Jackson Demonstration State Forest
Forest Stats:
Established: 1949
Area: 48,652 acres
Elevation: 80 - 2,200 ft
Precipitation: 39 in per year along coast
70 in per year inland Temperature: Max: 100 F - Min: 25 F
JDSF Base Map - Compatible with mapping apps (e.g. Avenza).
Research
Demonstration
Recreation
Recreation Maps and Trail Information
JDSF maintains a rustic experience, so be aware of minimal signage. Smart devices and applications are useful tools to guide you through the landscape. All digitized maps are georeferenced and available for use offline (cell reception not required) in the Avenza app: https://www.avenzamaps.com/
Camping: ALL CAMPGROUNDS CLOSED FOR THE SEASON. Seasonal camping is offered mid-May through September, weather dependent. There are two main overnight camping areas with a number of campsites, including equestrian camps. Camping is within designated campsites only (i.e., dispersed camping is not allowed). Camping fees are collected at self-registration stations located in the campgrounds. Camping fees will be used to support the recreation program including costs associated with maintenance and improvement of campgrounds and facilities, signage, roads, trails, etc. Campsites have picnic tables, fire rings, and pit toilets. Campers may collect dead wood lying on the ground for use within their campfire rings. There is no water at the campsites or day use areas. Pets are allowed but must be on a leash.
Hiking: Three demonstration trails have been developed with trail guides to inform visitors about the ecology, history and management of the redwood forest. There are also numerous hiking trails situated in historically and ecologically interesting settings, such as the Waterfall Grove Trail and the Forest History Trail.
Biking: There are many opportunities for all types of bikers to explore JDSF. Mountain and gravel biking has grown in popularity. There are a vast number of dirt and gravel roads providing connector routes to ridge lines, streams, and forested areas. There are multi-use single track on JDSF, mostly located within the Caspar and Big River drainages, some connecting with neighboring public lands, including Big River and Woodland State Parks.
Hunting & Fishing: Hunting is allowed in season. No fishing is allowed per CA Department of Fish and Wildlife rules.
Firewood Cutting and Mushroom Collecting: Permits are required for firewood cutting and mushroom harvesting. Mushroom permits are issued on a Fiscal Year basis i.e. July 1 through Jun 30; all permits expire on June 30th regardless of when they were issued. Example: a permit issued January 18, 2022 expires June 30, 2022. A permit purchased July 1, 2022 will expire on June 30, 2023. Contact our office (707) 964-5674 for questions related to recreation events requiring Special Use Permits such as organized bike and equestrian rides and races.
All Permits by mail only at this time.
Related Links:
Camping:
CAMP ONE CLOSED FOR 2022
Permits:
Cautions:
Jobs in the Forest:
Activities:
Jackson Demonstration State Forest is committed to providing innovative demonstrations, experiments and education. The number of acres and breadth of age classes and seral stages contained within JDSF will allow for large landscape level research and demonstrations to complement stand and individual project level work. JDSF will demonstrate the full range of intensity of forest management while maintaining a diversity of stand conditions for future research not yet known. JDSF explicitly acknowledges that forest management is a much broader concept than the growth and yield of merchantable timber. Special concern areas such as riparian and older forest corridors, unusual plant communities, ecological processes, wildlife use of habitat corridors or structural elements, and individual species are all worthy topics for examination within the research and demonstration program.
The Caspar Creek Experimental Watershed Study was established in 1961 as a cooperative effort between the CAL FIRE and the Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW). It is the longest continuous research project at JDSF and has important implications for forests worldwide.
Caspar Watershed Experiments: https://www.fs.usda.gov/psw/topics/water/caspar/caspubs.shtml
Several studies from JDSF are presented here:
Redwood Symposiums: https://www.fs.usda.gov/psw/publications/documents/psw_gtr258/
Research Partners:
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- PSW Caspar Creek Watershed Study
- PSRS Redwood Sciences Laboratory
California Forestry Higher Education Programs
- Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Forestry and Natural Resources
- Cal Poly Humboldt Department of Forestry and Watershed Management
- UC Berkeley Center for Forestry
List of Published Research
Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF) is a 48,652 acre working forest. For over 70 years, JDSF staff have been stewards of the forest, practicing sustainable forest management while accommodating hundreds of demonstration and research projects and providing diverse recreational opportunities.
JDSF has a timber inventory of approximately 2.3 billion board feet of conifer trees that grows about 53 million board feet of timber each year. On average, JDSF harvests 14.3 million board feet of conifer timber each year which is approximately 27% of the annual growth. This conservative approach to harvesting results in significant increases in biomass (carbon sequestration) each year and over time.
Timber Harvesting Resources:
- Cal eProcure
- CalTREES
- Mitchell Creek THP– 1-20-00193MEN
- LNF Big River THP -1-20-00173MEN
- Caspar 500 THP -1-20-00006MEN
- Boundary Creek THP - 1-21-0130MEN
- CALTREES Guide (How to look up more THP Info)
- Forestry Definitions Glossary
Closure Maps:
The Jackson Demonstration State Forest Advisory Group (JAG) is an advisory body of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (Board). The Mission of the JAG is to provide advice/recommendations to CAL FIRE and the Board regarding issues relevant to the periodic review of the JDSF Management Plan required under Board policy; ongoing implementation issues; and policy matters relevant to JDSF.
Charter & Membership Resources:
- Jackson Advisory Group Charter
- Jackson Advisory Group Membership Application
- JAG Roster
- Bagley-Keene guide
Jackson Advisory Group Meeting Notes and Agendas:
2023
2022
2021
- April 28th, 2021 Agenda and Minutes and Public Comment
Boundary Creek info available under "Timber Harvest"
- August 27th, 2021 Agenda and Minutes
- High clearance vehicle required for field portion of the meeting
- Gulch 16 Executive Summary
- Gulch 16 Summary
2020
2019
Caspar 500 info available under "Timber Harvest"
2018
- JDSF Annual Report 2021
- Fuel Break Planning Community Event (Nov. 16, 2022)
- 2022/2023 THP Closure (MAP)
- 2022/2023 Seasonal Closures
- Red Tail THP Closures (Map)
- Previously planned operations on the Jackson Demonstration State Forest set to resume in coming weeks - 8/25/22
- Chamberlain Log Hauling
- Caspar 500 Proposed Changes
- Public Notice (Order of Closure)
- PG&E ROW Maintenance/Fuel Break Map (PDF)
- JDSF Annual Report 2020
- Ukiah Daily Journal April 18, 2021 OpEd by Director Thom Porter
Kevin Conway
State Forests Program Manager
PO Box 944246
Sacramento, CA 94244-2460
(530) 339-0286
Kevin.Conway@fire.ca.gov
JDSF Office
802 N Main St
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
(707) 964-5674 (Main Office)
(707) 964-5673 (Fire Station)
Please tell us what you think about our website. Send mail to JDSF@fire.ca.gov with questions or comments.