More recent plans limit OHV use to existing or designated roads and trails in portions of the area, while older plans were developed prior to the increased use of OHVs and leave most areas open. The FS administers 18.2 million acres of land in Montana and the Dakotas located within nine national forests and the Dakota Prairie Grasslands. Each national forest manages OHV use as part of their forest plans. The OHV use is prohibited in all designated wilderness areas. Forest plans vary considerably in the amount of area designated for these uses.
Some forests have many areas that are open while other forests have few open areas.
Some forests restrict OHV use to designated roads and trails only. All forest plans were prepared prior to the recent increase in OHV use and the new development of all terrain vehicle technology. One of the many opportunities on public land is traveling the backcountry for recreational pursuits, such as sight-seeing, wood cutting, fishing, hunting, and other activities as provided by the direction of existing land management and resource plans. Some of this use occurs on public lands where OHV use is currently limited to existing or designated roads and trails. It is the goal of both agencies to provide for a wide spectrum of dispersed recreation activities that will minimize environmental impacts and minimize conflicts between user groups.