Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendices 

Wasatch-Cache National Forest B6 - 1 

APPENDIX B - 6 

Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) and Winter 

Recreation Mapping 

Introduction 

The identification and delineation of experience, activities, and settings of outdoor recreation on 

the Forest used the framework of the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) for summer use. 

The process that was used in defining the existing condition and development of the alternative 

is described below. 

Six mapping criteria from the ROS framework inventory were used to develop Existing 

Condition maps. They are: 

Physical setting 

1. Remoteness 

2. Size 

3. Evidence of humans 

Social and Managerial Setting 

4. User Density 

5. Managerial regimentation and noticeability 

6. Setting Inconsistencies 

Resource Specialists and District Personnel were used throughout the mapping process to assist 

in mapping consistencies and determine where inconsistencies occurred and help in the 

resolution conflicts and final mapping. 

Alternatives used the existing condition map as a baseline and changed in response to 

management prescription and other factors identified by the public and Forest personnel. Maps 

of the Alternatives and Existing Condition are found in the FEIS. The following sections 

describe the process in more detail. 

Summer ROS Mapping 

Criteria 1. Remoteness 

Using GIS, travel ways consisting of roads and trails were divided into categories of motorized 

and non-motorized. For roads, more detailed parameters were identified using the Forest Service 

Handbook (FSH) Transportation Management descriptions of maintenance levels (see table B6-

A). A maintenance level of 0 was created for roads that were managed by other agencies or the 

private sector. Road maintenance levels were than segregated into primitive and better than 
Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendices 

Wasatch-Cache National Forest B6 - 2 

primitive. Maintenance level 1 is closed to public use and was considered as a non-motorized 

travel way. Maintenance level 2 was categorized as primitive and Maintenance levels 0, 3, 4, 

and 5 were categorized as better than primitive. After the classification of travel ways occurred 

the following criteria was applied to the motorized segments to map the inventoried Remoteness 

area into ROS categories. 

Table B6-A Transportation Maintenance Levels 

MAINTENANCE LEVEL 

Parameters 0 1 2 (Primitive) 3 4 5 

Service life Other agency or 

private road 

Intermittent 

Service-Closed 

Status 

Constant Service or Intermittent Service-Open Status 

(Some uses may be restricted under 36 CFR 261.50) 

Traffic Type Varies Open for nonmotorized uses. 

Closed to 

motorized uses. 

Administrative, 

permitted, 

undeveloped 

recreation, 

specialized, 

commercial haul 

All National Forest Traffic – General Use, 

Commercial Haul 

Vehicle Type All types Closed-N/A High clearance, 

pick-up, 4X4, log 

trucks, ATV, etc. 

All types – passenger cars to large commercial 

vehicles 

Traffic Volume Varies w/surface 

as maintained by 

other agency or 

private 

Closed-N/A Traffic volume increases with maintenance level 

Typical surface Varies w/surface 

as maintained by 

other agency or 

private 

All types None, Native, or Aggregate-may be 

dust abated 

Aggregate – usually dust 

abated; paved 

User comfort 

and convenience 

Varies Closed-N/A Not a consideration Low priority Moderate 

priority 

High Priority 

Functional 

Classification 

All types All types Local Collector Local 

Collector 

Arterial 

Local Collector 

Arterial 

Local 

Collector 

Arterial 

Traffic Service All types All types D A,B,C – Traffic service level increases with 

maintenance level 

Traffic 

Management 

All types Prohibit or 

Eliminate 

Discourage or 

prohibit cars. 

Accept or 

discourage high 

clearance vehicles 

Encourage, 

Accept 

Encourage Encourage 

Note: 

1. Maintenance level 0 represents all non-Forest Service roads that are maintained by other agencies or public with public 

access. 

2. For maintenance level 1-5 the descriptions are taken from table 12.3 exhibit 1, Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 7709.58 – 

Transportation System Maintenance Handbook, WO Amendment 7709.58-92-1 effective 9/4/92 

Wilderness was categorized into two ROS classifications: Wilderness/Primitive (W/P) and 

Wilderness/Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized (W/SPNM). 

