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Motor Vehicle Use Maps
The Orleans Ranger District, Six
Rivers designated Off-Highway Vehicle routes, together with other roads
designated "open for motorized travel" are displayed on the recently
published Motor Vehicle Use Map.
The Motor Vehicle Use Map is a
requirement of the Travel Management Final Rule. The Motor Vehicle Use Map
displays National Forest System routes (roads and trails) designated open to
motorized travel. The Motor Vehicle Use Map also displays uses allowed by
vehicle class (highway-legal vehicles, vehicles less than 50 inches wide and
motorcycles) and seasonal allowances. The Motor Vehicle Use Map provides
information on other travel rules and regulations. Routes not shown on the
Motor Vehicle Use Map are not open to public motor vehicle travel. Routes
designated for motorized use may not always be signed on the ground, but will
be identified on the Motor Vehicle Use Map. It will be the public's
responsibility to refer to the Motor Vehicle Use Map to determine designated
routes for motor vehicle use. The Motor Vehicle Use Map will be updated annually
to correct mapping errors or discrepancies.
The Motor Vehicle Use Map is a
black and white map with no topographic features. It is best used in
conjunction with a Forest Visitor Map or other topographic map. The Motor
Vehicle Use Map is free to the public and soon to be available at each Six Rivers National Forest
office. The Motor Vehicle Use Map is available on this website and sections
of it may be printed from your home computer.
If you do not already have a PDF
Reader, you can download a free plugin at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.
Orleans Ranger District Motor
Vehicle Use Maps:
North Map
(pdf 2.87mb)
South Map
(pdf 2.8mb)
Frequently Asked
Questions:
Where can I get a Motor
Vehicle Use Map?
How do I print the
Motor Vehicle Use Map?
What does a Motor
Vehicle Use Map show me?
Does the Motor
Vehicle Use Map also show mechanized and non-motorized trails and over-snow
uses?
What do you mean by
vehicle class?
What do you mean by
season allowance?
Are there road and
trails route marker signs on the ground?
Where can I get a
Motor Vehicle Use Map?
Maps are available on this
website (above) or paper copies will soon be available free of charge at any of
the Forest Service offices in Gasquet, Orleans, Willow Creek, Mad River, and
the Forest Supervisor's Office in Eureka. Other partners and distribution
locations may be developed over time to help disseminate maps.
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How do I print the
Motor Vehicle Use Map?
A full-size version of the Motor
Vehicle Use Map is 34" x 44" and cannot be printed on conventional
home printers. A full-size version can only be printed from a large plotter.
Many local engineering and survey business can print the map for a nominal fee.
To be readable, only a portion of
the Motor Vehicle Use Map can be printed on 8 ½" x 11" paper using
home printers. With Acrobat Reader, use the "Print Current View"
function to print the view on your screen. It is recommended that the legend
box, as well as applicable special designations, be printed to aid in
interpretation of the Motor Vehicle Use Map.
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What does the Motor
Vehicle Use Map show me?
- The Motor Vehicle Use Map shows all National
Forest System roads, trails and designated areas allowing public motor
vehicle use. Motorized use includes, but is not limited to, motorcycles,
All-Terrain Vehicles, and 4-wheel drive vehicles;
- The Motor Vehicle Use Map shows designation
details, including vehicle class, time of year, and any motorized access
for the purpose of dispersed camping (camping in locations other than
developed campgrounds);
- The Motor Vehicle Use Map shows roads where
only highway-legal vehicles are allowed because of user safety
considerations;
- Motor vehicle access may occur on routes not
shown on the Motor Vehicle Use Map for the purpose of limited
administrative access by Forest Service personnel; for fire and law
enforcement for emergency purposes; and by persons authorized by a written
special use permit or contract from the Forest Service.
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Does the Motor
Vehicle Use Map show non-motorized trails?
No. The Forest Visitor Map provides
information on motorized routes and non-motorized routes, including hiking and
horse trails.
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What do you mean by
vehicle class?
Vehicle class refers to certain
categories of motorized vehicles. The following are typical vehicle class route
designations:
- Roads open to highway legal vehicles only
- Roads open to all vehicles (licensed and
unlicensed)
- Trails open to vehicles 50 inches or less in
width (All-Terrain Vehicles, motorcycle, etc.)
- Trails open to all vehicles (trails may be
rugged and narrow; not suitable for some Sport Utility Vehicles)
- Trails open to motorcycles only (single
track)
It is important to understand
that showing routes and areas as open to certain vehicle classes does not mean
that they are maintained for, or suitable for, travel using those vehicles. It
simply means it is legal to use them. For example, many low standard roads may
be open to all motor vehicles. This designation includes passenger cars,
although it may not be prudent to drive this type of vehicle on the route due
to the condition of the surface or during inclement weather. Please check with
the local Ranger District Offices for more information. Phone numbers,
addresses and email addresses are at http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sixrivers/contact/
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What do you mean by
a season allowance?
Some routes or areas may be open
only during certain times of the year for various reasons such as to reduce
wildlife disturbance, protect users from unsafe or impassable conditions and to
reduce impacts to other resource values.
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Are there road and
trail route marker signs on the ground?
Routes designated for motorized
use may not always be signed. In some cases, a route marker may exist at the
entrance of the road/trail with symbols indicating which classes of vehicles are
allowed. Routes designated for motorized uses will be identified on the Motor
Vehicle Use Map. The Motor Vehicle Use Map is an enforcement tool to ensure
individuals are on the correct route. It is the responsibility of the user to
determine if they are on a route designated for the motor vehicle being used.