WHERE THE PAVEMENT ENDS: Do�s and Don�ts of Driving in the Outdoors

Truck, SUV, and ATV owners are hitting the backcountry roads by the millions. But without a code of ethics, the environment can be seriously damaged.

With the explosion of off-highway vehicle sales in the last few years, more and more Americans are wanting to take their SUVs and trucks out to scale more than just their office parking garage.

Four wheeling in the backcountry can be a great way to bond with nature and the family, but it can have a damaging effect on the environment if not done responsibly. The need for this type of education has become greater since the US Forest Service�s recent proposal to close all motorized recreation to trails clearly designated for motorized use.

The national nonprofit organization called Tread Lightly! provides some practical tips to minimize impact on the outdoors while driving off-highway.

STAY ON DESIGNATED ROADS AND TRAILS: Drive only on trails designated for off-highway vehicle (OHV) use. Never make your own shortcuts, switchbacks or trails. To find OHV trails, contact your local land management agency�like the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management or National Park Service.

RIDE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRAIL: Always ride in the middle of the trail to avoid widening it and destroying vegetation along the roadside.

CROSS STREAMS ONLY AT FORDING POINTS: If you must cross a stream, do so only at trail fording points (usually where the trail crosses the water). Cross slowly and at a 90-degree angle.

DON’T CROSS PRIVATE LAND WITHOUT PERMISSION: Always contact the landowner for permission to cross private land.

CROSS OBSTACLES AT AN ANGLE: You may come upon obstacles on a trail, such as fallen trees. Driving around them can destroy vegetation surrounding the trail, so sometimes it�s best to move the object or drive over it. Cross obstacles at an angle, one wheel at a time.

IF POSSIBLE, DON’T RIDE IN MUD: If you can, avoid mud or soft soil while remaining on the road or trail.

PLAN AND PREPARE BEFORE YOU GO: Obtain a map and contact your local land management agency to develop a route that is safe, legal and within the limitations of your vehicle.

DON’T LITTER ON THE TRAIL: Leave the area a little better than how you found it by picking up your trash and others�.

For more information on ways to minimize outdoor impacts, Tread Lightly! can be reached at www.treadlightly.org or by calling (800) 966-9900.