09/22/2026
The Forest Service is preparing to rewrite where vehicles can go in national forests. Check out this map and see lands around us that would be affected by this rewrite of a more than 20-year old rule, the Travel Management Rule. A road, trail or area has to be designated for motor vehicle use. When deciding what to designate, the Forest Service is required to consider damage to soil, water and vegetation, harassment of wildlife and disruption of habitat, conflicts with people hiking or otherwise recreating without a motor vehicle, and conflicts among different kinds of motor vehicles.
The Forest Service is now considering a very different system. Under the new framework laid out in its August notice, existing roads, trails, airfields, trailheads and other access routes would start with a presumption that they’re open to “appropriate public use” unless there’s a specific, documented reason to close or restrict them.
Visit https://morethanjustparks.substack.com/p/we-built-a-national-map-of-motorized for more and put in your comments today at https://morethanjustparks.com/travel-management-plans/the-rule-change/ or https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/FS-2026-0100-0001 .
The Roadless Rule closed 58.3 million acres of national forest to road building and logging. The USDA is moving to repeal it, and comments close September 21, 2026. Find the roadless areas near you and build your public comment.
