The Custer National Forest, Beartooth Ranger District
Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) are available to the public. The
MVUM is one part of implementing the decision made by the Forest
Supervisor Steve Williams regarding motorized travel on the Beartooth
Ranger District, along with signing and an education program.
The MVUM indicates open or designated roads and motorized trails
available for public use, season of use as well as the type of
vehicles allowed. Cross-country travel is prohibited. The maps
are free of charge and are meant to be used as a companion to
the District visitor map.
The free maps are available at the Custer National Forest Supervisor’s
office at 1310 Main Street, Billings and at the Beartooth Ranger
District at 6811 Highway 212 South, Red Lodge. Maps are also being
distributed to recreational vehicles dealers and sporting goods
stores in Billings.
Motor Vehicle Use Maps
North Beartooth Front
South Beartooth Front
Pryor Mountains
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Are there any open areas to ride on
the forest?
Answer: No, motorized use must stay on designated
roads and trails.
Question: I have a motorcycle. Where can I ride?
Answer: Trail 22 and Trail 27 from 6/15 to 12/1
to the Custer National Forest boundary. (Note that motorized use
is not allowed at this time on the Gallatin National Forest.)
An unlicensed motorcycle can ride on all trails designated for
off-highway vehicle and roads designated for all vehicles and
if motorcycle is licensed can ride also ride on all roads designated
for highway legal vehicles.
Question: I would like to take my family on
an ATV ride where would you recommend I take them?
Answer: Recommend any trail open to off-highway
vehicles, i.e. Southwest Pryors. If 12 years of age and older
with certificate and adult supervision, roads open to all vehicles
is allowed also, i.e. Tie Flats(2104), Picket Pin(2140), Benbow
Jeep Trail(2415).
Question: I will be recreating on the south
of Big Timber, in the Snowy Mountains and outside of Redlodge.
Where can I take my tracked UTV? Where can I take my ATV?
Answer: For the Big Timber area refer to the
most current Gallatin Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). The Gallatin
MVUM allows for motorized non-tracked vehicle use. Refer to over-snow
vehicles for tracked vehicle use on the Gallatin. The Gallatin
defines over-snow vehicle and snowmobile differently. Over-snow
vehicle is designed for use over snow that runs on a track or
tracks and/or skis. Snowmobile is defined as a motorized vehicle
50” or less in width, designed for use over snow, runs on
a track and uses one or more skis for steering. South of Big Timber
the tracked UTV would not be allowed on any designated route or
over-snow. If the ATV is licensed as a highway legal vehicle,
does not have tracks, and is 50” or less in width, all roads
and trails open to highway legal and non-track vehicles would
be available for use.
For the Snowy Mountains refer to the most current Lewis &
Clark MVUM. The Lewis & Clark defines ATV as a trail vehicle
less than or equal to 50” in width with three or more low
pressure tires, handle-bar steering and a seat designed to be
straddled by the operator. Also define Trail Open to All Terra
Vehicles as designed for primary use over-the-land and excludes
vehicles designed for over-the-snow. In the Snowy Mountains the
tracked UTV would not be allowed on or off of any designated route.
The ATV (if it meets the above definition) would be allowed on
routes 652 and 653.
On the Beartooth District a tracked UTV and ATV if unlicensed
are allowed on all trails open to off-highway vehicles and roads
open to all vehicles (note on roads - driver must meet State regulations
of 12 years of age with certificate and adult supervision), i.e.
Trail 2091 and road 2091. Also if the vehicle is 50” or
less in width use would be allowed on Trail 106. The Beartooth
MVUM does not make a distinction between tracked or wheeled vehicles.
Question: I want to see the wild horses. Is
there anything I need to be aware of?
Answer: The upper portion of road 2308 is designated
for highway legal vehicles up to Dry Head from 5/22 to 4/15 and
from Dry Head to the Forest Boundary it is designated for highway
legal vehicles from 6/15 to 4/15 (note error). Seasonal Use may
be implemented by the BLM and Need to refer to BLM regulations
to determine the available use on Sykes Road.
Question: Where can I snowmobile on the Beartooth
District?
Answer: Anywhere outside of Wilderness, Research
Natural Areas (RNA) and Recommended Wilderness Areas. Refer to
Forest Closure Orders and Maps. The areas are A-B Wilderness,
Line Creek Plateau, Line Creek Plateau West, Timberline, Burnt
Mountain, Mystic Lake, and Lost Water Canyon.
Question: Where can I camp along Rock Creek?
