Human-Powered in the Sierra Nevada

Winter travel planning is a legally-mandated process by which each national forest in the country is required, with public input, to designate specific areas where snowmobiles and other motorized over-snow vehicles (OSVs) are allowed to travel, with the remainder of the forest open only to human-powered travel. This process is currently underway on six national forests in California — the first forests in the nation to undergo this kind of planning

Our goal is to ensure that these forests — encompassing 4.7 million acres of public land — have in place balanced winter management plans that provide quality recreation opportunities for both non-motorized and motorized winter recreation, minimizing conflict between users and impacts to wildlife and resources.

Helping your local forest draft these plans is YOUR opportunity to protect high-value non-motorized experiences (backcountry skiing and riding, Nordic skiing, ice climbing, winter mountaineering, family snowplay, snowshoeing, etc.) in the Sierra Nevada, and to influence how YOUR backcountry is managed.

Sign up below to receive customized action alerts, follow us on Facebook or Instagram, or stay tuned to these pages to find out what comes next on which forest and how you can help us advocate for balanced solutions in those areas you care most about.

Timeline At a Glance

Here is the current estimated timeline for winter travel planning on national forests in the northern Sierra Nevada (click on the forest name for more details):

• Stanislaus National Forest: The Record of Decision (ROD) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) were published on March 22, 2019. The Forest Service held an objection meeting in August 2019 and is currently working on finalizing the plan.
• Plumas National Forest: The Record of Decision (ROD) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) were published on August 19, 2019. Objections were due October 4, and an objection resolution meeting has been scheduled for January 8, 2020.
• Eldorado National Forest: The Eldorado released its Draft Record of Decision and Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on October 31, 2018. The Forest Service held an objection meeting in March 2019 and is currently working on finalizing its plan.
• Tahoe National Forest: The Tahoe published a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) on February 6, 2019. The Forest Service held an objection meeting in May 2019 and is currently working on finalizing its plan.
• Lassen National Forest: The Lassen published a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and draft Record of Decision (ROD) published on March 29, 2018. The Forest hosted an objection resolution meeting in July 2018 and should be publishing its final plan early in 2020.
• The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is also working on a winter travel plan. Although the LTBMU is in the same neighborhood as the 5 forests listed above, its winter travel planning process is not part of the same coordinated effort outlined above. However, we are also actively engaged in travel planning on this forest. The LTBMU published a Proposed Action on September 2019, and public comments were accepted through December 9.
• The Inyo National Forest, in October 2019, published the final approved version of the 2019 Inyo National Forest Land Management Plan. With regard to winter recreation/travel planning, Forest Supervisor Tammy Randall-Parker wrote in her final Record of Decision that “over-the-snow (winter) travel will be determined by Subpart C Travel Management Analysis, on which I am committing to initiating the public collaboration process within one year of this decision.” We therefore fully expect the forest to begin the official scoping process by October 2020.