) 378-4333

Moab ................................................................(435) 259-7669

Alta ...................................................................(801) 742-0830

WYOMING Tetons-Jackson ...................................................(307) 733-2664

NEVADA Central Sierra ..................................................... (530) 587-2158

Web site: www.avalanche.org

22❑ ❑23
16.24.400.01/94 revised/reprint 2004

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual 

orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with 

disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large 

print, audio tape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 

(voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

ASHLEY NF

355 North Vernal Avenue

Vernal, Utah 84078

(435) 789-1181

Web site: www.fs.fed.us/r4/ashley

BOISE NF

1249 So. Vinnell Way, Suite 200

Boise, Idaho 83709

(208) 373-4100

Web site: www.fs.fed.us/r4/boise

BRIDGER-TETON NF

340 North Cache

P.O. Box 1888

Jackson, Wyoming 83001

(307) 739-5500

Web site: www.fs.fed.us/r4/btnf

CARIBOU-TARGHEE NF

499 North 2400 East

St. Anthony, Idaho 83445

(208) 624-3151

Web site: www.fs.fed.us/r4/c-t

DIXIE NF

1789 North Wedgewood Lane

Cedar City, Utah 84720

(435) 865-3700

Web site: www.fs.fed.us/r4/dnf

FISHLAKE NF

115 East 900 North

Richfield, Utah 84701

(435) 896-9233

Web site: www.fs.fed.us/r4/fishlake

HUMBOLDT-TOIYABE NF

1200 Franklin Way

Sparks, Nevada 89431

(775) 331-6444

Web site: www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf

MANTI-LASAL NF

599 West Price River Drive

Price, Utah 84501

(435) 637-2817

Web site: www.fs.fed.us/r4/mlnf

PAYETTE NF

800 W. Lakeside Avenue

P.O. Box 1026

McCall, Idaho 83638

(208) 634-0700

Web site: www.fs.fed.us/r4/payette

SALMON-CHALLIS NF

50 Highway 93 South

Salmon, Idaho 83467

(208) 756-5100

Web site: www.fs.fed.us/r4/sc

SAWTOOTH NF

2647 Kimberly Road East

Twin Falls, Idaho 83301-7976

(208) 737-3200

Web site: www.fs.fed.us/r4/sawtooth

UINTA NF

88 West 100 North

P.O. Box 1428

Provo, Utah 84603

(801) 342-5100

Web site: www.fs.fed.us/r4/uinta

WASATCH-CACHE NF

8236 Federal Building

125 South State Street

Salt Lake City, Utah 84138

(801) 524-3900

Web site: www.fs.fed.us/r4/wcnf

National Forest Supervisor’s Offices in the Intermountain Region: