Travel Management Planning

Travel on Public Lands

Whether motorized or non-motorized, on roads and trails or cross-country, travel on the public lands is a resource that the BLM manages along with numerous others.

Travel management plans (TMPs) designate road and trail systems in the context of the broader resource management plan (RMP) for a particular area. 

An RMP identifies motorized travel area designations: areas that are open to cross-country travel, where travel is limited to existing or designated routes, or closed to all motorized travel.  Most public lands are in the limited category.  Lands may be closed to motorized travel when they contain sensitive or legally protected resources or to protect public safety.  Some closures are seasonal or otherwise temporary, such as emergency closures to allow lands to stabilize and recover following a wildland fire.

Motorized cross-country travel (off-road) is discouraged in all but small areas designated specifically for this activity because it can damage wildlife habitat, spread noxious weeds, increase erosion, or ignite wildfires.

A TMP establishes designated routes on lands where travel is limited in the RMP.  The travel plan may also specify or limit the types of travel allowed on designated routes: motorized (motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, 4WD, snowmobiles, etc.) and/or non-motorized.

 

OHV riders in the Challis area

horseback riding on the Owyhee Front

Travel Management Planning in Idaho

BLM-Idaho has embarked on travel management planning for nearly 30 route system areas on the 11.6 million acres of public lands the agency manages in the Gem State.  Active public participation and review are integral to travel planning.

TMPs have been completed for the majority of the Owyhee Front in southwestern Idaho, the Coeur d'Alene and Cottonwood Field Offices, a portion of the Salmon Field Office, the Challis Field Office, Craters of the Moon National Monument, and lands in the Upper Snake Field Office administered under the Snake River Activity Operations Plan.

The Salmon North, Bear Lake, Soda Hills and North Highway 20 TMPs are underway, along with travel planning for Owyhee County, particularly for lands affected by designations in the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009.  Travel plans for remaining areas await completion of RMP updates, indicated in the table below where the 'Miles designated' column is blank.

Idaho map with Field Office boundaries

mountain bikers on the Rotarun Trail system in the Shoshone Field Office

TMP Name/Planning Area

Hemingway Butte
Wilson Creek
Murphy
Owyhee County
Snake River BOP NCA
Four Rivers/Cascade
Four Rivers/Kuna
Bruneau
Coeur d'Alene Field Office
Cottonwood Field Office
Challis Field Office
Salmon North
Salmon RMP Amendment
Salmon South
Snake River Activity Plan
Upper Snake Field Office
Bear Lake [Pocatello]
Soda Hills [Pocatello]
Curlew/Deep Creeks
Pocatello SRMA
Oneida Narrows SRMA
Blackfoot SRMA
Deep Creek-Pleasantview
Pocatello East
Curlew-Hansen-Samaria
Jarbidge
Burley
North Highway 20, Shoshone
Craters of the Moon

   TOTAL


  Acres  |  Miles designated

          192open play
     29,000135
   233,000840
1,062,000in progress
   379,000 
   488,000 
   290,000 
1,529,000 
     98,000176
   130,000300
   792,0002,217
   160,000in progress
   460,0001,827
   300,000 
            155
1,800,000 
     55,400in progress
     15,000in progress

 362,000

in progress
     32,70039
       3,000 
     21,700 
   169,000 
   109,000 
   202,900 
1,300,000 
   854,000 
   240,000 
   465,000 683

  11.5 million