Dolly Sods Wilderness — Local services in Davis

A beautiful place--such amazing fall colors--and one that's sadly being mistreated by folks who haven't learned how to recreate in wilderness. Of all public lands, wilderness areas are the most protected. There should be no sign that you were there after you left.

PLEASE help keep it that way and don't make the impact even bigger--it's the least you can do compared to the amazing experience you receive. Read the U.S. Forest Service regulations. Here are some, plus additional LNT.

Don't pick plants or cut down branches/trees. Take all trash with you. Yes, even that orange peel and that tissue. They take longer to biodegrade than you think, and they're another sign of human activity. Camp at designated campsites 200+ feet away from trails and streams. Don't build cairns, fire rings, bridges, or dams. (Damming a stream leaves a sign of people and more importantly warms the water, which means some fish can no longer live there). Stay on designated trails. A bit tricky because there are SO many social trails, so bring a paper map to keep it straight. Please, PLEASE know how to dig a cat hole (6-8 inches deep, covered back up, at LEAST 200 ft away from campsites, trails, and water sources so you don't poison people's drinking water with your feces). No one wants to do it, but you cannot leave it out in the open. I've seen it and it's nasty.

It's a lot, but because so many people visit public lands, it's a part of our shared responsibility. Much of what makes Dolly Sods enjoyable--the silence, views, diverse ecosystem, clean water and air--would be ruined if no one followed these rules. If you go,...

Had a wonderful overnight winter camping trip here at the Dolly Sods. Our intention was to do the full loop however, the snow was deeper than expected so we had to cut it short and do 16 miles. We were glad of the many trails we could take. There are no blazes on the trail, so up on the plateau it was very difficult to know where the trail was with it being snow covered. We throughly enjoyed camping at one of the many campsites. Water was easy to come by. The next day we saw lions head and some waterfalls. We recommend downloading offline maps or we would have missed multiple trails. We had to backtrack a few times. For wildlife we saw about 6 deer, and some fox and turkey tracks. The last piece was crossing the river. We brought garbage bags for our legs but that was not enough. We got a little wet but likely it was a quick 1.5 back to the trailhead where our car was parked. I finished off the snowy adventure with some Cedar Meadow Naturals tallow hand soap to mosturize my hands from the...

As the world becomes more insane, I am thankful to have a place to go to escape. The air is pure thanks to the trees. You are allowed to hike into the forest and stay away from all the noise of humans. We went during blueberry season and picked enough to eat immediately and to bring home to preserve for future use. Tent camping into the forest is a wonderful way to get all the exercise the body needs. The quietness of the woods calms the mind and opens up the soul. I am eternally thankful to have the opportunity to wander around this most unique state that I am soo fortunate to live in. Pictures cannot truly represent the beauty of this place, it is worth everyone’s effort to go and explore and experience this healthy environment. The campground is there for those not able to hike into the forest to camp. I came out of the forest stronger in body and mind, I absolutely needed this to return to the insanity. Go to the woods and be free, you will...