BLM's Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) and Travel Management Planning Process

The BLM manages off-highway vehicle use to provide opportunities for OHV recreation while protecting important resource values and sustaining the overall health of public lands. Idaho BLM encourages OHV recreation on designated or established systems of roads and trails.  Cross-country motorized travel is doiscouraged in nearly all areas. Cross-country travel by motorized vehicle is especially harmful to public lands because it can damage wildlife habitat, spread noxious weeds, increase erosion and ignite wildfires.

Planning and implementing OHV management is a two-stage process. In the first stage, BLM prepares Resource Management Plans (RMPs) that designate broad areas of public land where OHV use is either limited to existing or designated routes, open to cross country travel, or closed to motorized travel. Most public lands in the “Limited” category, which allows OHV use on designated or existing roads and trails. Small areas that are appropriate for cross-country travel may be designated in the ‘Open” category. Areas having especially sensitive or legally-protected resource values, such as wilderness study areas, are often placed in the “Closed” category.

In the second stage, BLM prepares detailed Travel Management Plans (TMPs) that establish designated route systems in areas that have been limited to designated routes.  TMPs establish road and trail systems and  for motorized recreation, which includes ATVs, motorcyles and 4-wheel drives, and non-motorized recreation, which includes mountain bicycles, equestrian use, an.

Active public participation is encouraged and vital during both stages of the planning process.

Status Report - Travel Management Planning in Idaho BLM

Our top OHV management priority is to establish designated systems of roads and trails, called Travel Management Plans (TMPS), on all BLM lands in Idaho. This is the top priority because most people are looking for well-planned road and trail systems. And, with so many OHVs now using public lands, it’s important that people stay on established routes in order to protect wildlife habitat and maintain healthy lands 

Planning a road and trail system on 11 million acres of public land is a big job. It requires detailed planning and active public participation and review. It will take time to complete TMPs for all of Idaho BLM, but we're making progress. 

The blue areas on the map to the right show where route systems have either been completed or are underway. These areas include BLM lands in north Idaho, the Challis Field Office in central Idaho, the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, a portion of the Owyhee Front.  BLM is also assisting Blaine County on a County-wide travel plan, which is nearing completion.

The yellow areas on the map show the next phase – where route systems are scheduled for completion over the next 5-6 years. These areas include Owyhee County and southeast Idaho.

The grey areas on the map are places where it will take longer to complete road and trail systems. New land use plans, called Resource Management Plans (RMPs), are need before designated route systems can be established in these area. The new RMPs for these areas are scheduled to get underway between 2009 and 2011.

 Visit www.idaho-ohv.org for a comprehensive guide to OHV recreation in Idaho. 

The site provides one-stop information from the Idaho BLM, Forest Service, and the Idaho Departments of Parks and Recreation, Fish and Game, and Lands. You can download trail maps and find out where to ride OHVs in Idaho, how to register an OHV, tips for responsible recreation, guidelines for using OHVs when hunting, and other useful information.