Three new rides on stayontrails.com include the Lolo Motorway and two big rides from Whitebird

On the way into Pittsburg Landing. 

Bighorn sheep are commonly seen in Hells Canyon. 

Native American petroglyphs 

Lolo Motorway, a single-lane dirt road that traces the route that Lewis & Clark
took through the Lochsa River Country in northcentral Idaho. 

Purple mountain majesty in the Clearwater National Forest

Kirkwood Museum and Ranch 

Hi all,

It's springtime in Idaho. The mountains are greening up, and the wildflowers are blooming everywhere. It's time to go riding!

We've recently added three new rides to stayontrails.com that are worth experiencing no matter where you live in Idaho. In fact, most states would love to have rides like these in their state. One of them is a great destination for this summer - the Lolo Motorway, Forest Service Road #500, which traces the route of the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery, as they slogged their way through the Lochsa River country in thick timber and snow. More about that below.

Two other rides, recommended by the Idaho Pathfinders ATV Club in Whitebird, are perfect to ride in the spring, or basically, right now!

• Whitebird to Pittsburg Landing - The Deer Creek Road, Forest Service Road #493, is a well-signed and well-maintained gravel road that climbs more than 3,000 feet to a high saddle and then descends more than 3,200 feet over to Pittsburg Landing, a major boat ramp for jet boats and float boats, in Hells Canyon, the deepest gorge in North America. The ride is 34 miles over and back. The scenery is stunningly beautiful.  
  Pittsburg Landing is also an overnight camping destination, and there are Native American petroglyphs in the vicinity. This is a scenic ride that's suitable for motorbikes, ATVs and UTVs. It is a county road, so a street-legal license is required on your OHV. The Deer Creek Road also gets a fair bit of traffic by trucks hauling boats over to Pittsburg Landing, so it's important to drive defensively and watch out for traffic on blind corners on the way up and the way down.
  
  Click on the link above for the full details, video and trip map. We also mention a 22-mile side trip to Big Canyon.
• Whitebird to the Historic Kirkwood Ranch and Museum - The day-long ride from Whitebird to the Historic Kirkwood Ranch and Museum in Hells Canyon is a real treat. It features more than 5,000 vertical feet of climbing as you ascend the mountains from Whitebird toward Pittsburg Saddle, and then you'll stay on a high ridge over to the Kirkwood Corrals before you descend into Hells Canyon to visit the Kirkwood Ranch and Museum. Total distance is about 29 miles one-way to the Kirkwood Museum, or about 60 miles round-trip. The ride follows major Forest Service roads, so it's open to motorbikes, ATVs and UTVs. You'll be on county roads, so a street-legal license is required on your OHV. Be sure to drive defensively and watch out for traffic on blind corners on the way up and the way down.
  
  Click on the link above for the full details, video and trip map.
• Lolo Motorway/Lewis & Clark Trail - ATV and UTV groups like to ride the Lolo Motorway in four days, hauling trailers with camping gear. The best place to start is from Lowell, 99 miles east of Lewiston, Idaho. Three Rivers Resort in Lowell has an RV park with hookups where you can base camp prior to the ride. The standard approach is to ride from Lowell approximately 50 miles or so to a half-way point for the first night's camp. On the second night, you can plan on staying in the tiny town of Powell, where you can refuel, buy any supplies you need, take a shower, and stay at the Lochsa Lodge or camp nearby.
  
  Then you retrace your tracks, ride another 50 miles or so from Powell to a point where you'd like to camp on the #500 road, and then return to Lowell on the fourth day. It's about 110 miles from Powell to Lowell, all on Forest Service dirt roads. There are many historical points various points of interest listed below often have an interpretive sign to explain the historical significance. There are numerous places where you can camp along the way. There are no services on the trail, so it would be self-support camping. Much of the trail follows a high ridge without access to water, so be sure to bring plenty of water for drinking during the day, and for camping.
  
