I would ask the Forest Service this question but I'm not sure if I would get a truthful answer. So, we were driving through a NF ( Lassen in CA ) and we had to stop so the dogs could take a pee break. We pulled in to a turnoff for a campground to get off the main road. The campground was still closed for the winter, had a locked gate. There was a nice little river running by the campground and not much snow on the ground making it easy to get to the river. My question is even though the campground is closed ( no camping ) can I step over the locked gate and walk over to the river to do some panning or sluicing? Just because the Camp is closed off is the river also closed? This question is also for anyone in OR. I was at the Sixes campground, same thing, camp closed but is it still legal to go in and prospect? Just trying to keep myself out of trouble.