Do You Know What Travel Management Is?
Have you ever wondered why some trails are open to snowmobiles, why others are quiet and human-powered only, or how wildlife habitat is protected during winter? The reason is travel management planning.
Photo by: Megan Fiske
At its core, travel management is how the U.S. Forest Service decides where and how different types of recreation happen on public lands. It’s goal is to create balance across different uses.
What is travel management, really?
Think of travel management like zoning for public lands.
Through a process established by the Travel Management Rule, the Forest Service designates:
- Where motorized vehicles (including snowmobiles) can go
- Where recreation is human-powered only
- Which areas need extra protection for wildlife, watersheds, or sensitive habitat
The process establishes a “closed unless designated open” framework on national forest lands. Instead of everything being open everywhere to everyone, travel management creates clarity, so skiers, riders, snowmobilers, wildlife, and land managers all know what to expect and how to manage specific areas. And there are opportunities for public participation to guide this process for individual winter travel plans.
This approach helps reduce conflicts, protect wintering wildlife habitat and sensitive ecosystems, and ensure high-quality recreation experiences for everyone.
Mapping is Part of the Process
One of the biggest challenges in winter recreation has been a lack of clear, consistent maps. That’s starting to change.
The EXPLORE Act, which recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, requires the Forest Service to create official winter recreation maps––showing where over-snow vehicles are allowed and where they’re not—on every National Forest that gets snow. These maps must be completed by 2036 and created using existing law.
Clear maps mean:
- More certainty for winter recreationists planning their trips
- Fewer conflicts on the ground
- Better protection for wildlife and habitat
- Clear, enforceable guidance for everyone, supporting education and accountability on public lands
This is a big win for winter communities.
So What’s the Problem?
The existing law that makes those winter maps possible is the Travel Management Rule itself. The Forest Service is expected to propose repealing and replacing the Travel Management Rule in spring 2026. If repealed without a strong replacement, we could lose the very framework that:
- Balances motorized and non-motorized recreation
- Protects wildlife and natural resources
- Provides consistency across National Forests
In short, we could end up with more confusion, more conflict, and less protection.
Photos by: Megan Fiske
Whether you ski, snowboard, snowshoe, fat bike, snowmobile, or simply care about healthy winter ecosystems, travel management affects your experience.
What Winter Wildlands Alliance is Doing
We believe winter deserves thoughtful planning, so we’re working alongside a national coalition to:
- Prepare and defend the Travel Management Rule
- Ensure winter recreation maps are created as required by law
- Advocate for balanced winter management on public lands
As the federal rulemaking process moves forward, public voices will matter. We’ll be sharing more about the Travel Management Rule, what’s at stake, and how to engage when the time comes. Because keeping winter wild starts with paying attention to how it’s managed.
