My predecessor, Mike Blakeman, wrote several times about the increasing challenges of managing national forest system trails and roads. Last spring, I wrote about one of my family adventures that resulted in a situation where two user groups didn’t go well. The concept we refer to as “travel management” is simply, not easy. All national forests, and indeed any land managing agency, are challenged to provide not only roads for general access, but to provide trails that serve multiple use functions.

Many of us have heard the statement: “This is the national forest, we can ride anywhere we want?” One of my favorites is: “they (insert user group) shouldn’t be allowed on this trail.” Some get a bit more snarky, suggesting that “all users of that group are rotten and don’t care about their public lands.” Taken alone, they may be interesting or rousing, but there is so much more behind the matter.

Considering the above comments, most of us can agree on two things. First, there are, indeed, varying points of view on the issue. Second, many folks have a great passion for their point of view and particularly their choice of public land use. This is great! This is just the way we have succeeded as a nation and can progress into the future with a high probability of success to manage any issue we face; as long as we all agree to work together. We need to recognize that it is unlikely we will ever all agree on any one use so we must understand other points of view and work together to achieve equitable solutions to travel on our public lands.

Mike said a couple years ago, “I think most people reading this column know people can’t ride their motorized vehicles anywhere they want on the national forest.” I agree with him and I’ll take it further and suggest that I think that most people know that every use on every trail is not possible, nor is it appropriate.

The RGNF recently finalized its Land Management Plan. The next big planning project we are set to undertake is travel management. In 1996, as part of the forest plan revision process, the Forest created the current travel management plan that we use to guide our activities to date. This plan was developed with a lot of public input, but no one got everything they wanted, because there were laws and many different values that led to the final plan.

We began using the Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs) and now have one published for each ranger district. The maps are free and can be picked up at any Rio Grande National Forest office and are posted on the Forest’s website. The MVUMs are designed to help people understand which roads and trails are authorized for motorized use. Most people want to “be legal” when they are out enjoying their national forest and these maps are designed to help people do just that. Unfortunately, some people don’t care. In those cases, our law enforcement folks use the MVUMs as legal documents since they have been used in a court of law on numerous occasions. Enough about the motorized use for now.

We have abundant recreational opportunities on the RGNF and all users must recognize that our recreational activity of choice is not the only one and we need to balance our activity with other recreational and non-recreational users. Especially as we travel along common roads and trails.

Year in and year out, travel management is our most challenging issue. Some people struggle to operate within a structured travel system, but it is the only reasonable way to find a balance between protecting the environment and providing access and recreational opportunities for the 325 million owners of the national forest. I’ll be out there and, whatever method of travel I am using, I’ll respect yours and strive to ensure we each enjoy our experience.

Gregg Goodland is the Public Affairs Officer for the Rio Grande National Forest. An avid outdoor enthusiast, you’ll find him enjoying all public lands as often as possible.