Roadless Areas
On June 23, 2025, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins announced the intent to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule. That rule established prohibitions on road construction, road reconstruction and timber harvests on nearly 59 million acres of national forests and grasslands.
What is next?
This action will require a notice of proposed rulemaking and final rule. This includes preparation of an environmental analysis, compliance with the Endangered Species Act, tribal consultation and coordination with affected states. There will be several opportunities for the public to provide input during the rulemaking process.
We will provide more information as the process gets underway.
Information about the federal regulatory process is available at Regulations.gov.
The 2001 Roadless Rule establishes prohibitions on road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvesting on 58.5 million acres of inventoried roadless areas on National Forest System lands. The intent of the 2001 Roadless Rule is to provide lasting protection for inventoried roadless areas within the National Forest System in the context of multiple-use management.
Maps
8 X 11 Map (PDF, 1.13 MB)
11 X 17 Map (PDF, 1.89 MB)
11 X 17 Map, Detailed (PDF, 6.23 MB)
Maps Created for and/or Used for Roadless Area Conservation Project as of 11/13/2001
*Two states, Idaho and Colorado, have adopted state roadless area rules, and the roadless area boundaries adopted in those rules supersede the boundaries from the 2001 Roadless Rule in those states. Alaska roadless area rules are pending.
Map Service for Inventoried Roadless Areas designated by the 2001 Roadless Rule
Map Service for Inventoried Roadless Areas designated by the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, 2008 Idaho Roadless Rule, and 2012 Colorado Roadless Rule
Metadata
Metadata for National Forest System Inventoried Roadless Areas boundary coverage for the lower 48 in HTML format
Metadata for National Forest System boundary coverage for the lower 48 in HTML Format
Metadata for National Forest System boundary coverage for Alaska in HTML Format
Metadata for the Outer National Forest System Administrative boundary coverage for Alaska in HTML Format
Export Files
Inventoried Roadless Area data in XML format. Updated 10/03/2023
Zipped Shapefile containing Inventoried Roadless Area data. Updated 10/03/2023
Zipped Arc/INFO export file (ZIP, 456 KB) containing Outer National Forest System Administrative Boundary data for Alaska
Zipped Arc/INFO export file (ZIP, 16 MB) containing National Forest System Boundary data for the Alaska
Zipped Arc/INFO export file (ZIP, 15 MB) containing National Forest System Boundary data for the the lower 48 states
Ambient Population Distribution with Inventoried Roadless Areas within National Forest System Lands (PDF, 1.8 MB)
Relative Risk from Catastrophic Fire National Map (PDF, 1.9 MB)
Ambient Population Distribution within 1 and 5 Miles of Inventoried Roadless Areas on National Forest System Lands (PDF, 2.6 MB)
Roadless Rule Litigation
September 20, 2017 - DC Court Favorable Ruling State of Alaska v. USDA (PDF, 7.64 MB)
May 16, 2012 - Colorado Mining Association Petition to the Supreme Court (PDF, 158 KB)
May 15, 2012 - Wyoming Petition to the Supreme Court (PDF, 135 KB)
March 1, 2012 - Wyoming District Court Order Lifting Injunction (PDF, 49 KB)
March 1, 2012 - Wyoming District Court Order Lifting Injunction 2 (PDF, 49 KB)
February 16, 2012 - Wyoming En Banc Review (PDF, 60 KB)
December 5, 2011 - Wyoming Request for En Banc Review (PDF, 222 KB)
