Pacific Southwest Region |
Frequently Asked Questions What Is Route Designation?The process of authorizing a system of roads, trails and areas for motor vehicle use by vehicle type and/or season of use on National Forest lands and prohibiting cross-country travel. Who Will Route Designation Affect?Route Designation decisions will affect anyone who uses a wheeled motor vehicle on the 18 National Forests in California and the California portions of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Why Get Involved?If you don’t participate, we may not fully understand the value of a route to you, or the role it plays in accessing places that are special to you. Why Designate Routes? The Chief of the Forest Service has identified unmanaged recreation - especially impacts from motor vehicles - as one of the Chief's Four Threats facing the nation's forests today. Unmanaged motorized use has resulted in unplanned roads, trails and areas from off route use that cause erosion, watershed and habitat degradation, as well as impacts to wildlife and cultural resources. Such a dramatic increase in use and associated impacts created management difficulties that are prompting changes in national policies. A new Travel Management rule was announced on November 2, 2005. The National Survey on Recreation and the Environment (June 2005) provides current motor vehicle use data. Where Will Routes Be Designated? Route Designation will be undertaken on the 18 National Forests in California and the California portions of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. When Will Routes be Designated?Between 2005 and 2008, following the 5 step Route Designation Strategy outlined in the Memorandum of Intent (MOI) developed between the Regional Forester and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission, and the Division of Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation of the California Department of Parks and Recreation. How Will Routes Be Designated?Routes will be analyzed for compliance with the laws, regulations, policies that govern Forest Service management. Not all existing routes will be designated. The Route Designation Guidebook provides a description of the Route Designation Strategy. The Route Inventory & Designation Pyramid outlines the five step strategy to implement the Memorandum of Intent (MOI) between the Forest Service and California State Parks to designate roads, trails and areas for motorized use on all National Forest lands in California.  Who Will Make Route Designation Decisions? Forest Supervisors and District Rangers will make Route Designation decisions for each National Forest based upon the laws, regulations and policies that guide the Forest Service. The public will be involved during each step of the process. This website was developed to help the public access information on Route Designation. We need your help and participation. How Can I Help?
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Contact InformationTo locate Route Designation contacts for a specific National Forest, please use their Route Designation home page or contact the Forest directly. For more information about Route Designation from the Region 5 (California) Office, please contact: U.S. Forest Service
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