Living next to or within a National Forest offer many benefits. Landowners with property inside a National Forest boundary are legally entitled to access that allows for “reasonable use and enjoyment” of their property and first a permit or easement is necessary to construct driveways or new roads across federal lands. The Forest Service determines the terms of such access in a manner that will best protect natural resources, the public interest, and the agency’s management options. If the private property is adjacent to the boundary of the National Forest, a
request for the construction of an access road across federal lands will be considered only if no other access exists, and the request is in the public’s best interests.

If you desire authorization to construct a driveway across National Forest lands, your primary costs will
be in construction, because roads on public lands must conform to Forest Service (and possibly County) standards, and the landowner must pay engineering costs. If you wish to use an existing Forest Service road, it may require reconstruction to handle new types of access. Click HERE to learn more.