  The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest maintains the single-lane dirt road for four-wheel-drives, ATVs, UTVs, and other recreational vehicles during the summer months. The best time to visit is between late June and September. Otherwise, you may encounter snow.
  
  Click on the link above for the full details, video and trip map. 

If you have a favorite OHV ride that you think we should add to stayontrails.com, please let us know! Write Steve at sstuebner@cableone.net to share your ride. 

Have fun! 

BLM closes 12,000-acre area to OHV use in aftermath of Stout Fire near Mountain Home

BLM closure area map

Here's a news release from the Bureau of Land Management regarding the temporary closure: 

BOISE, ID – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will temporarily close approximately 11,994 acres of public land to all motorized vehicle use as a result the 2012 Stout Fire. The closure will be in effect for up to two years. Non-motorized recreational access is allowed during the closure.

The closure will allow native vegetation time to recover after the fire. If recently burned areas are regularly disturbed by off-road vehicles, native plants struggle to grow, allowing invasive weeds to establish and erosion to occur. The closure will allow planted shrub, forb and grass species to become established and allow existing plants to recover from the effects of the fire. Allowing the recently burned areas to rest will also help ensure the long-term viability of important habitat for elk, mule deer and sage-grouse.

Temporary closure signs will be posted at key entry points to the burned area.   Anyone violating the closure may be tried before a United States Magistrate and fined, not to exceed $1,000, imprisoned for up to 12 months, or both. Violators may also be subject to the enhanced fines provided for in 18 U.S.C. 3571.

Exempt from this closure are contractors hired by the BLM to work in the area; search and rescue personnel; Federal, State or local law enforcement officials; other employees in the performance of their official duties; and persons with written authorization from the BLM.

If you have questions regarding where to ride OHVs, closure maps are available online http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/advisories-closures.html or visit www.stayontrails.org. A hard copy map is available at the BLM Boise District Office or the Forest Service Mountain Home Ranger District Office (2180 American Legion Blvd., Mountain Home, ID 83647).

For more information, please contact Larry Ridenhour at 208-384-3334.

Enter Idaho OHV sweepstakes to win a new Polaris Sportsman 500 ATV; contest open only to Idaho residents

Hi all,

For the spring campaign of the Idaho OHV Public Outreach Campaign, we're dangling a very cool carrot to make sure OHV users are aware of our campaign and web site, http://stayontrails.com.

The carrot is an ATV sweepstakes that's launching today and running through June 1, 2013. The winner will receive a brand new Polaris Sportsman 500 ATV, a great all-around trail machine and one of the best-selling ATVs available on the market today. The Polaris Sportsman 500 ATV retails for $6,299.

If you'd like to participate, go to our Facebook page and click on the ATV Sweepstakes tab or click on the photo of the Yellow Sign that says "Enter to Win" and follow the web link to the sweepstakes entry page.

Follow the directions to enter the contest. You must "like" the Facebook page to participate in the contest, then you fill out your name and information, and click "Enter Now" to submit your entry.

Among other things, the contest rules indicate that:
1. You must be an Idaho resident to participate in the contest.
2. You have to be 18 years of age or older to participate.
3. Contest entries are limited to one entry per person.
4. Employees of the agencies involved in the Idaho OHV Public Outreach Campaign can not participate in the contest.

We hope that you'll consider participating in the contest! Tell your friends! And remember to do your part by riding safe and responsibly out there on Idaho's public lands and stay on designated trails.

We want to thank Carl's Cycles for being our sweepstakes partner for this year's contest.

The contest winner will be announced soon after the contest ends on June 1. The winner will be able to choose the color of the Polaris 500 they wish to receive. The Polaris 500 is available in white, red and sage green.

Thanks!

Bull Cr., Silver Cr. trails re-open today (Oct. 1) to motorbikes & non-motorized use N. of Crouch, ID

42 culverts were installed along the trails to reduce erosion.