W/P areas were mapped as areas 3 miles and greater from all roads, railroads, and 

motorized trails. 

W/SPNM areas were mapped as areas less than 3 miles and more than 1⁄2 mile from all 

roads, railroads, and motorized trails. 
Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendices 

Wasatch-Cache National Forest B6 - 3 

Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized (SPNM) were mapped by delineating General Forest Areas 

(GFA) less than 3 miles and more than 1⁄2 mile from all roads, railroads, and motorized trails. 

Defining a 1⁄2 mile buffer on each side of all motorized trails and primitive roads created a ROS 

category of Semi-Primitive Motorized (SPM). 

Roaded Natural (RN) areas were distinguished by shaping a 1⁄2 mile buffer on all better than 

primitive roads. 

Rural (R) has no distance criteria. Boundaries were delineated by defining lands whose setting 

characteristics are Rural were the” natural environment has been substantially modified, i.e., 

structures are readily apparent, pastoral, or agricultural or intensively managed wildland 

landscapes as viewed from visually sensitive roads and trails.” (FS-710) Includes such 

characteristics as pastoral, agricultural, intensively managed wildlands. No buffers are used. 

Urban (U) has no distance criteria. Boundaries were delineated by defining lands whose setting 

characteristics are Urban were the environment is Urbanized “ with dominant structures, traffic 

lights, large parking lots, and paved streets. Access is highly intense, motorized, and often with 

mass transit supplements.” (FS-710) Includes such characteristics as major resorts, marinas, 

residential subdivisions, industrial sites, and urbanized amenities that are associated with these 

characteristics. No buffers are used. 

 

The Table B6-B matrix was used to determine the ROS category when conflicts between ROS 

categories occurred. 

Table B6-B ROS Category Conflict Adjustment Matrix 

W/P W/SPNM SPNM SPM RN R U 

W/P W/P W/SPNM W/SPNM W/SPNM W/SPNM W/SPNM W/SPNM 

W/SPNM W/SPNM W/SPNM W/SPNM W/SPNM W/SPNM W/SPNM W/SPNM 

SPNM W/SPNM W/SPNM SPNM SPM RN R U 

SPM W/SPNM W/SPNM SPM SPM RN R U 

RN W/SPNM W/SPNM RN RN RN R U 

R W/SPNM W/SPNM R R R R U 

U W/SPNM W/SPNM U U U U U 

Wilderness/Primitive = W/P 

Wilderness/ Semi-Primitive 

Non-Motorized 

= W/SPNM 

Semi-Primitive NonMotorized = SPNM 

Semi-Primitive Motorized = SPM 

Roaded Natural = RN 

Rural = R 

Urban = U 

Criteria 2. Size 

ROS categories created polygons of an area that were measured in acres and analyzed to see if 

they met the following criteria. 
Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendices 

Wasatch-Cache National Forest B6 - 4 

Wilderness/Primitive (W/P)- Areas 5,000 acres or greater. (May be smaller if contiguous to 

W/SPNM). 

Wilderness/Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized (W/SPNM) – No size criteria. Remaining 

Wilderness not in Primitive. 

Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized (SPNM) – Non-Motorized areas less than 5,000 acres and greater 

than 2,500 acres or GFA. (May be smaller if contiguous to W/P or W/SPNM). 

Semi-Primitive Motorized (SPM) – Motorized high clearance vehicle areas greater than 2,500 

acres of GFA. (May be smaller if contiguous to W/SPNM and SPNM). 

Roaded Natural (RN) – No size criteria. 

Rural (R) – No size criteria. 

Urban (U) – No size criteria. 

After the area adjustments were completed in GIS, the ROS category polygons were labeled with 

the appropriate categories and readied for the next step of the process. 

