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Boise Forest to restrict ATVs to roads
Some off-road riders say limits are overdue
The Idaho Statesman | Edition Date: 07-15-2004
The Boise National Forest will have restrictions on ATVs, motorcycles and other off-road vehicles to roads and trails across the entire forest, officials announced Wednesday.
The rule, likely to take effect by fall, is an effort to stop "indiscriminate cross-country travel" by off-road vehicles, which causes damage to public lands and creates unauthorized trails. It's less restrictive than a new national rule proposed last week.
Some off-road riders said the limits are overdue, while others don't want their riding restricted.
Boise National Forest officials proposed the rule in January after U.S. Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth called for limiting unrestricted ATV riding. Boise forest officials have taken public comment since then.
The rule does not affect snowmobiles.
ATV sales have skyrocketed in Idaho. Last year, 81,200 ATVs and motorcycles were registered, compared with 68,521 in 2002. In the last decade, registrations have increased nearly fivefold.
Taking ATVs off roads and trails already is illegal in most of the Boise National Forest.
The new rule affects 525,000 acres on the Boise National Forest, which is about 25 percent of the forest and includes portions of the Emmett, Lowman, Idaho City and Mountain Home Ranger Districts.
"I don't think this is going to be any problem at all," said Bill Jones of Boise, founder and president of the Idaho ATV Association.
"There's no use to go out and pioneer new roads," he said. "I'm 70 years old, and I haven't ridden half of them (existing roads)."
Longtime motorcycle and ATV rider Zee Miller of Boise agreed.
"That's fine. We've thought it should be that way for years," Miller said. "Cross-country travel is what causes problems and gets a lot of people hurt."
But not everyone likes the new rule.
"I think it's a load of garbage because what they're doing is slowly closing down all of it," said motorcyclist Eddie Kyle of Boise.
Restrictions will force more people into smaller areas and cause more problems, he said.
"Then (the Forest Service) will decide that area should be closed, period," Kyle said.
The Boise National Forest's rule differs from the proposed national policy, which would require "the establishment of a system of roads, trails and areas designated for motor vehicle use" and ban all motorized use outside those areas.
The Boise National Forest has designated roads and trails that are marked on maps, identified by numbers and maintained.
The forest also has many miles of user-created trails, four-wheel-drive roads and old logging roads but are not part of the official road and trail system.
Those routes could continue to be used under the Boise National Forest's new rule.
"The rule preserves the existing level of access but prevents the future development of user-created trails," Mountain Home District Ranger Larry Tripp said.
Nondesignated trails and roads, however, could be closed later.
"They may or may not become designated system trails in the future," Tripp said. "Those would be future decisions with more public comment."
Disobeying the new rule could result in a fine of up to $5,000 and up to six months in jail. But Boise National Forest spokesman David Olson said writing tickets won't be the first step in enforcement.
"The general focus and priority will be providing information and education about this new policy," Olson said.
While most recreational riders say they stay on roads and trails, cross-country riding is more common during hunting season when hunters try to reach remote areas or use their ATVs to retrieve downed game.
The new rule will likely take effect before the fall hunting season.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game already restricts hunters using ATVs off roads in about 25 percent of its hunting units.
Kyle said the new rule would hurt older hunters and others who rely on ATVs to pack out downed game.
"It's going to limit those people down even more," he said.
Kyle said motorcycle and ATV riders are being singled out. Bicycles, horses and cattle all cause damage to areas, but they aren't restricted.
"I've seen some cattle trails that look like freeways, and I do less damage than that," he said.
Some off-road riders say limits are overdue
The Idaho Statesman | Edition Date: 07-15-2004
The Boise National Forest will have restrictions on ATVs, motorcycles and other off-road vehicles to roads and trails across the entire forest, officials announced Wednesday.
The rule, likely to take effect by fall, is an effort to stop "indiscriminate cross-country travel" by off-road vehicles, which causes damage to public lands and creates unauthorized trails. It's less restrictive than a new national rule proposed last week.
Some off-road riders said the limits are overdue, while others don't want their riding restricted.
Boise National Forest officials proposed the rule in January after U.S. Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth called for limiting unrestricted ATV riding. Boise forest officials have taken public comment since then.
The rule does not affect snowmobiles.
ATV sales have skyrocketed in Idaho. Last year, 81,200 ATVs and motorcycles were registered, compared with 68,521 in 2002. In the last decade, registrations have increased nearly fivefold.
Taking ATVs off roads and trails already is illegal in most of the Boise National Forest.
The new rule affects 525,000 acres on the Boise National Forest, which is about 25 percent of the forest and includes portions of the Emmett, Lowman, Idaho City and Mountain Home Ranger Districts.
"I don't think this is going to be any problem at all," said Bill Jones of Boise, founder and president of the Idaho ATV Association.
"There's no use to go out and pioneer new roads," he said. "I'm 70 years old, and I haven't ridden half of them (existing roads)."
Longtime motorcycle and ATV rider Zee Miller of Boise agreed.
"That's fine. We've thought it should be that way for years," Miller said. "Cross-country travel is what causes problems and gets a lot of people hurt."
But not everyone likes the new rule.
"I think it's a load of garbage because what they're doing is slowly closing down all of it," said motorcyclist Eddie Kyle of Boise.
Restrictions will force more people into smaller areas and cause more problems, he said.
"Then (the Forest Service) will decide that area should be closed, period," Kyle said.
The Boise National Forest's rule differs from the proposed national policy, which would require "the establishment of a system of roads, trails and areas designated for motor vehicle use" and ban all motorized use outside those areas.
The Boise National Forest has designated roads and trails that are marked on maps, identified by numbers and maintained.
The forest also has many miles of user-created trails, four-wheel-drive roads and old logging roads but are not part of the official road and trail system.
Those routes could continue to be used under the Boise National Forest's new rule.
"The rule preserves the existing level of access but prevents the future development of user-created trails," Mountain Home District Ranger Larry Tripp said.
Nondesignated trails and roads, however, could be closed later.
"They may or may not become designated system trails in the future," Tripp said. "Those would be future decisions with more public comment."
Disobeying the new rule could result in a fine of up to $5,000 and up to six months in jail. But Boise National Forest spokesman David Olson said writing tickets won't be the first step in enforcement.
"The general focus and priority will be providing information and education about this new policy," Olson said.
While most recreational riders say they stay on roads and trails, cross-country riding is more common during hunting season when hunters try to reach remote areas or use their ATVs to retrieve downed game.
The new rule will likely take effect before the fall hunting season.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game already restricts hunters using ATVs off roads in about 25 percent of its hunting units.
Kyle said the new rule would hurt older hunters and others who rely on ATVs to pack out downed game.
"It's going to limit those people down even more," he said.
Kyle said motorcycle and ATV riders are being singled out. Bicycles, horses and cattle all cause damage to areas, but they aren't restricted.
"I've seen some cattle trails that look like freeways, and I do less damage than that," he said.