Hi all, 

Twenty-two miles of Bull Creek and Silver Creek trails reopen today (Oct. 1) to motorcycle and non-motorized use following extensive trail work by several public agencies and recreation groups. The trails had been closed for two years to rehabilitate the trails, install culverts and a bridge, and brush and clear the trail. 

The trail project, located in the Emmett Ranger District of the Boise National Forest, was a partnership project with the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, Boise National Forest, Trails Unlimited, Treasure Valley Trail Machine Association, Squaw Butte Backcountry Horsemen, and the Emmett Rough Riders ATV Club.  

The singletrack trails are open for motorcycle and non-motorized recreation use to provide for sustainable and manageable opportunities while reducing impacts to natural resources and watershed values. ATV or UTV use of the trails is prohibited. 

New 35-foot bridge before, above, and after, below. 

All told, the reconstruction project included:

• Installing 42 arched culverts throughout the 22-mile-long trail system. The culverts will improve drainage on the trails and reduce trail erosion. 
• Rerouting 10 sections (3 major) of the trail network. 
• Building a 35-foot bridge
• Building a 40-foot-long retaining wall
• Connecting the upper Bull Creek Trail with the Rice Peak Trail for a longer ride opportunity that extends into the Cascade Ranger District, and other public trails near Stolle Meadows. 
• Completing extensive brushing and clearing of the trail width and tread. 

Treasure Valley TMA volunteered weekend work over a two-year period for many project tasks. In addition, the Squaw Butte Backcountry Horsemen volunteered with trail clearing. The Emmett Rough Riders ATV Club volunteered to do trail clearing on the Telephone Ridge Trail, which was key to equipment hauling and better access to the upper Bull Creek Trail.

The trail system will be seasonally designated for use from July 1 through November 14. Further information is available by contacting the Emmett Ranger District at 208-365-7000, or by going to http://trails.idaho.gov. Search for Bull Creek Trail or Silver Creek Trail to check on seasonal restrictions. 

Heavy-duty trail-rehab on the Bull Creek Trail 

5 new tips for OHV hunters in Idaho ... online maps, videos and more ... Have a great hunt!

Hi all,

The Idaho OHV Public Outreach Campaign has created a new web page for hunters who use off-highway vehicles to reach their camps and hunting areas. We wanted to share our 5 tips for a safe and legal hunting experience in Idaho. According to the latest survey, more than 70 percent of the 240,000 people who hunt big game in the state of Idaho (residents and nonresidents) use OHVs as part of their hunt.

The big challenge when you're an OHV rider during hunting season is to figure out what hunting units and specific trails are open to OHV use. It's not enough to just check on the U.S. Forest Service
or BLM travel plan map. You also have to check the Idaho Department of Fish and Game hunting regulations.

Our tips are meant to help demystify that admittedly challenging process. At least more of these resources are online than ever before.

Here you go:

1. Do your homework and know what specific areas or hunting units are open to OHVs during big game hunting seasons ... Good sources of information:

•      National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Maps     
•         BLM Travel Maps  
•         IDFG big game regulations for additional restrictions that apply to big game hunters
•         IDPR Statewide Online Map
•         Hunting tips video 
  
  

2. Stay on designated trails. Cross-country riding is illegal on most Forest Service and BLM lands, and it is destructive to the environment. Responsible riders know that.     

3. Use your trail machine to scout for game and access your hunting camp, but it's illegal to shoot big game animals from your OHV. (Hunters with a disabled permit are exempt from this rule). 

4. Utility Terrain Vehicles wider than 50 inches are not allowed on ATV trails or singletrack trails. UTVs wider than 50 inches should travel on dirt roads and/or two-track roads that are open during hunting season.

5. Park your OHV if you need to leave a trail or road to retrieve a big game animal. 

We hope you have a safe and productive hunt! Please feel free to share this information with your hunting buddies. And if you have feedback on our tips, please let us know! 

Road from Warren to South Fork Salmon River to be closed July 31 - August 14

Sharing news from the Payette National Forest ... 