Criteria 3. Evidence of Humans 

To determine whether the impact of human modification on the landscape was appropriate for 

each ROS category an analysis was made by overlaying areas of development and activities. If 

the evidence of humans was dominant, an adjustment was made to the appropriate ROS 

category. See Table B6-C for Evidence of Human Criteria. Management Prescription 

Categories (MPC) were used to show Wilderness opportunity classes I, II, and III, and categorize 

ROS categories W/P and W/SPNM. 

 

Table B6-C Evidence of Human Criteria 

ROS Class Setting Travel ways Structures 

Wilderness/Primitive Setting is essentially an unmodified 

natural environment. Evidence of 

Humans would be unnoticed by an 

observer wandering through the area. 

MPC 1.1 - Opportunity Class I 

Local adjustment: May have the 

sites and sounds of commercial and 

non-commercial flight corridors. 

Some evidence of trails, but should 

not exceed standard to carry 

expected use. 

Structures are rustic and extremely 

rare. 

Wilderness/ SemiPrimitive NonMotorized Setting is essentially an unmodified 

natural environment. Evidence of 

Humans would be unnoticed by an 

observer wandering through the area. 

MPC 1.1 - Opportunity Class I, 

MPC 1.2 - Opportunity Class II, 

MPC 1.3 – Opportunity Class III. 

Local adjustment: May have the 

sites and sounds of adjacent urban 

and rural communities. 

Evidence of trails, but should not 

exceed standard to carry expected 

use. 

Structures are rustic and extremely 

rare. 

Semi-Primitive Non- Natural setting may have subtle Evidence of trails, little or no Structure are rare and isolated. 
Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendices 

Wasatch-Cache National Forest B6 - 5 

ROS Class Setting Travel ways Structures 

Motorized modifications that would be noticed, 

but not draw the attention of an 

observer wandering through the area. 

Local adjustment: May have the 

sites and sounds of adjacent urban 

and rural communities. 

evidence of primitive roads and the 

motorized use of trails and primitive 

roads. 

Semi-Primitive 

Motorized 

Natural setting may have moderately 

dominant alterations, but would not 

draw the attention of motorized 

observers on trails or primitive roads 

within the area. 

Local adjustment: May have the 

sites and sounds of adjacent urban 

and rural communities. 

Strong evidence of primitive roads 

and the motorized use of trails and 

primitive roads 

Structures are rare and isolated. 

Roaded Natural Natural setting may have 

modifications, which range from 

being easily noticed to strongly 

dominant to observers within the 

area. However from concern level 1 

and 2 of the Scenery Management 

System (Scenic Byways, Backways) 

and use areas these alterations 

would remain unnoticed or visually 

subordinate. 

Local adjustment: May have the 

sites and sounds of adjacent urban 

and rural communities. 

There is strong evidence of designed 

roads and/or highways. 

Structures are generally scattered, 

remaining visually subordinate or 

unnoticed to sensitivity level 1 and 2 

VMS identified travel route observer. 

Structures may include power lines, 

microwave installations and so on. 

Rural Natural setting culturally modified to 

the point that it is dominant to the 

concern level 1 and 2 of the Scenery 

Management System (Scenic 

Byways, Backways) travel route 

observers. May include pastoral, 

agricultural, intensively managed 

wildland resource landscapes, or 

utility corridors. Pedestrian or other 

slow moving observers are constantly 

within view of culturally changed 

landscape. 

There is strong evidence of designed 

roads and/or highways. 

Structures are readily apparent and 

may range from scattered to small 

dominant clusters including power 

lines, microwave installations, local 

ski areas, minor resorts and 

recreation sites. 

Urban Setting is strongly structure 

dominated. Natural or naturalappearing elements my play an 

important role, but visually 

subordinate. Pedestrian and other 

slow moving observers are constantly 

within view of artificial enclosure 

spaces. 

There is strong evidence of designed 

roads and/or highways and streets. 

Structures and structure complexes 

are dominant, and may include major 

resorts and marinas, national and 

regional ski areas, towns, industrial 

sites, condominiums or second home 

developments. 

