Twin Falls, ID (Press Release) – As the season transitions from winter into spring we want to remind visitors that there are areas on the Sawtooth National Forest where over-snow vehicle and motor vehicle travel is not allowed.  Some of these areas are not new and were identified to help protect and restore important habitat, reduce user conflicts and protect water quality; however, others are as the Hemingway –Boulders and White Clouds Wildernesses which was designated in 2015.

United State Forest Service
United State Forest Service
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There are tools available to help visitors navigate the Forest both in the winter and summer. The Sawtooth National Forest Winter Travel Map was developed to inform winter visitors and is available for free at Forest Offices and on the Sawtooth National Forest website. The map complies with Subpart C of the Travel Management Rule and displays a variety of information in hard copy form. The map is also geo-referenced and available for download through the Avenza Map Store for free. This enables the visitor to download the map onto their smart phone or tablet and then use their Global Positioning System (GPS) to track their location and navigate while outdoors. This tool also helps visitors to locate the areas that are open for over-snow use and other winter uses. The Forest Service defines “over-snow vehicle (OSV)” as a motor vehicle that is designed for use over snow and that runs on a track or tracks and/or a ski or skis, while in use over snow.

 

Additionally, there are three motor Vehicle Use Maps for the Sawtooth National Forest, one for the Minidoka Ranger District, one for the Fairfield and Ketchum Ranger District and one for the Sawtooth National Recreation Area that inform visitors of roads and trails open to motorized vehicle use.  These maps are also available at Forest Service Offices and available for download through the Avenza Map Store for free. Update wilderness boundaries will be found on the 2016 Sawtooth National Recreation Area Motor Vehicle Use Map and the Sawtooth National Forest website.

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