One-stop online site posts info for outdoors

Whether you're a biking, boating, camping or hiking buff, a newone-stop Internet site can steer you to thousands of nearby - ordistant - recreational destinations and guarantee your stay.

Check it out: www.recreation.gov.

"I'm impressed," said Brad Mastin, outdoor recreation planner withthe U. S. Bureau of Land Management's Barstow field office. "This Website will make it simple for anyone to use our public lands forwhatever activity interests them.

"It shows off-road vehicle recreation areas, like Stoddard andJohnson valleys and El Mirage dry lake in our area. For hikers andcampers, it maps out Rainbow Basin and Owl Canyon with a simpleclick."

Terry Wold, conservation coordinator with the Sierra Club's SanGorgonio Chapter, said the new site is likely to gain wideacceptance.

"It's easy to go online," she said. "This will allow the public toquickly access information on places to hike, camp, or tour by car onour public lands. Now, people can find out what activities areavailable, and where, and what they will cost."

The new Web site was launched Wednesday in the nation's capital bySecretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne and Secretary ofAgriculture Mike Johanns.

"Americans love to enjoy our parks, forests, historic sites andother public lands, and we want to make it easier for them to do so,"Kempthorne said. "At recreation.gov, Americans can find, plan andreserve 'their place under the stars' on one Internet Web site orwith one phone call."

Johanns said, "Recreation.gov not only simplifies reservations, itshowcases the many opportunities to enjoy public lands. It's anexample of better coordination to better serve Americans."

The new interagency Web site drew plaudits from local outdooradministrators as well.

"We're pleased," said Geary Hund, California desert and monumentprogram director for The Wilderness Society. "This Web site willsteer people to camping and hiking opportunities in Joshua TreeNational Park and Mojave National Preserve, as well as San Bernardinoand Angeles national forests."

Nancy Downer, executive director of the Joshua Tree National ParkAssociation, said it will help tourists plan ahead for visits to thepark, "whether they tour by car, hike our numerous trails or spend anight camping."

Joseph Zarki, the Joshua Tree park's chief of interpretation,views the new Web site as a valuable resource.

"It's a one-stop shopping site where people can get vitalinformation to plan a tour and learn about recreationalopportunities," he said. "Before now, there has been no single placeto find answers to questions about these opportunities."