Criteria 4. User Density/Social Contact and Criteria 5. Managerial 

Regimentation and Noticeability

After mapping with criteria 1 through 3 described above, meetings were schedule with District 

personnel to review how the criteria were applied and get their feedback. Some modifications 

were made to the maps based on the District personnel’s individual knowledge. 

In these meetings District personnel were also asked to determine: 

A. how many people visited an area from their experience to establish user density? This 

information was based ocular data and not further developed in the mapping process. 

See Chapter 2, Alternatives Considered But Eliminated From Detailed Study, Human 

Carrying Capacity Determinations and User Densities. 
Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendices 

Wasatch-Cache National Forest B6 - 6 

B. consider the amount of signs and visitor contacts by Forest Service rangers to frame 

regimentation and noticeability (See Table B6-D Managerial Setting Criteria). 

From this professional knowledge areas were mapped and compared with other criteria. 

Table B6-D Managerial Setting Criteria 

(Managerial regimentation and noticeability) 

ROS Category Criteria description 

Wilderness/Primitive MPC 1.1 Opportunity Class I – On-site regimentation is low with controls* primarily off site. 

Wilderness/ SemiPrimitive NonMotorized MPC 1.2 and 1.3 Opportunity Class II and III – On-site regimentation is low to moderate* primarily off site. 

Semi-Primitive NonMotorized On-site regimentation and controls* present but subtle. 

Semi-Primitive 

Motorized 

On-site regimentation and controls* present but subtle. 

Roaded Natural On-site regimentation and controls* are noticeable, but harmonize with the natural environment. 

Rural Regimentation and controls* obvious and numerous, largely in harmony with the man made environment. 

Urban Regimentation and controls* obvious and numerous. 

*Controls can be physical (such as barriers) or regulatory (such as permits). 

Criteria 6. Setting Inconsistencies 

Based on review and adjustment from local knowledge, an existing condition map was produced. 

When the physical, social and/or managerial setting were not the same for the same piece of 

ground in the GIS maps the ROS category was selected that best represented current 

management direction. 

Inconsistencies and adjustments: 

1. Maintenance level 0 roads represented a wide range of road widths and surface types. 

District personnel knowledge was sought to classify the primitive roads so that they could 

be mapped in GIS correctly for the Remoteness Criteria of SPM. 

2. The influence of adjacent urban and rural communities to the boundary of the Forest 

created a ring of urban and rural polygons in their interface with the Forest. After some 

review it became evident that management direction did not reflect urban or rural setting 

on these lands so the ROS category was moved to a maximum of Roaded Natural, but for 

the most part they became SPM or SPNM areas. 

3. Because of the location of Mt. Olympus, Twin Peaks, Lone Peak, Deseret Peak and 

Mount Naomi Wildernesses to urban and rural communities and better than primitive 

roasd (less than 3 miles) the designation of W/SPNM was applied to MPC 1.1, 1.2 and 

1.3. 
Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendices 

Wasatch-Cache National Forest B6 - 7 

Alternatives and ROS 

Applies to all Alternatives 

Management Prescription Categories (MPC’s) 1.1-1.5 will have only the non-motorized ROS 

application applied to them. Most 2.6 MPC designations will be non-motorized and semiprimitive (motorized or non-motorized) in nature. 

MPC 1.5, Recommended Wilderness is delineated as SPNM, the MPC direction will provide the 

specific management for this portion of the ROS category. 

MPC’s 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 5.2, 6.2 will generally have a motorized access classification applied to 

them (SPM, RN, R, U). 

Alternative 1 

Management objective is to maximize SPNM and Wilderness. Generally, the 

Wilderness/Primitive class will not be increased beyond High Uintas Wilderness region, because 

most areas will not meet Wilderness/Primitive criteria in any alternative due to the remoteness 

and social setting. 

Buffered existing motorized routes (summer) within MPC 1.5 to 66 feet. (66 feet buffer was 

adopted from the roadless criteria). This buffer narrowed cherry-stemmed corridors while 

increasing MPC 1.5 acreage in SPNM. There is no SPM or greater developed designations in 

MPC 1.5 or 2.6. 