McCall, ID - The Forest Service will be replacing the Mayflower culvert with a fish friendly “Aquatic Organism Passage” box culvert two miles east of Warren on Warren Wagon Road (#340) next week. The road will be closed at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 31, and will remain closed through August 14. During the construction project, the road will be closed to all motorized travel, however foot traffic will be allowed.

During the closure period the public will not be able to drive from Warren to the South Fork of the Salmon River. The closure points will be at the junction of Warren Wagon Road (#340) and Pony Meadows Road (#359) and at Warren Summit. During the road closure, alternate access to the area east of Warren Summit will be via Yellow Pine and Big Creek. 

There may be delays of up to 2 hours from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, July 30 while the contractor moves equipment in and starts preparing the site.  Please call Will Perry with questions or concerns at 208-634-0767 or visit the PNF Road Conditions Page at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/payette/home/?cid=stelprdb5109592.

(end)

StayonTrails.com now has 40+ OHV rides to share, including 2 new rides in the Owyhee Mountains

Riding on the front side of the Owyhee Mountains. (Courtesy Boise  ATV Trail Riders)

It might be the desert, but there are many streams that flow in the spring, fall and winter.  (Courtesy Boise  ATV Trail Riders)

Hi all,

We've just added two new rides to the www.stayontrails.com web site, which now features 41 ATV and motorbike rides on our where-to-ride page. Each ride has a detailed description and map, and some have photos and video.

All of the rides come recommended from the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation and local OHV clubs.

The latest additions to the ride list -- two rides in the Owyhee Mountains -- come from the Treasure Valley Trail Machine Association (TVTMA). Many thanks to club officers Steve Frisbie and Mark Weaver for providing the base maps and details about these rides.

TVTMA has a fun run each spring, typically in May. Watch their web site for the timing and details on next year's ride. The two rides featured on stayontrails.com came from the 2010 Fun Runs.

The ATV Fun Run course is approximately 30 miles long. Here's the trip map. The ride starts and finishes by the Chalky Butte Trailhead in the Owyhee Front, near Hemingway Butte.

The Motorbike Fun Run course is 27.5 miles long. Here's the trip map. The ride starts and finishes by the Diamond Basin Corrals Trailhead, accessed from the road to Silver City near Murphy.

Both of these rides are meant to provide an introduction to riding OHVs on the front side of the Owyhee Mountains. These are literally hundreds miles of trails in the front side of the Owyhees, and several different trailheads to use, including Rabbit Creek, Chalky Butte, Fossil Butte and Kane Springs.

To see a big-picture view of the trails in the Owyhee Front, check out the BLM map.

The best time to ride these trails is in the fall, winter and spring. So when you're itching to get out on a ride, and the trails are still snowbound in your neck of the woods, consider traveling to the Owyhees to get an early start on your riding season in the springtime. You can camp at the trailheads, or you could stay in Nampa or Boise.

Beyond the rides we offer on stayontrails.com, be sure to check out IDPR's interactive trail site for OHV riders to research new trails to check out statewide.

In other Idaho OHV news, the BLM Challis Field Office, in partnership with the Great Basin Institute and IDPR, won the 2012 Coalition for Recreational Trails Award for the Lombard Trail Project, located in Land of the Yankee Fork State Park. This is great news, and a very deserving project. Thanks to the Boise ATV Trail Riders for providing a write up on the award.

Here's a YouTube video of the Lombard Trail -- it's open to motorbikes and ATVs, and it takes you from the state park entrance area south of Challis to the mountains high above the valley and connects to the mines around the ghost town of Bayhorse nearby. It's a super-cool ride.

Save the date: The annual Ride to Bayhorse ATV event in Challis is set for Aug. 17-19 this year. See this link for more details. Here's a chance to experience the Lombard Trail, Bayhorse, Land of the Yankee Fork State Park, and tons of other motorbike and ATV trails in the vicinity.

Have fun and ride safe!
- SS