West Fork? Pryors?
Answer: Dispersed vehicle camping off a designated
route is not allowed in the Rock Creek drainage. Dispersed vehicle
camping is allowed by parking along a designated route when it
is safe to do so and when not causing damage to the resources.
Dispersed vehicle camping is allowed in the West Fork drainage
for 300 feet from centerline of the designated route on National
Forest Lands as long as vehicle is 100 feet from the live stream
of the West Fork of Rock Creek. Dispersed vehicle camping off
of all designated routes in the Pryors is allowed for 300 feet
from centerline.
Question: Can I travel off road to gather firewood?
Answer: A permit is required to cut firewood.
Use of motorized vehicles off of designated routes shall be stated
in the firewood permit. Currently, the firewood permit on the
Beartooth District allows motorized use 300 feet off a designated
route with the same type of vehicle allowed on that road or trail.
Question: Can I drive my ATV off of the trail
to retrieve my elk?
Answer: No, driving off of a designated route
for game retrieval is not allowed on the Beartooth District.
Question: I will be recreating in the Cook City
are. What motorized use is allowed and is dispersed vehicle camping
allowed anywhere?
Answer: Refer to the most current Gallatin Motor
Vehicle Use Map and Over-Snow map depending on the time of year
recreating will be done. Many roads open to all non-track vehicles
from 6/16 to 9/4 or 6/16 to 12/1. Dispersed vehicle camping off
of all designated routes is allowed for 300 feet from centerline
of the designated route on National Forest Lands.
Question: I just got my spring bear tag. I want
to hunt in the Pryor Mountains. Where can I drive too?
Answer: In the Southwest section of the Pryor
Mountains, all off-highway vehicles are allowed. However, there
are some segments of trail that are only open from 5/22 to 4/15.
In the Northeast section there are roads open to all vehicles
or highway legal vehicles and the season of use varies along roads
from 5/22 to 4/15 and 6/15 to 4/15. Spring Bear hunting is from
April 15 to May 31 for the 2009 hunting season. Motorized use
of some designated roads on or before 4/15 and after 5/22 or 6/15
depending on the route.
Question: Did Pack and Saddle Stock use change?
Answer: No, Pack and Saddle Stock use has not
changed. West Rosebud(19), Huckleberry(19A) and Basin Lake(61)
are open to pack and saddle stock 9/2 to 11/30. Upper Parkside
(103), Greenough Lake-M-K (103A) and Glacier Lake(3) trails do
not allow use of Pack and Saddle Stock.
Question: Why can’t I drive to Stillwater
Plateau Trailhead (Trail 51)?
Answer: The forest does not have legal right-of-way
across private land and we can not designate a route that we legally
do not own. We have identified these routes to be designated as
soon as we have legal right-of-way.
Question: Do you have any ATV only trails?
Answer: Trail 106 is open to 50” or less
vehicles. Which means any vehicle 50” or less can use this
trail, i.e. ATV or motorcycle.
Question: What campground can I use in November?
Answer: East Rosebud, M-K, Parkside, and Ratine.
Question: I am planning to ride my ATV in the
Iron Mountain area. What motorized use is allowed?
Answer: All vehicles (note - driver must meet
State regulations of 12 years of age with certificate and adult
supervision) yearlong; However, one must cross the Gallatin to
get to road 2140B and referring to the most current Gallatin Motor
Vehicle Use Map the road to get there is open to all non-tracked
vehicles from 7/16 to 3/31. As long as you are at least 12 years
of age with a certificate and supervised by an adult, using a
non-track vehicle and during 7/16 to 3/31 you can ride your ATV
in the Iron Mountain area.
Question: If I rent an ATV from Benbow ATV,
where can I ride? Can I make a loop? Can my 10 year old drive
his own ATV?
Answer: All the routes in the Benbow area are
roads open to highway legal vehicles with the exception of road
2415 which is a road open to all vehicles. As long as the ATV
is licensed it can be used as a highway legal vehicle. On road
2415 a trail vehicle is allowed, the ATV does not need to be licensed;
however, the driver must be at least 12 years of age with a certificate
and supervised by an adult. There are small loops open to highway
legal vehicles. Not having legal access across the private land
limits the opportunity to make a larger loop ride.
Question: How am I going to know where that
road or trail is on the ground?
Answer: The Forest is in the process of posting
route identification signs on routes designated for motor vehicle
use.
Question: I own land in the North Pryor area
and the road I use to get there is not on the map. How do you
expect me to get there?