Increase SPNM area outside of 1.5 and 2.6 MPC’s if possible. Use a 1⁄4 mile buffer for those 

areas outside of MPC 1.5 designations. No new recreation facility development. 

Alternative 2 

Similar to Alternative 1. Use a 1⁄4 mile buffer for motorized routes. Incorporate as much SPM 

designation as possible for MPC’s 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 5.2, 6.2. Facility development may be allowed if 

consistent with ROS designation and management prescription. 

Alternative 3 

ROS map should be similar to the current condition map. Facility development may be allowed 

if consistent with ROS designation and management prescription. 

Alternative 4 - 1985 Forest Plan ROS

Only one ROS map was developed for the Forest in the 1985 Forest Plan that combined both 

summer and winter use. This map is provided to show the change in ROS management. 
Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendices 

Wasatch-Cache National Forest B6 - 8 

Generally, the management philosophy was to increase recreational development and access, and 

add some developed recreation sites. In the initial round of planning ROS was applied in a more 

general nature and reflected a higher development scale. 

Alternative 5 

More development is allowed. This does not necessarily translate into fewer SPNM acres, but 

since there is more acreage allocated to MPC’s with development potential such as 4.5, 5.2, 6.2, 

8.0, it is likely there would be less SPNM in this alternative. 

Alternative 6 

The ROS map is similar to the current condition map. Allows additional facility development, 

especially in MPC 4.+ (recreation) classes. 

Alternative 7 

ROS map is same as existing condition with the exception of changes from Road Natural to 

Rural in the ski areas because of the increased use of mountain bike trail development and day 

hikes from Resort base areas. 

Table B6-E Social Setting Criteria were developed and used in the creation of Table 11 WCNF 

Revised Forest, and Table D2-1 Appendix D settings and opportunity descriptions for identified 

ROS classes. The social setting criteria were shaped from District personnel professional 

knowledge, field observations, visitor counts, High Uinta Wilderness Management Plan, and 

Special Orders of the WCNF Forest Supervisor as a baseline to establish social encounter 

thresholds for Primitive and Semi-Primitive ROS classes. 

There are three reasons to establish social encounters thresholds: 

a. For a communication tool to help people understand more about their desired 

recreation experience. 

b. To establish a baseline for management and the public for the collection of social 

data. 

c. To provide a beginning point to initiate public involvement during the monitoring 

process. 

It is recognized that further data collection will need to be collected during the monitoring 

process, such as date, time of contact, duration of contact, speed of hiking, etc. so that a better 

understanding of peoples recreational trends and desire experience can be created. The 

description (Very Low – High) of encounters is ROS category specific and changes meaning 

when moving from one class to another. See Table B6-E criteria description for definition of the 

percent a person time is spent in encounters with other parties. A party is defined as 1 person to 

14 people. 
Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendices 

Wasatch-Cache National Forest B6 - 9 

Table B6-E Social Setting Criteria 

ROS Class Criteria description 

Wilderness/Primitive High Uintas 

MPC 1.1, Wilderness Opportunity Class I. Social: Off Trail -Very Low encounters (less than 10% of a person time is 

spent in encounters with other parties in an 8- hour day) on Trail-Low encounters (11%-15% of a person time is spent 

in encounters with other parties in an 8- hour day) Campsites should not be closer than 1 mile apart. 

Mt. Olympus, Twin Peaks, Lone Peak, Deseret Peak, Mount Naomi and Wellsville Mountain Wildernesses 

MPC 1.1. Wilderness Opportunity Class I. Social: Off and On Trails Low encounters (11%-15% of a person time is 

spent in encounters with other parties in an 8- hour day). Campsites should be no closer than 100 feet apart. 

