understand the map so you 

can enjoy your recreational 

experience while following 

the new rules.

Also make sure you have all 

the maps you need. There are 

13 Motor Vehicle Use Maps 

for the two forests and the 

grassland.

Dispersed Camping: You 

may camp anywhere on the 

two Forests or Grassland that 

is not specifically closed to 

camping. However, if you 

want to access a dispersed 

camping site that is more 

than 300 feet from an OPEN 

road or is not an established 

site (designated, defined, or 

existing) you may need to 

walk to your camping site. 

Please see pictures and directions on page 3.

Cross Country Travel: No 

motorized cross country travel will be allowed except in 

designated OPEN areas that 

are shown on the Motor Vehicle Use Map. There are 45 

designated OPEN areas on 

the two forests and the grassland. 

Beginning in 2011, the 

Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and Crooked River 

National Grassland established 

new rules for motorized travel. 

These changes came from the 

Forest Service’s 2005 Travel 

Management Rule and the 

Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and Crooked River 

National Grassland’s Travel 

Management analysis. 

Our Local Decision:

No roads were closed on the 

two Forests and Grassland. 

Leaving 8,000 miles of 

roads OPEN for motorized 

use. 

In addition to this 8,000 miles, 

there are roads and trails that 

were either created by users or 

were closed through previous 

decisions. Not all of these 

roads were physically closed 

on the ground. Therefore, with 

the publication of the MVUM, 

some people are realizing, potentially for the first time, that 

a road or trail they use is actually closed. 

We want you to know that with 

8,000 miles of road there are 

errors on this first printing of 

the map. We will continue to 

work with the public to fix errors and to resolve access needs 

on the ground. We appreciate 

any corrections the public can 

provide.

Motor Vehicle Use Maps: 

The Forest Service publishes a 

FREE Motor Vehicle Use Map 

that shows all roads, trails, and 

areas that are OPEN for motorized travel. 

You will use the Motor Vehicle 

Use Map to make sure that you 

are on a road or trail or in an 

area that is OPEN to motorized travel.

You can get a Motor Vehicle 

Use Map at any Deschutes and 

Ochoco National Forest and 

Crooked River National Grassland offices. These maps are 

also available on line at: 

www.fs.usda.gov/

centraloregon.

When you pick up your map 

spend a few minutes with a 

Forest Service employee looking at it. Our goal is for you to 

New Rules of the Road

Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests 

and Crooked River National Grassland

Travel Management

What Does This Mean to You?
through permits, people should follow the rules 

of the permit in regard to motorized access.

How do I know if I can drive to a DISPERSED camping site or if I need to walk 

into the site? Dispersed camping, under travel management, is still allowed anywhere on the 

Forests and Grassland as long as an area is not 

closed to camping for other reasons. If you are 

going to a dispersed camp site that is defined

by boulders, logs, or rocks, designated with a 

sign, or existing with evidence of past use. 

(See pictures and descriptions of these terms on 

the next page) then you may drive up to 300 

feet off an designated OPEN road to access those sites. 

If you ARE NOT going to a dispersed camp site 

that is defined, designated, or existing 

camp site (See pictures and descriptions of these terms on the next page) then you 

will need to find a safe place out of 

the travel lane of an OPEN designated road to park where you will 

not damage vegetation and walk 

into your desired location to 

camp. 

Travel Management does not 

change access to open, developed campgrounds.

Are there any places to 

ride cross-country? Yes, 

45 cinder and/or rock pits 

are designated as areas 

where you can travel cross

-country. They are found 

on the Motor Vehicle Use 

Map.

Frequently Asked Questions

Page 2 New Rules of the Road

GOT MAP?

Why are things changing? In 2005 the National Travel Management Rule for the Forest Service was finalized. There were four primary reasons for the Rule: 1) national consistency about 

where or when motorized access is allowed; 2)

resource damage from inappropriate motorized 

uses; 3) Conflicts between motorized and nonmotorized users; 4) Quality of recreational experience for all users.

What is shown on a Motor Vehicle Use 

Map? An MVUM displays roads, trails, and areas 

open to motorized use, class of vehicle and season 

of use as well as information on dispersed camping. It is updated annually.

