United States 

Department of 

Agriculture

Forest 

Service

Intermountain

Region

HumboldtToiyabe

National Forest

Humboldt-Toiyabe

National Forest

Bridgeport & Carson Ranger Districts

tock

23.242.417.02/99

amping

with
Leave No Trace

● Plan Ahead and Prepare

● Camp and Travel on Durable Surfaces

● Pack-It-In, Pack-It-Out

● Properly Dispose of What You Cannot Pack 

Out

● Minimize Use and Impact of Fires

● Leave What You Find

When it comes to stock use in the backcountry, 

lightweight gear and careful planning of food 

and supplies will help reduce negative impact 

to the environment. Following are four key areas 

where you can minimize stock impact:

● On the Trail

● Restraints

● Supplemental Feed

● Camps

1
On the Trail

Maintained trails in the Mount Rose, Carson-Iceberg, Mokelumne and Hoover Wildernesses, as 

well as in Davis Creek County Park and Washoe 

Lake State Park, are open to stock use. Except 

when entering your camp, always stay on established trails.

When sharing trails with hikers and bicyclists, the 

horse and rider have the right-of-way. However, 

many trail users are unfamiliar with stock use and 

unsure of what to do when they meet on the trail. 

As the stock user, you can make the best of the 

situation by instructing the hiker or the bicyclist 

in a friendly manner to step off the trail to the 

downhill side. Be sure to let them know how far 

they need to be off the trail to be out of your 

way.

PLEASE NOTE: Bicycles are prohibited in Wilderness Areas.

Restraints

The backcountry is no place to train your horse 

to a new method of restraint. Whichever method 

you choose, be sure your horse is familiar with it 

before you hit the trail.

Watering stock

Water stock at an established ford or natural 

low spot in the bank of the water source. For 

their safety and to protect embankments, restrained stock should not have access to bodies 

of water.

2

Camp Restraints

Stock should be in camp only during saddling 

and unsaddling, packing and unpacking. Otherwise, they should be kept outside the immediate camp area. The methods listed below are 

presented from lesser to greater impact on the 

environment:

Highlines

To construct a highline, locate an area with a dry 

hardpacked surface where the least amount of 

ground cover will be disturbed. Stretch a rope, 

approximately horse 

head high, 

between two 

trees of at 

least 8 inches 

in diameter. 

To ensure 

the highline 

doesn’t girdle 

the tree, protect the bark 

with padding.

Portable electric fencing

This restraint method is an effective way to create a temporary corral. Because no trees are 

required, it is ideal for use in the high desert. 

Tying to trees

Stock should be tied to a tree only temporarily 

to prevent damage to the tree root system. Select a sturdy tree of at least 8 inches in diameter. 

DO NOT TIE STOCK TO DEAD TREES!

3
Grazing Restraints

Dispersed, free roaming stock grazing on good 

grass will cause minimum long-term impact to the 

area. However, limiting movement during grazing 

is a major concern 

and cause of negative impact in the 

backcountry.

Hobbles

This method of 

restraint causes the 

least environmental impact. Since 

stock learn to move 

freely with hobbles, 

keep two wrangler 

stock in camp, using 

a highline or electric fence.

Electric fences

Electric fences are easy to set up and must be 

moved periodically to ensure that the enclosed 

area is not overgrazed.

Pickets

Picketing stock is hard on soil and vegetation, 

and is not allowed by Land Management agencies in some areas. Become familiar with local 

regulations and use good judgment when evaluating the grazing area near your camp. Choose 

a picket site carefully, make sure it is free of 

obstacles. Pack in your picket pins—do not cut 

trees to make them. Move the pins frequently to 

prevent overgrazing and trampling.

4

Supplemental Feed

We suggest bringing supplemental feed, even if 

the vegetation in the area you will camp seems 

adequate. A small ration of feed can be used as 

a bribe to remind stock that camp is home. Feed 

stock using nose bags, instead of spreading the 

feed on the ground. You will waste less feed and 

prevent pawing to reach the feed.

Processed and pelletized feed is handy and a 

good source of nutrition, especially for longer 

trips. Seeds from many weeds and non-native 

plant species can be found in many nonprocessed 

feeds. Because of this, there are regulations 

requiring the use of certifi ed weed-free feed in 

certain areas. Check with one of the offi ces listed 

in this brochure for more information.

5
Camps

The areas listed below are not designated as 

horse camps, but as dispersed areas in the 

National Forest where stock use is allowed. 

These camps are accessible with stock trucks and 

trailers, are large enough to accommodate stock 

camps, and have access to water, usually nearby 

streams:

CARSON RANGER DISTRICT

✔ Hunting Camp #2

✔ Hunting Camp #4

✔ Wolf Creek

✔ Corral Valley Trailhead

BRIDGEPORT RANGER DISTRICT

✔ Green Creek - below the campground

✔ Molybdenite Creek - below the campground

✔ Mill Canyon

6

For More 

Information

Road and trail conditions can change from year 

to year and may cause temporary closure of an 

area. Contact the nearest Forest Service, State, 

or County Park offi ce listed below for current 

conditions:

Carson Ranger District

1536 South Carson Street

Carson City, NV 89701

(775) 882-2766

Bridgeport Ranger District

Highway 395

HCR1 Box 1000

Bridgeport, CA 93517

(760) 932-7070

Stanislaus National Forest

19777 Greenley Road

Sonora, CA 95370

(209) 532-3671

Eldorado National Forest

Eldorado Information Center

3070 Camino Heights Drive

Camino, CA 95709

(530) 644-6048

Davis Creek County Regional Park

25 Davis Creek Road

Washoe Valley, NV 89704

(775) 849-0684

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

870 Emerald Bay Road, Suite 1

South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

(530) 573-2600

Washoe Lake State Park

4855 East Lake Blvd.

Carson City, NV 89701

(775) 687-4319

7
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and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, 

political beliefs, sexual orientation, and 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, audiotape, 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, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-

9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and 

employer.