High Uintas 

MPC 1.2 & 1.3, Wilderness Opportunity Class II and I. Social: On Trail-Low encounters (11%-15% of a person time is 

spent in encounters with other parties in an 8- hour day) High Uintas - Campsites should be no closer than 1⁄4 mile 

apart. Mount Naomi and Deseret Peak, Mt. Olympus, Twin Peaks, and Lone Peak Wildernesses- Campsites should 

be no closer than 100 feet apart. 

Local adjustment for weekends and holidays: High Uintas, Wellsville Mountain, Mount Naomi and Deseret Peak 

Wildernesses 

MPC 1.2. Social: On Trail- Moderately Low encounters (16%-20% of a person time is spent in encounters with other 

parties in an 8- hour day) 

*Local adjustment for weekends and holidays: Mt. Olympus, Twin Peaks, and Lone Peak Wildernesses 

MPC 1.2. Social: On Trails-Moderate encounters (21%-25% of a person time is spent in encounters with other parties 

in an 8- hour day) 

Local adjustment for weekends and holidays: High Uintas, Wellsville Mountain, Mount Naomi and Deseret Peak 

Wildernesses 

MPC 1.3. Social: On Trails-Moderate encounters (21%-25% of a person time is spent in encounters with other parties 

in an 8- hour day) 

Local adjustment for weekends and holidays: Mt. Olympus, Twin Peaks, and Lone Peak Wildernesses 

Wilderness/ SemiPrimitive NonMotorized 

MPC 1.3. Social: On Trails-High encounters (31%45% of a person time is spent in encounters with other parties in an 

8- hour day) Campsites should be no closer than 100 feet apart. Reason for high encounters is because access to a 

desired destination is on a cherry stem trail. 

Social: On Trails-Low to Moderate (14%-33% of a person time is spent in encounters with other parties in an 8- hour 

day). Camp Spacing-6 parties visible from campsites. 

Local adjustment for weekends and holidays

Semi-Primitive NonMotorized 

Check with local Ranger Districts for information on trails with High encounters with other parties. 

Social: Low to moderate contact frequency on Loop trails, moderate contact frequency on cherry stem trails (21%-

40% of a person time is spent in encounters with other parties in an 8-hour day) 

Local adjustment for weekends and holidays

Semi-Primitive 

Motorized 

Check with local Ranger Districts for information on trails with High encounters with other parties. 

Roaded Natural Frequency of contact is moderate to high on roads; Low to moderate on trails and away from roads; low to moderate 

in developed sites during the week and moderate to high on weekends and holidays. 

Rural Frequency of contact is moderate to high in developed sites on roads and trails and water surfaces during the week 

and high to very high on weekends and holidays and moderate away from developed sites. 

Urban Large numbers of users onsite and in nearby areas. 
Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendices 

Wasatch-Cache National Forest B6 - 10 

Winter Recreation Mapping 

Mapping Process 

The following paragraphs describe the process used to develop winter recreation existing 

condition and alternative maps. The delineation and identification of winter motorized and nonmotorized recreation activities on the Forest used questions to frame the process for building the 

existing condition map. A interdisciplinary team develop the following questions that needed to 

be answered: 

• Where can I snowmobile? 

• Where is helicopter skiing allowed? 

• Where is winter motorized use not allowed? 

Question 1 -Where can I snowmobile? 

Existing District summer and winter recreation travel plans were separated into the two 

categories and put into GIS. Through public interaction and Forest personnel review, 

motorized areas were identified and mapped. 

Question 2 -Where is helicopter skiing allowed? 

Existing permit boundaries were put into GIS. 

Question 3 - Where is winter motorized use not allowed? 

Wilderness and areas closed during the winter on travel plans were later defined along 

with areas of trespass where motorized use was occurring in non-motorized areas. 

Fundamental to beginning this process is determining when during the season the winter 

recreation maps would apply. Their application should be tied to on the ground conditions in 

any given year rather than a static calendar date. The team decided that the winter recreation 

map apply when there is an adequate depth of snow is present on the ground to protect vegetative 

resources. When there is an inadequate depth of snow present, summer ROS maps as well as 

travel management plans apply and snowmobile use would not be permitted off of designated 

routes. 

