Feds Shut Down A Third Of All Moab Off-Road Trails

BLM or the Bureau of Land Management is restricting vehicle access to 317 miles of trails in Moab, including some locations that were used for the Easter Jeep Safari

A new plan from the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will close down 317 miles (510 km) of off-roading trails near Moab, Utah. The closures will take place on Saturday, October 28, and has led to uproar from the off-roading community.

A destination for enthusiasts, it is the site of the Easter Jeep Safari, and the area is home to a number of companies that offer off-road expeditions to tourists. Currently, before the closures take place, there are 1,057 miles (1,701 km) of off-highway routes in the area.

However, the trail situation has been referred to as a “free-for-all” by environmental activists, who point out that delicate ecosystems in the area are suffering from all of the activity that is occurring on the trails, especially in recent years, as the off-roading hobby has become more popular.

Although the trail closures are being enforced by the BLM, the Utah Wilderness Alliance has been the champion for this cause, per The Drive. The group filed a lawsuit against the government organization in 2008 for improperly managing the access to federal lands in Utah. As part of a 2017 settlement, the BLM agreed to revise and enforce new plans for the trails, with a focus on protecting wildlife habitats, sensitive ecosystems, and cultural resources.

This decision is a result of that settlement, and will see routes along the Labyrinth Canyon and Gemini Bridges areas close. That means that it will no longer be legal to use some trails traversed during the Easter Jeep Safari, as well as some routes to campsites. However, the BLM has preserved routes that see heavy and frequent use, such as the Hell Roaring Rim.

In all, 317 miles of roads and trails are being closed to all motor vehicles, while another 18 miles are being closed off to trucks, leaving 712 miles of OHV routes that off-roaders can use. While that’s still a lot of trails, off-roaders are despondent.

“This travel plan is the worst defeat motorized recreation has suffered in decades. SUWA won. Moab is lost. Almost every major trail west of Moab is closed,” Patrick McKay, a member of the Off-Road Trail Defenders wrote on Facebook.

The Blue Ribbon Coalition, a group that represents off-roaders, said it would challenge the BLM’s decision in court, pressure congress to step in, publish op-eds, fight for wider support, and to patronize lesser used trails in order to stop them from being closed due to disuse.

https://www.carscoops.com/2023...ls-sparking-outrage/

Wait! Whoa! Somebody might be having fun, let's make it illegal! Let's make it the personal playground for the granola crunching, kum-by-ya singing, REI dividend seeking members of the Sierra Club. Fuck them with a naturally sourced, free from conflict water, gender neutral barrel cactus.

Who do they think discovered these areas, developed and mapped the trails? Jeepers, that's who. I've been out 4 wheeling before in Moab and had a blast. We've also had run-ins with ashole mountain bikers thinking that they had some God given right to be the only ones entitled to be out there.

That’s total bullshit. The town was made by off-road vehicle recreation. People need a place to have fun and locking the gate on that tiny speck on the map of Utah won’t make a gnats ass difference in saving the world. The fuckers pushing the closures sit around in Patagonia vests sipping coffee in town while hating everyone who actually recreates out in the wilderness. Let’s see how Moab fairs after all of the rest of the trails are made guide only, single file, spirit busters. The area is a very scenic wasteland that without vehicles can’t be truly appreciated by the average Joe. People matter too.
I am again curious about the big project to remove millions of tons of uranium mine tailings from a site just outside of Moab. I wonder if this has anything to do with the closure?
An edit here to include the question of what is this going to do to the traffic on the remaining trails? I see the increased traffic causing “destruction” that will “necessitate” more regulation of the remains trails.

I was in Utah the past June, mostly on-road motorcycle riding. Yeah, BLM land is the one with the fewest restrictions, normally. The minions behind Brandon are constantly looking to see how they can curb things through regulation. When they are in charge, they use the Gov’t to achieve lefty goals.

Most of BLM land is close to a desert wasteland, like the ‘forbidden zone’ on Planet of the Apes. Of course beautiful in its own way.

I’m reminded of some Federal forest land in the U.P. of MI. About 15 years ago they started writing tickets to those riding ATVs on the gravel service roads. Mind you these roads often averaged less than one vehicle of any type every 30 minutes. It never really effected me, but I had a distant contact who got a ticket. I called the Forest Service office to discuss. He had 2 canned answers, the 1st was, ‘a mix of vehicle types could be dangerous’. The 2nd was, if I didn’t like it, send comments to the Wash D.C. forest service headquarters.

This is also at the same time many States and small towns were easing restrictions with ATVs and UTVs using streets & roads around town.

quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:
Who do they think discovered these areas, developed and mapped the trails? Jeepers, that's who.

The problem is, and I'm not painting all off-roaders with the same wide brush, those who treat such areas with contempt.

If you're much of an off-roader you've probably heard of Townsend Cave in Kentucky. Well, James Townsend was an ancestor of one of my best friends' mother. In 2011 my wife and I were invited to join a family pilgrimage to visit the site.

Imagine my disgust when I looked up at the ledges inside the cave to find them littered with hundreds of empty beer cans

On our three-mile hike back up from the cave several of us collected litter. Each of us filled and deposited on the side of the trail one or two trash bags each. (An off-roader told us if we filled 'em, somebody would be along to pick 'em up.)

