The use of earth or aggregate surfaces for forest roads has persisted as a result of the low initial cost of crushed aggregates. In recent years, the shortage of crushed aggregates and the long hauls associated with their use have resulted in higher costs for quality aggregates in many parts of the country. The possible use of more economical, unique materials for surfacing forest roads is investigated. A discussion is presented of the necessary background information needed to identify and evaluate the alternate surfacing systems. Guidelines are provided of the applicability of each surfacing system for specific areas and situations. The alternate systems considered include those that are (a) capable of being moved as the hauling or mining activity moves, (b) low-cost materials compared to good-quality aggregates, (c) marginal materials that have relatively short lives but satisfy the project life, and (d) materials that are available in the desired areas to reduce construction costs. A comprehensive market review and literature search, and the construction of demonstration projects were undertaken to evaluate various alternate materials for surfacing forest roads. Potential surfacing types and methods included biodegradable materials (wood and bark chips), chemical stabilization, geotextiles, marginal aggregates, sand-sealed subgrade, metal mats, reusable aggregates, a membrane-encapsulated soil layer, and geoweb stabilization. The results of this research indicate that several of these alternate surfacings can perform satisfactorily and be cost-effective. The most viable alternates include a) wood and bark chips, a) chemical stabilization, c) marginal aggregates, d) reusable aggregates with or without inexpensive geotextiles, e) a sand-sealed membrane, and f) steel mats for emergency situations and short projects.