All soils are suitable for some form of recreation. Forest lands are often multiple use, that is not only timber but recreation, water, and wildlife production. It is the conflict between timber, recreation, watershed maintenance, and wildlife habitat interests that most often occur. For example, the spotted owls and timber production in the northwest, or the question of water quality and timber production in the Robinson Forest. T hese conflicts are most often on public lands where the timber rights are obtained from the government.
Private holdings seem to have less conflict over use.
For actual forest production, nutritional status of soils, water availability from precipitation, water holding capacity, wind-firmness, steepness, and stoniness must be considered.