Answer: Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation
Act of 1980 provides statutory authority for access to non-Federal
lands surrounded by National Forest System lands located within
the boundaries of the National Forest. The Forest Service must
allow reasonable access for the reasonable use and enjoyment of
private land; however, the access is subject to the rules and
regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture. The Forest Service
issues special use authorization to allow this access and document
the rules and regulations. Looking specifically at the private
land in the North Pryor area, access route are identified to all
private parcels where the Forest has legal right-of-way.
Errata sheet for the Final Environmental Impact Statement.
This replaces the Reference Section 4.4 in its entirety.
Section 4.4
References
DECISION FOR THE BEARTOOTH TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PROJECT
HAS BEEN MADE - THE RECORD OF DECISION, FINAL IMPACT STATEMENT,
AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ARE AVAILABLE
The Forest Supervisor has released his decision for the Custer
National Forest Bearooth Ranger District Travel Management project.
The purpose of the Beartooth Travel Management project is to:
1) identify routes for public motorized use on the District, 2)
provide for a variety of motorized and non-motorized opportunities,
3) minimize impacts on natural and culture resources, and 4) have
enforceable travel mangament guidelines.
The new travel management decision designated system roads and
trail for public motorized uses and specify the type of vehicle
and seaon of use for each route. Motorized off-route travel would
be prohibited, except where designed for access to dispersed vehicle
camping. Over-snow vehicles use is not part of the decision to
be made in this analysis. The action alternatives considered in
this EIS represent a broad range of public sentiment regarding
the road and trail management, and frame the significant issues
related to the decision to be made. The alternative of taking
no action is also considered in this EIS. The preferred alternative
is Alternative B modified.
Public review and comments were solicted on the "draft"
enviornmental impact statement (DEIS), and utilized in the preparation
of this final environmental impact statement. No further public
review or public comment is being sought on this "final"
EIS.
Reviews whom disagree with the information present in the FEIS
may appeal any decision based upon it. Decisions based upon this
FEIS are described in the Record of Decision. The decision is
subject to administrative review pursuant to the Notice, Comment,
and Appeal Procedures for National Forest System Projects and
Activities found in 36 CFR 215 (2003). Timeframes for the administrative
appeal period being after publication of the legal notice of the
decision in the Forest's paper of record, the Billings Gazette.
If you have any questions or desire additional information, please
contact Doug Epperly or Babete Anderson at 406-657-6200.
Cover Letter
Record of Decision
Executive Summary
FEIS:
Chapter 1, Chapter
2, Chapter 3, Chapter
4, Chapter 5
Appendix A, Appendix
B, Appendix C, Appendix
D, Appendix E, Appendix
F, Appendix G, Appendix
H, Appendix I, Appendix
J
Map - North
Map - Middle
Map - South
Map - Pryors
Map - Alternative B modified
Index
Other websites which may be helpful:
Nepa Information: http://ceq.eh.doe.gov/nepa/nepanet.htm
Forest Service Travel Management: http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/ohv/
Potential Lynx Habitat
Map - Pryors
Recommended for Wilderness, Research Natural Area,
and Inventoried Roadless Map
- Pryors
Proposed
Forest Service Directives.pdf
Motorized
Travel Management Rule (entire document)
Sections of the Rule:
Cover,
Summary and Table of Contents
Background,
Public
Comments on Proposed Rule and Department Responsibilities
Regulatory
Certifications for the Final Rule
Text
of the Final Rule
Executive
Order 11644
Executive
Order 11989
Beartooth Travel Management, Planning
Collaboration Meetings
Meeting
Notes
April
14, 2007 Draft Notes
March 31, 2007 Meeting
Draft Notes from
March 31, 2007 Collaboration Meeting
March 24, 2007 Meeting
Draft
Notes from March 24, 2007 Collaboration Meeting
March 10, 2007 Meeting
Draft
Notes from March 10, 2007 Collaboration Meeting
Points of Agreement Table
- North Map
Mapped
Points of Agreement - North Map
February 24, 2007 Meeting
Draft
Notes from February 24, 2007 Collaboration Meeting
Draft
Process to Map Points of Agreement
Points of Agreement Table
- Middle Map
Mapped
Points of Agreement - Middle Map
February 10, 2007 Meeting
Draft
Notes from February 10, 2007 Collaboration Meeting
January 20, 2007 Meeting
National
OHV website will take you to the Motorized Rule Federal Register
Notice
