Travel Management Plan
Before you head down that trail, make sure your motorized vehicle is approved for that trail. The Forest Service manages over 150,000 miles of trails throughout the United States, but not all of these trails are open to all user types. Motorcycles, 4-wheelers, mountain bikes, and even horses are not allowed on each and every trail. Before you head out, know where you are going. Get a local Forest map to make sure you are on the right trail with the right piece of equipment. Assure that all users can enjoy their national forests by doing your part. “Know before you go.” This message is brought to you by the US Forest Service.
Spring time means green grass, wildflowers, baby animals, lush valleys and the opportunity to finally get out of your house and into the mountains to go exploring, hiking and taking that mountain drive. But remember, driving on muddy roads can damage the roadways and is costly to fix, not including the damage it causes to the soils, streams, and plants around the roads. A rule of thumb is, if you leave a mark in the trail, it’s not fit for travel. For more information on road and trail conditions as well as season openings, please visit your local Forest Service office.
The new forest travel plan, approved September 10, 2009, designates 2,665 miles of roads and 866 miles of motorized trails for public use. The 2010 MVUM shows the roads and trails that are open to the public for motorized use. Roads and trails that are not open for motorized use are not shown on the map. Most scenic overlooks, dispersed campsites, historical sites and popular areas are still accessible to motorized users.
“Over the past three years the Forest Service has worked closely with the public and various interest groups to develop this travel plan which balances the increasing demands for motorized recreation and the need to protect the priceless natural resources of the Forest,” said Forest Supervisor Frank Guzman. “I urge all motorized users to obtain a free motor vehicle use map from the local Forest Service office before going on a ride so that they know where they can ride. Riders are responsible for know which routes are open.”
Under the new travel plan motorized travel off the designated routes is no longer allowed. However, motorized access to dispersed camping is allowed within 300 feet of most roads and 100 feet of most motorized trails as indicated on the map. Staying on the designated routes provides positive benefits to wildlife, water and other natural resources and social values.
The Salmon-Challis National Forest MVUM actually consists of five separately printed maps for the Lost River District, the Challis-Yankee Fork District, the Middle Fork District, the Salmon-Cobalt and North Fork Districts, and the Leadore District. “You don’t need to have a hard copy of every district but you should have the map of the district you plan to travel on,” Guzman said.
The new maps are available at Forest Service offices in Salmon, Challis, Mackay, Leadore and North Fork.
The new Salmon-Challis National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) for each Ranger District show the roads and trails that are open for public motorized use. If a route is shown on the MVUM it is designated open for motorized use. If a route is not shown on the MVUM it is NOT designated open for motorized use.
The MVUM provides limited geographic detail and should be used in combination with the Salmon-Challis National Forest Maps (one each for Challis and Salmon areas of the Forest) to more clearly locate and identify the routes shown on the MVUM
This is the first year for the new MVUM and some of the routes shown on the map may not be opened yet. The implementation of the Travel Plan for these routes has been delayed because the Forest has not completed safety and resource inspections of the roads or trails. Resource specialists are currently doing the inspections and the routes will be open as soon as they are determined to be safe and resource concerns are addressed.
During this first season, motorized users may discover instances where the MVUM does not match the new Salmon-Challis National Forest Travel Plan or the MVUM is incorrect. We want to know where these situations occur so they can be corrected for next year. Please notify the local District Ranger of any inaccuracies in the MVUM. Forms to help you record the errors are available at District Offices and at the Supervisor’s Office in Salmon.
Record of Decision
- Cover and Abstract
- Summary
- Table of Contents
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Appendices A-G
- Appendix H
- Record of Decision
- Errata
- No Action Alternative Maps
- Alternative 1 Maps
- Alternative 2 - is not carried forward into the FEIS, but was used as a starting point for the Preferred Alternative
- Alternative 3 Maps
- Alternative 4 Maps
- Alternative 5 Maps
- River Road Maps