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About the Forest Service Visitor Map

The Interactive Visitor Map allows the public to view, through an online map interface, Forest Service roads, trails, recreation sites, wilderness areas, and wild & scenic rivers. The map is intended for use on personal computers through any modern web browser.

Visitor Map Features:

  • Improved map performance

  • Simplified and streamlined map interface

  • National-level search capabilities

  • Accessible recreation locations

  • Complementary layers such as wildfire and weather warnings/watches

  • Capabilities to sharing via email or on social networks; share the whole map or just your favorite spot

  • Continued web accessibility improvements with the goal of making Visitor Map the most accessible online map

Data Used in the Map

For more information about data used in the Visitor Map, please visit the Enterprise Data Page.

To see a list of which Forests and Grasslands have published trails data for the Visitor Map, please visit the Data Status Map.

Other Forest Service Map Products

For more information about other Forest Service Map Products please visit the Forest Service Maps page.

Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM)

For more information about Motor Vehicle Use Maps please visit the Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Program page.

Trails Information

Trail information is currently available on the Visitor Map for several National Forests, although it is not yet for the majority of our units. As updated trail map information becomes available, it will be displayed on the map, forest-by-forest. In the meantime, please contact your local Forest Service office for trail information.

Weather Warnings and Watches

The Weather Warnings and Watches displayed on the map are a product of the National Weather Service (NWS). These products are checked for updates every 5 minutes from the NWS Public Alerts. The NWS RSS-CAP Feeds for National and Maritime Statements are parsed using the Aggregated Live Feeds methodology to take the returned information and serve the data through ArcGIS Server as a map service. The Overlay data is checked and updated daily from the AWIPS Shapefile Database.

Fire Activity

Fire activity points displayed on the map come from the Wildland Fire Interagency Geospatial Services (WFIGS) Group. This service contains all wildland fire incidents from the IRWIN (Integrated Reporting of Wildland Fire Information) integration service that meet the outlined criteria. Data are refreshed from IRWIN every 5 minutes.

Limitations on Access

Much of the National Forest System (NFS) is remote. Natural hazards may or may not be depicted on the Interactive Visitor Map, and land users should exercise due caution. Medical assistance may not be readily available, and cellular telephones do not work in many areas of the NFS. Operators of motor vehicles should take adequate food, water, first aid supplies, and other equipment appropriate for the conditions and expected weather.

Designation of a road, trail, or area should not be interpreted as an invitation to use motor vehicles or as an implication that the road, trail, or area is passable, actively maintained, or safe for travel. Seasonal weather conditions and natural events may render designated roads, trails, and areas impassable for extended periods. Many designated roads, trails, and areas may be passable only by high-clearance or four-wheel drive vehicles. Maintenance of designated roads, trails, and areas will depend on available resources, and many may receive little maintenance.

Lands, roads, and trails within the NFS may be subject to restrictions on motor vehicle use. Obtain a motor vehicle use map or inquire at the local Forest Service office for motor vehicle access information. Violations of 36 CFR 261.13 are subject to a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisonment for up to 6 months or both (18 U.S.C. 3571(e)). This prohibition applies regardless of the presence or absence of signs displaying designations for motor vehicle use. Operators of motor vehicles are also responsible for compliance with other applicable federal, state, and local law. The designation, "Road or Trail Open to All Motor Vehicles," does not supersede applicable state traffic law.

Map and Data Disclaimer

The Interactive Visitor Map and its underlying geospatial data are intended to depict physical features as they generally appear on the ground and are not intended to be used to determine title, ownership, legal boundaries, legal jurisdiction, including jurisdiction over roads or trails, or access restrictions that may be in place on either public or private land. Obtain permission before entering private lands, and check with appropriate government offices for restrictions that may apply to public lands.

The U.S. Forest Service makes no warranty, express or implied, nor assumes any liability or responsibility for the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or utility of these geospatial data or for the improper or incorrect use of those data. The data are dynamic and may change over time. The user is responsible for verifying the limitations of the geospatial data and for using the data accordingly.