QUINCY — The weather on the Plumas National Forest is feeling more like fall, with warm, sunny days and cooler nights and a touch of color starting to show up in the trees. This means recreation staff are beginning the process of winterizing and closing sites.

On the Feather River Ranger District, Sly Reservoir and Strawberry Reservoir campgrounds are closed for maintenance and hazard tree removal. Golden Trout Campground is open until snow restricts access.

At Little Grass Valley Reservoir, Red Feather, Little Beaver, and Running Deer campgrounds closed for the season on Monday, September 9. The remaining campgrounds will be open until mid-October. Tooms, Black Rock, and Maidu boat ramps are still open, with docks in the water until the end of October.

On the Mount Hough Ranger District, Queen Lily and Gansner Bar campgrounds in the Feather River Canyon are closing, but North Fork Campground is still open until September 29. Spanish Creek Campground and most Antelope Lake Recreation Area sites will also be open until September 29. Boulder Creek Campground and Lost Cove Boat Ramp at Antelope Lake will be open with limited services until mid-October.

At Bucks Lake, Sundew, Mill Creek, Lower Bucks and Grizzly Forebay campgrounds, and Sandy Point Day Use Area sites are open until October 6. Whitehorse, Grizzly Creek, Snake Lake, Silver Lake, Rock Creek, Deanes Valley, Meadow Camp, Brady’s Camp, and Red Bridge campgrounds are open until October 15.

Scan and pay on Recreation.gov is now available at Silver Lake, Snake Lake, Deanes Valley, Rock Creek and Meadow Camp campgrounds. Visitors will need to have the Recreation.gov app on their phone prior to their visit. At the campground, find the QR code at the kiosk and scan. Cell service is not needed to use the app to pay fees.

On the Beckwourth Ranger District, most sites are open through October 1. Frenchman Campground and Boat Ramp at Frenchman Lake, Grasshopper Flat Campground and Honker Cove Boat Ramp at Lake Davis, and Gold Lake Campground and Boat Ramp are open until October 15.

Gold Lake Campground is now first come, first served, and Gold Lake 4x4 Camp is now requiring reservations at least three days in advance on Recreation.gov.

Reservations for Gold Lake 4x4 Camp can be made up to 30 days in advance online or by calling 877-444-6777. The reservation phone number is staffed daily 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. PDT. Recreation.gov charges an $8 service charge for online reservations, $9 for phone reservations. Service charges are also applied for cancellations, so visitors are asked to be sure of their plans.

Visitors to Gold Lake 4x4 Camp are also expected to be responsible for human waste disposal when recreating at this site, bringing and using approved systems. This includes waste kits and Waste Alleviation and Gelling (WAG) bags that contain a drying agent. These bags can be sealed and disposed of in a dumpster or trash at home. These systems can be purchased at a variety of outdoor stores and online.

Work will be occurring next week to remove the toilets at Gold Lake 4x4 Camp, so there will be increased activity and traffic in the area.

The Plumas National Forest is currently in Stage 2 Fire Restrictions. Campfires are only allowed in established campfire rings in specifically designated recreation sites with campground hosts present, as listed in Exhibit A of the closure order.

California Campfire Permit holders can use portable campfire pits, stoves, or lanterns that use gas, kerosene, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel as long as they have a working shut-off valve and are used in an area that is at least 3 feet from any flammable materials. Additionally, internal combustion engines, such as vehicles and generators, may only be used on designated roads and trails. Boat engines are exempt.

“The area in and around the Plumas is seeing continued hot and dry weather, and with dry fuels, there is still a high risk of wildfire even as temperatures cool down,” said Plumas National Forest Assistant Fire Management Officer Mitch Wilson. “It is critical for area residents and visitors to be careful with anything that can spark a wildfire and to continue to comply with the Stage 2 Fire Restrictions.”

It’s always good for any forest adventure to make sure in addition to the right supplies that you let someone know where you are going, when you plan to be back and start with a full tank of gas.

With weather expected to be significantly cooler on Sunday and a chance of showers possible next week, it is recommended to be prepared for cold weather and changing conditions.

For more information on the Plumas National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/plumas, follow the forest on Twitter @USFSPlumas or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas.