Companion Trails Complement Federal Land Road Networks

ATV/MC Companion Trail Along Road 1

Chappie Shasta OHV Area - BLM Redding Field Office

As the Forest Service and BLM continue to plan for motorized travel management throughout the country, QWR believes the agencies should add the concept of the “companion trail” to the planning process. 

In regions of the country where federal units have been planning for and implementing travel management,  the companion trail often plays an integral role in creating a high quality motorized route network that is both functional and fun.

ATV/MC Companion Trail Along Forest Road M5

Stonyford OHV Area - Mendocino National Forest

Construction of new companion trails along existing high standard roads can separate vehicle types for safety and an enhanced trail experience.   Adding a companion trail for OHVs will create a “trail” opportunity for non-street legal motorized recreation.

Companion Trail Along Road 3

Chappie Shasta OHV Area - BLM Redding Field Office

Often, the environmental review process is less complicated if the companion trail is sited within the road’s sphere of influence or prism.

In many cases, companion trails can utilize pre-TMR routes (where OHV use was allowed), existing skid roads, or old mining paths.  Often, no new construction is needed.  The old road/trail bed simply needs to be brushed and the downed trees cleared.

Companion Trail Along Samoa Road

Provides Access from County Park to Samoa Dunes Recreation Area

Companion trails for non-street legal OHVs can provide access from a camping/staging area to the trail network. 

Companion Trail Along Forest Road M5

Stonyford OHV Area - Mendocino National Forest

Ultimately, the goal of a companion trail is to complement existing OHV opportunities.

Companion Trails Along Paved Road

Access from Staging/Camping Area to Main Riding Area

Samoa Dunes Recreation Area - BLM Arcata Field Office

QWR believes there are a lot of quality OHV recreational opportunities that can be enhanced through better utilization of roads and trails within an existing riding area and we urge users and land agencies to look for projects where use of the companion trail makes sense. 

Proudly Display Your "E-Ticket" OHV Registration Decal

QWR believes that registering your off-highway motorcycle (and other OHVs) and properly displaying your state’s particular vehicle identification decal in the required manner in an important part of managed OHV recreation in the 21^st Century. 

Modern OHV recreation management is a complex formula that includes appropriated monies for trail construction/maintenance, dedicated recreation staff, volunteerism, grant funding, support from line officers, resource protection, conservation efforts, restoration projects, safeguarding cultural sites, use of sound compliant exhaust with spark arresters, appropriate levels of law enforcement, and proper placement of OHV-related vehicle identification decals.

In California, the state OHV decal is called a “green or red sticker.”  The CA Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVRD) states that for [off-road] motorcycles  the decal shall be placed on the left fork leg, horizontal or vertical, visible from the left.

*LINK to OHMVRD FAQs

http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=26294

Over the years, QWR has seen CA green/red stickers placed behind front number plates, inside the airbox cover, on the frame, under the seat, or inside a side cover.  

Proper placement of your OHV identification decal helps the sport in a number of ways.  It shows other riders that you value high-quality OHV recreation and the ongoing efforts by agency staff and private sector advocates to keep trails open.  Following decal placement instructions also shows law enforcement officials that you have paid your “E-Ticket” to enjoy managed OHV recreation on public lands. 

Please take time to read the placement instructions that should accompany your new registration decal.  We know that often you are in a hurry to get out and ride, but taking a few extra minutes to place your decal in the appropriate location will help ensure that OHV recreation has a bright future.

*ROVs/SxSs are not specifically mentioned in CA law but sticker placement should mimic other four wheeled vehicles.

User Fees Important to Future BLM Travel Management

Don Amador (L) with CA OHVers 

BLM's Logandale Trails OHV Area, Clark County, Nevada

As the BLM continues with its Resource Management Plan (RMP) revisions on many units in the West, QWR believes that new user fee programs will have an important role to play in supporting managed OHV recreation designated in subsequent project level travel plans.  Those site-specific on-the-ground OHV-related services often include trash pickup, pumping vault toilets, law enforcement, route signing, recreation staff, resource protection, camp tables, fire rings, and trail maintenance.

Designated Route Marker

BLM Las Vegas Field Office

Historically, resource-based industry helped fund or subsidize recreation on public lands.  However, in many regions and states, those industries are either out-of-business or in decline. Without debating if that is a good or bad thing, the fact remains that agencies must have the fiscal resources to manage high-quality 21^st Century OHV recreation.

Fee Station - Mendocino National Forest

Since it is highly unlikely that Congress will appropriate more recreation dollars to backfill monies lost to the agencies from resource industries, it will be important for users to support reasonable fee programs where funds collected stay on the unit.

One such fee area that some may look to as an example is the BLM’s 4,795 acre Sand Mountain Recreation Area located about 75 miles east of Reno, Nevada.  That unit charges $90/one year from date of purchase or a weekly permit of $40 that is valid for seven consecutive days upon entry.   Users that QWR has talked with largely support that program because monies collected help pay for public services that benefit both the resource and the OHV recreationist.

Sand Mountain Fee Program

http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/carson_city_field/blm_programs/recreation/sand_mountain.html

Another popular OHV site is the Logandale Trail System located near Overton, Nevada.  QWR recently visited that area and was impressed with the facilities and trail opportunities.  The riders that we interviewed come there regularly from California and help bolster the economy by staying in town, buying fuel, and eating at local restaurants.

Kiosks, Shade Structures,Vault Toilets,and Tables

BLM's Logandale Trails OHV Area - Clark County, Nevada

User fee programs also help support on-the-ground services at many Forest Service units including the Mendocino National Forest in California and the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area in Oregon.  Fee programs are not the only answer, but they are an ever growing factor in the OHV management equation.

Fee Info - Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

 Certainly fees are not appropriate at all sites particularly in remote areas for dispersed recreation, but in popular developed OHV sites some level of fiscal support might be appropriate given current funding levels coming from Capitol Hill.

If you are asked to support a fee program, please make sure your support comes with the condition that funds collected stay on that unit to benefit that local resource and the user.