New Rules of the Road

Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and Crooked River National Grassland

Travel Management What Does This Mean to You? Beginning August 2011, the one to know: understand the map so you Deschutes and Ochoco Nation- can enjoy your recreational al Forests and Crooked River Designated Roads, Trails, experience while following the National Grassland will have and Areas: The Forest Ser- new rules. new rules for motorized travel. vice publishes a FREE Motor These changes are coming out Vehicle Use Map that shows all Also make sure you have all of the Forest Service’s 2005 roads, trails, and areas that are the maps you need. There are Travel Management Rule. OPEN for motorized travel. 13 Motor Vehicle Use Maps for the two forests and the grass- Prior to the Travel Manage- You will need to make sure land. ment Rule most Forest Service that you are traveling on a roads were open to motorized road or trail or in an area that Dispersed Camping: Dis- travel unless they were posted is OPEN to motorized travel persed camping will continue closed. After the Travel Man- by using the Motor Vehicle Use on National Forest lands at agement Rule, roads must be Map. existing sites, however, you designated as OPEN on a Mo- may have to park away from You can get a Motor Vehicle your normal dispersed site (see tor Vehicle Use Map or they Use Map at any Deschutes and are CLOSED to motorized pictures and directions on the Ochoco National Forest and following page). travel. Crooked River National Grass- The Deschutes and Ochoco land offices. These maps are Cross Country Travel: No National Forests and Crooked also available on line at: motorized cross country travel River National Grassland re- www.fs.usda.gov/ will be allowed except in desig- cently completed a Travel centraloregon. nated OPEN areas that are Management analysis. In Au- shown on the Motor Vehicle Motor Vehicle Use Map: Use Map. There are 45 desig- gust 2011 a Record of Decision When you pick up your map was signed and published on nated OPEN areas on the two spend a few minutes with a forests and the grassland. the analysis. The following Forest Service employee look- items are important for every- ing at it. Our goal is for you to

Travel Management applies to all motor vehicles, except for snowmobiles and over-snow machines, on the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and the Crooked River National Grassland. Please contact a District or Headquarters Office if you need more information or to pick up a Motor Vehicle Use Map. Phone numbers and addresses are on the back.

Page 2 New Rules of the Road

Designated Roads and Trails The Motor Vehicle Use Map tells you what legal vehicles only, open to all you need to know to follow the new travel vehicles, seasonal designa- rules. tions and areas open to cross- country travel. Every visitor should have a map for the area where they are traveling. There are 13 maps A few minutes with a Forest that cover the Deschutes and Ochoco Na- Service employee should help tional Forests and the Crooked River Nation- you understand the maps. al Grassland. We will also have information The tables and legends on the map are criti- on our website: cal for understanding what roads or trails ww.fs.usda.gov/ are designated as OPEN. centraloregon GOT MAP? The maps tell you: roads open to highway

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are the rules changing? In 2005 Can I drive to a dispersed camping site? the National Travel Management Rule for You can drive 300 feet off a designated OPEN the Forest Service was finalized. There were road to an dispersed camping site. If it is fur- four primary reasons for the Rule: ther, you will need to park your car at 300 feet and walk the additional distance. National consistency about where or when motorized access is allowed. How do I know if a site is an official dis- persed camping site? There are three types Resource damage from inappropriate of dispersed camping sites. They are either - motorized uses. defined by boulders, logs, or rocks, designat- Conflicts between motorized and non- ed with a sign, or existing with evidence of motorized users. past use (See description on the next page).

Quality of recreational experience for all Is there any place I can still ride cross- users. country? Yes, 45 cinder and/or rock pits have been designated as areas where you can travel What does a Motor Vehicle Use Map cross-country. These areas can be found on the do for me? It tells you where and when you Motor Vehicle Use Map. can travel on Forest Service roads and what type of vehicle can be used on different Do these new rules apply to snowmobiles roads. It is updated annually. or machines? No, over snow motorized vehi- cle use is not covered by the Motor Vehicle Use How much is a Motor Vehicle Use Map. Map? Nothing, it is FREE. Page 3

Dispersed Camping: Three Types

What is a Designated Dis- What is a Defined Dis- What is an Existing Dis- persed Camping Site? persed Camping Site? persed Camping Site?

It is designated by a sign. It is defined by logs or rocks. It has an established fire ring or evidence of past use.

Traveling Off Road 30’ and 300’ the Distances to Remember

Though you can travel off des- If the site is further than 300 ignated OPEN roads for dis- feet from the edge of the road, persed camping, you will need you must park your vehicle at Road 300 feet to remember the distances 300 feet and walk the addition- 3oo’ and 30’. al distance. During the analy- sis of the travel rules, it was You only may drive 300 feet found that most dispersed Park no more than 300 from the edge of a designated camping sites are within 300 feet from the edge of an OPEN road to reach a dis- feet of the edge of a designated OPEN road. persed camping site. OPEN road.

PLEASE NOTE: The photos are not accurate representa- You will need to park If you are at a dispersed camp site you tions of 30 and 300 foot dis- 30 feet from any wet- must also remember to park at least 30 tances. land, stream, spring, feet away from the edge of a wetland, or lake. stream, spring, or lake. This distance protects In addition, you are maintain- fragile vegetation next to these wa- ing the scenic beauty of the 30 feet ter bodies, which keeps the water campsite for future campers, clean and cool for fish and other including yourself! aquatic species. Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and Crooked River National Grassland

OLD RULES NEW RULES August 2011 CLOSED Unless OPEN Unless Designated OPEN on the Posted CLOSED Motor Vehicle Use Map

Miles of OPEN Motorized REMEMBER THE MAP! In addi- Roads and Trails tion to telling you what roads are OPEN the map gives you direction on: Deschutes NF: 5,918 miles Highway Legal Vehicles: Some roads are Ochoco NF: 1,618 miles OPEN to highway legal vehicles ONLY. Crooked River NG: 255 miles Mixed Use Roads: OPEN to highway legal and Class I, II, III vehicles.

Ochoco National Forest Deschutes National Forest Crooked River National Grassland

Deschutes National Forest Headquarters Ochoco National Forest Headquarters 63095 Deschutes Market Road Lookout Ranger District Bend, OR 97701 Paulina Ranger District 541-383-5300 3160 NE 3rd Street Prineville, OR 97754 Bend-Ft. Rock Ranger District 541-416-6500 63095 Deschutes Market Road Bend, OR 97701 Crooked River National Grassland 541-383-4000 813 SW Hwy 97 Madras, OR 97741 Crescent Ranger District 541-416-6640 136471 Hwy 97 Crescent, OR 97733 Rager Ranger Station 541-433-3200 7803 Beaver Creek Road Paulina, OR 97751 Sisters Ranger District 541-477-6900 Pine Street and Hwy 20 Sisters, OR 97759 541-549-7700 WEBSITE www.fs.usda.gov/centraloregon.