How much are the Maps? They are FREE.

Do these new rules apply to snowmobiles 

or machines? No, over- snow motorized vehicle 

use is not changed by this decision.

If no roads were closed why do I see roads 

on the ground that aren’t on the Motor Vehicle Use Map? In the past some roads were 

closed through other planning or administrative 

processes. Not all these roads were physically 

blocked. Looking at the MVUM is the first time 

some people may realize these roads are closed. 

Also, it may be an error. If you think there is an 

error on a map, we ask that you contact us and let 

us know so we can correct it.

If I find an error on the map. What do I 

do? We expect to find some errors on the maps If 

you find an error, please contact your local Forest 

Service office or send an e-mail to our website 

with an explanation of the error.

Do these rules apply to firewood cutting or 

mushroom harvesting? Because firewood cutting and mushroom harvesting are managed 
What is a Designated Dispersed Camping Site?

It is designated by a sign.

Dispersed Camping: Three Types

In addition, you are maintaining the scenic beauty of the 

campsite for future campers, 

including yourself!

You will need to park 

30 feet from any wetland, stream, spring, 

or lake. 

This distance protects 

fragile vegetation next to these water bodies, which keeps the water 

clean and cool for fish and other 

aquatic species. 

Traveling Off Road 

30’ and 300’ the Distances to Remember

If you are at a dispersed camp site you 

must also remember to park at least 30 

feet away from the edge of a wetland, 

stream, spring, or lake.

Though you can travel off designated OPEN roads for dispersed camping, you will need 

to remember the distances 

3oo’ and 30’. 

You only may drive 300 feet 

from the edge of a designated 

OPEN road to reach an existing, designated or defined 

dispersed camping site. 

Page 3

What is a Defined Dispersed Camping Site?

It is defined by logs or rocks.

30 feet

What is an Existing Dispersed Camping Site?

It has an established fire ring 

or evidence of past use.

During the analysis of the travel rules, it was found that most 

dispersed camping sites are 

within 300 feet of the edge of a 

designated OPEN road. 

Drive no more than 300 

feet from the edge of an 

OPEN road to access a site.

Road 300 feet 

PLEASE NOTE: 

The photos are not accurate representations of 30 

and 300 foot distances.
The Motor Vehicle Use 

Maps display OPEN roads, 

the types of vehicles allowed, and any seasonal use 

periods. The maps’ tables 

and legends will help you 

understand any vehicle class 

or seasonal restrictions. 

Please take a few minutes 

with a Forest Service employee to help understand 

the maps. 

Thirteen maps cover the 2.5 

million acres of the 

Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and the 

Crooked River National 

Grassland. Unless you recreate across the entire 2.5 

million acres, you will not 

need all the maps.

You can download the maps 

from our website to your 

GPS or mobile device. Not 

all brands of smartphones or 

laptops are supported at this 

time; however, we will continue to expand those opportunities.

We also will work to improve the accuracy, size and 

scale of the maps as we get 

feedback from the public on 

the maps.

Designated Roads and Trails

Approximate Miles of 

OPEN Motorized 

Roads and Trails

8,000 miles of Road 

350 miles of Trail 

Deschutes National Forest

Ochoco National Forest 

Crooked River National Grassland

Deschutes National Forest Headquarters 

63095 Deschutes Market Road 

Bend, OR 97701

541-383-5300

Bend-Ft. Rock Ranger District

63095 Deschutes Market Road

Bend, OR 97701

541-383-4000

Crescent Ranger District

136471 Hwy 97

Crescent, OR 97733

541-433-3200

Sisters Ranger District

Pine Street and Hwy 20

Sisters, OR 97759

541-549-7700

Ochoco National Forest Headquarters 

Lookout Ranger District

Paulina Ranger District

3160 NE 3rd Street

Prineville, OR 97754

541-416-6500

Crooked River National Grassland

813 SW Hwy 97

Madras, OR 97741

541-416-6640

Rager Ranger Station

7803 Beaver Creek Road

Paulina, OR 97751

541-477-6900

WEBSITE

www.fs.usda.gov/centraloregon

The USDA is an Equal Opportunity provider and employer.

New Rules of the Road