Fire restrictions for campers, July 2026: what we could verify

Most of the Southwest is under fire restrictions right now, and several California forests joined them on July 1. This is a snapshot dated July 17, 2026. Restrictions change weekly in summer, sometimes overnight, so treat everything below as a starting point. The agency page and the posted sign are the authority, not this post.

Stage 1 vs Stage 2, in plain terms

Forests escalate in stages. Under Stage 1, campfires are banned except in agency-provided fire rings at developed sites, and smoking is limited to vehicles, buildings, or a cleared area. Under Stage 2, fires are banned everywhere including developed campgrounds, charcoal is out, and most orders add limits on chainsaws, welding, and sometimes engine use off roads. Pressurized gas stoves generally stay legal in both stages if you use them on cleared ground, but the specific order controls. The Colville fire restrictions page has a clean explanation of the ladder.

What we verified on July 17

Gila National Forest (NM): Stage 1. Forest-wide since March 23, planned through September 30 unless rescinded or extended, per the forest’s alerts page. The Sacaton Fire has been burning since June 21, so expect area closures on top of the restrictions.

Prescott National Forest (AZ): Stage 1. In effect since May 21, through September 30 unless rescinded, along with a recreational shooting prohibition, per the forest’s alerts page.

Coconino National Forest (AZ): Stage 2, probably. The forest announced a move to Stage 2 effective June 30. When we checked, the alerts page still carried the Stage 1 notice from May 21, so the site is not consistent with itself. Call the fire restrictions hotline at 928-226-4607 before you count on anything.

Tonto National Forest (AZ): at least Stage 1. The forest’s fire restrictions page lists Stage 1 effective May 15. Regional news reported a move to Stage 2 at the end of June, and we could not confirm that on the forest’s own page, which was last updated May 14. Check the Southwest restrictions map before you go.

Shasta-Trinity National Forest (CA): the forest’s 2026 fire restrictions order runs July 1 through December 31. Campfires only in designated sites, with limited exceptions for California Campfire Permit holders near the big lakes.

Sawtooth National Forest (ID): Stage 1 on all five divisions of the Minidoka Ranger District since July 1, per the forest’s release.

Daniel Boone National Forest (KY): no fire restrictions. The forest announced spring restrictions April 16 and lifted them May 1. Normal campfire rules apply.

Colville National Forest (WA): unclear. The forest’s fire restrictions page still says no restrictions, but it was last updated March 17. Local reporting says the Tonasket Ranger District went to Stage 1. We could not confirm that on the forest’s page, so call the district.

Where we could not verify a forest-by-forest answer

Colorado, Utah, and Montana restrictions are set county by county and forest by forest, and the honest answer is a map, not a list that will be stale by Friday. Use the state lookup: Colorado DFPC, Utah Fire Info, Montana’s restrictions map, and Idaho’s Fire Restrictions Finder. For California, check the alerts page of the specific forest, because orders are forest-by-forest and several took effect in mid-July.

If you are planning where to camp around all this, our state pages for Arizona and New Mexico cover where dispersed camping is allowed, and our stay limits guide covers how long you can sit in one spot once you find it.