The Hidden Trails of Alaska — RS 2477 Rights of Way
RS 2477 preserves historic access across federal land. Most mapping apps ignore these corridors. Here’s why they matter.
RS 2477 is a provision of the 1866 Mining Act that preserved "the right-of-way for the construction of highways over public lands." In Alaska, that means historic trails, winter routes, and access corridors that predate modern land management.
Why they matter. These routes are legally protected public access. They cross federal land, connect communities, and often form the only overland path to hunting grounds or cabins. Snowmachiners, hunters, and subsistence users depend on them.
Why maps miss them. Most apps use OpenStreetMap or similar sources. RS 2477 routes are rarely in OSM. BLM and state data exist but aren’t integrated into consumer mapping. The result: a blank map where a vital corridor actually exists.
TrueTopo’s approach. We’re ingesting RS 2477 data from BLM and DNR, normalizing geometries, and serving them as a dedicated layer. Combined with 17(b) easements and state trails, we’re building the first backcountry access map that reflects Alaska’s real access network.