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Travel Management
The Forest Service announced a new regulation on November 2, 2005, governing
off-highway vehicles and other motor vehicle use on national forests and
grasslands. The new rule requires each national forest or ranger district to designate
those roads, trails and areas open to motor vehicle use.
Los Padres National Forest has had a system of designated Off-Highway
Vehicle routes in place for more than 30 years. These existing designated
Off-Highway Vehicle routes, together with other roads designated "open for
motorized travel" are displayed on recently published Motor Vehicle Use
Maps. To date, three maps have been published for Los Padres National Forest:
one covers the Monterey Ranger District, the second map covers the Ojai Ranger
District, and the third displays the Santa Barbara Ranger District.
The publication of Motor Vehicle Use Map for the Santa Lucia Ranger District
and Mt. Pinos Ranger District will occur upon completion of a "motorized
mixed-use analysis" which is currently underway. Motorized mixed use is a
designation of a National Forest System Road which means that the road can be
used by both highway-legal and non-highway-legal motor vehicles. In the
motorized mixed-use analysis, a qualified engineer will consider mitigation of
observed safety risks through such measures as signs, speed controls, user
education, modifications to road geometry, regulating the timing of commercial
hauling, or other safety measures. Any proposed changes to the existing
designated mixed use route system resulting from recommendations of the
analysis will include public input through an environmental analysis process.
More about the 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) or areas 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 also 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 at each local
Ranger District 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.
Los Padres National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Maps:
Santa
Barbara Ranger District (pdf 4.4mb)
Ojai
Ranger District (pdf 4.4mb)
Monterey
Ranger District (pdf 4.4mb)
Santa Lucia and Mt Pinos Ranger Districts (anticipated December 2008)
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 are available
free of charge at each of the Forest Service offices in King City, Santa Maria,
Los Prietos, Ojai Frazier Park, and the Forest Supervisor's Office in Goleta.
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 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. A Forest Visitor Map will provide 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/lospadres/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.