 

Mapping Existing Condition 

After compiling and mapping baseline information, District personnel reviewed the existing 

condition maps for correctness and consistency. After district review, Four Winter Recreation 

Classes were created and mapped as follows: 

1) Wilderness—Areas designated as wilderness. Snowmobiling, Heli-skiing, or other 

motorized use is not allowed all year round. 
Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendices 

Wasatch-Cache National Forest B6 - 11 

2) Non-Motorized – These areas emphasize non-motorized winter recreation such as 

cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, etc. No snowmobiles or other motorized 

uses are allowed. 

3) Motorized – Snowmobiling or other motorized travel is permitted in these areas 

and/or on designated routes. Non-motorized uses are also permitted here. 

4) Heliski – These areas are designated for heli-skiing (helicopter supported 

backcountry skiing). Generally, there is no snowmobiling allowed in these areas 

unless otherwise noted. Other non-motorized uses are permitted. 

Mapping of Alternatives

Using the Existing Condition map as a starting point, winter recreation maps for each alternative 

were developed. Each represented the general direction or theme of an alternative and are 

described as follows: 

Alternative 1 

No snowmobiles are allowed in inventoried roadless, wilderness, or recommended wilderness 

areas. No Heli-skiing allowed. No new ski areas or ski area expansion. 

Alternative 2 

Snowmobiling allowed in inventoried roadless areas only on designated routes. Open area 

snowmobiling is limited. No snowmobiling in Wilderness (1.1-1.4), proposed Wilderness (1.5), 

or in roadless areas adjacent to MPC 1.0’s. No Heli-skiing allowed. No new ski areas or ski 

area expansion. 

Alternative 3 

Increase winter motorized access where at all possible. No new ski areas will be developed and 

no ski area expansion allowed. No snowmobiling in Wilderness (1.1-1.4) and recommended 

Wilderness (1.5). Heli-skiing permit boundary is altered—Gobbler’s Knob closed to heliskiing. 

Some of Big Cottonwood Canyon opened to heli-skiing. 

Alternative 4 - 1985 Forest Plan ROS

 

From Map 5 of the 1985 Forest Plan, a winter recreation map was created that displayed winter 

motorized and nonmotorized areas. Outside of wilderness, winter motorized was allowed across 

the forest except in the areas specifically mapped as semiprimitive nonmotorized. Since this 

map had not been updated to include lands acquired since 1985, these newly acquired lands were 

designated according to the existing condition map. 
Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendices 

Wasatch-Cache National Forest B6 - 12 

Alternative 5 

Expands winter motorized access and use. Heli-skiing allowed as in existing special use permit. 

Alternative 6 

Expands winter motorized access and use in Cache/Box Elder Management area, reduces 

motorized access in the Lakes area of the Western Uintas and also in the Eastern Uintas. All 

other Management Areas are roughly the same as the existing condition. 

Alternative 7 

Addresses the winter recreation use conflicts and access management by providing for winter 

motorized use consistent with growing demand, while identifying selected areas for separation of 

non-motorized winter opportunities. Existing condition motorized areas remain motorized in 

MPC 1.5. Wilderness MPC 1.1-3 remains non-motorized. Acknowledges key big game winter 

range and implements some closures but primarily puts in place future monitoring. 

From public comment, an analysis was conducted to determine criteria for deciding what was 

suitable for motorized and non-motorized use based on slope, aspect and vegetation type or 

condition. The conclusion of the analysis found that both motorized and non-motorized users 

were looking for the same terrain, aspect and vegetation types. Basically all areas on the Forest 

were being used at sometime during the snow-on season. 

Information and understanding of snow and weather conditions for safety was of importance for 

both non-motorized and motorized groups. 

• Limitations for motorized group: none. 

• Limitations for non-motorized group: 

o Distance from drop point for a safe day trip is 6 miles or less. 

o Snow consistency (from powder to compacted). Compaction is considered a 

hazard because of high potential to cause a fall. 

o Noise 

o Air Pollution