October 21, 2011 - 10th Circuit Vacating Wyoming Decision (PDF, 264 KB)
March 4, 2011 - Tongass Exemption Vacated Order (PDF, 86 KB)
June 15, 2009 - Wyoming Roadless Reconsideration Denial (PDF, 58 KB)
August 12, 2008 - Judge Brimmer's 8/12/08 Judgement (PDF, 532 KB)
August 18, 2008 - WO Letter (PDF, 106 KB)
August 20, 2008 - Federal Motion filed in California (PDF, 33 KB)
August 20, 2008 - Federal Motion Filed in Wyoming (PDF, 36 KB)
Idaho Roadless Rule Litigation
January 29, 2011 - Judgement on Idaho Roadless Rule (PDF, 90 KB)
Roadless Archives
Secretary's Memorandum 1042-156
May 30, 2011: Secretary's Memorandum 1042-156 - Authority to Approve Road Construction and Timber Harvesting In Certain Lands Administered by the Forest Service (PDF, 87 KB)
June 10, 2011: Letter to Field: Secretary's Re-delegation of Authority for Certain Activities in Inventoried Roadless Area (PDF, 15 KB)
Secretary's Memorandum 1042-155
May 28, 2010: Secretary's Memorandum 1042-155 - Authority to Approve Road Construction and Timber Harvesting in Certain Lands Administered by the Forest Service (PDF, 18 KB)
June 18, 2010: Letter to Field: Secretary's Re-delegation of Authority for Certain Activities in Inventoried Roadless Areas (PDF, 583 KB)
Secretary's Memorandum 1042-154
May 28, 2009: Secretary's Memorandum 1042-154 - Authority to Approve Road Construction and Timber Harvesting in Certain Lands Administered by the Forest Service (PDF, 9 KB)
August 3, 2009: Activities in Inventoried Roadless Areas (PDF, 14 KB)
October 16, 2009: Activities in Inventoried Roadless Areas (PDF, 219 KB)
News Releases
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Finalizes Colorado Roadless Rule - July 3, 2012 (PDF, 113 KB)
Final Public Comment Period Comes to a Close for the Colorado Roadless Rule - July 14, 2011 (PDF, 115 KB)
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Proposed Colorado Roadless Rule - April 14, 2011 (PDF, 71 KB)
Forest Service Proposes to Make Administrative Corrections to Idaho Roadless Rule - Sept. 8, 2010 (PDF, 56 KB)
Statement From Agriculture Secretary Vilsack on Colorado Roadless Petition - April 6, 2010 (PDF, 28 KB)
USDA Sec. Vilsack Announces Interim Directive - May 28, 2009 (PDF, 62 KB)
USDA Accepts First 3 State Petitions for Cons. Roadless Areas - June 21, 2006 (PDF, 67 KB)
Idaho Receives Financial Assistance from USFS - Dec. 20, 2005 (PDF, 66 KB)
Colorado Receives Financial Assistance from USFS - Sept. 8, 2005 (PDF, 66 KB)
Forest Service Extends Timeframe for Public to Comment - Sept. 8, 2004 (PDF, 45 KB)
Veneman Acts to Conserve Roadless Areas - July 12, 2004 (PDF, 68 KB)
Roadless Protection Finalized for Tongass NF - Dec. 23, 2003 (PDF, 11 KB)
USDA Retains NFs Roadless Area Conservation Rule - June 9, 2003 (PDF, 51 KB)
USDA Moves Forward to Protect Roadless Areas - July 6, 2001 (PDF, 40 KB)
Chief Directs Leadership to Uphold Roadless Values - June 7, 2001 (PDF, 75 KB)
USDA to Move Forward with Responsible Process - May 10, 2001 (PDF, 39 KB)
USDA Upholds Roadless Protections Rule - May 4, 2001 (PDF, 43 KB)
Forest Service Offers Preferred Plan for Protecting Roadless Areas in National Forests - Nov. 13, 2000 (PDF, 39 KB)
Glickman Proposes National Strategy to Protect Roadless Areas in National Forests - May 9, 2000 (PDF, 58 KB)
Forest Service Releases Proposal for Future Management of Roadless Areas - May 9, 2000 (PDF, 39 KB)
Forest Service Announces Opportunity to Order Roadless Proposed Rule/DEIS - Mar. 15, 2000 (PDF, 37 KB)
Forest Service Announces Information and Comment Opportunities on Roadless Proposal - Dec. 01, 1999 (PDF, 15 KB)