So, while I'd normally be inclined to agree with you, and I'm most definitely not a tree-hugger, I also empathize with the objections some raise.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:The problem is, and I'm not painting all off-roaders with the same wide brush, those who treat such areas with contempt.

Unfortunately, true. I have no idea what the percentage is, but there are enough bubbas out there to create examples for the enviro whackos to latch on to. BTW: I have a SxS and a quad and ride all the time.

How about all the homeless camps and rv cities popping up all over the US. Going out on to the BLM, Forest service along with our cities and communities and the like. Peopling shitting all over. garbage everywhere. Obvious signs of drug use, etc. Maybe the feds and gov. should be looking to solve this ecological disaster that is 10,000 times worse. More bullshit.

To be honest, I'm surprised it took them so long to do this.

Thirty-some years ago the Clinton regime began gating off roads around these parts. Used to be a few thousand miles of accessible roads in this country. If your truck could get there, you could go. Then, for the protection of wildlife (which, of course, didn't need protecting, as 100 years of access proved), they began gating them off. Now, many/most of them can only be accessed on foot. That, coupled with leftist policies of our Fish and Game, have completely screwed up game populations, increased disease (CWD), and limited access for hunters.

The left destroys everything it touches.

I mountain biked slick rock the week after I got back from Desert Storm. I believe that was May 1991. Moab was a quiet, peaceful little town. I was down there recently and it looked like a run-through hooker. I’m not so sure that a little moderation isn’t necessary before it’s completely gone. I don’t know what the answer is, but I’m not inclined to knee-jerk howl at all attempts at conservation.

Yes, I agree that there are probably a few bad apples that spoil it for all. Those who litter, or won’t stay on designated trails. It’s the same type of people who leave literal piles of shit and trash on the shoreline at Lake Powell because they’re too lazy to bring a latrine. Or shooters who drag used TVs up to BLM land, shoot them up, and then leave all the trash and glass right there. Those assholes are why the BLM puts up “no shooting” signs. These people are the real problem. They fuel the activism.

This has been going on for 25 years.
My guess would be
( from past experiance)

16 irresponsible ,asshat, shit4brains wheelers, went places, did bad stuff , much damage, maybe even too themselves or others.

Total strangers took pictures, documented said damage,
and contacted the feds in charge,
They in turn did a study gathered additional information and
made the decision.

Short answer , the few spoiled it for the many.

It's America's new motto,
It will be replacing "In God We Trust" on
Money.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
How about all the homeless camps and rv cities popping up all over the US. Going out on to the BLM, Forest service along with our cities and communities and the like. Peopling shitting all over. garbage everywhere. Obvious signs of drug use, etc. Maybe the feds and gov. should be looking to solve this ecological disaster that is 10,000 times worse. More bullshit.

This is a very good point!

I’ve never been, but read on another forum

“If you’ve never been to Moab, it’s pretty much
a Mad Max movie…except everyone in the cast is obese.”

Sounds like a hoot

I do not appreciate the bad apples BUT people have to be allowed some place to recreate. It won’t be prestine and quiet but there are already PLENTY of places that are and will never be tread by a tire. I don’t think it’s a big deal if a pile rocks looks different next week or next millennia. That is the purpose the Moab area has served for quite some time.
Ride your Jeep or UTV around Moab and visit the four surrounding parks that are mostly off limits to tires. All the while spending lots of money with the local economy that clearly enjoys sticking it to tourist.
I have no doubt the increased traffic on the open trails will bring fees, permits and reservations. Then everyone can just enjoy sitting on their ass watching it on television like it’s just a dream.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: jed7s9b,

quote:

Originally posted by jed7s9b:
I do not appreciate the bad apples BUT people have to be allowed some place to recreate. It won’t be prestine and quiet but there are already PLENTY of places that are and will never be tread by a tire. I don’t think it’s a big deal if a pile rocks looks different next week or next millennia. That is the purpose the Moab area has served for quite some time.
Ride your Jeep or UTV around Moab and visit the four surrounding parks that are mostly off limits to tires. All the while spending lots of money with the local economy that clearly enjoys sticking it to tourist.
I have no doubt the increased traffic on the open trails will bring fees, permits and reservations. Then everyone can just enjoy sitting on their ass watching it on television like it’s just a dream.

How about the Off Roading community start enforcing some standards of Behavior. As in don't damage private property and quit leaving your trash wherever you happen to be. If you see someone throw a beer can out the window then box them in and remove their wheel nuts and tell them they'll be 5 miles down the trail. Because if you don't start acting with some consideration for the effect of what the general public sees, something like using a golf course for a race track, your activity will get banned.

^^^THAT behavior could get you shot, and/or arrested...Maybe talk to/shame them into seeing the errors of their ways, and posting pics/videos on public forums of the 'bad apples' that don't/won't conform to standards of good behavior would be a better path to take!

quote:

Originally posted by Scooter123:

quote:

Originally posted by jed7s9b:
I do not appreciate the bad apples BUT people have to be allowed some place to recreate. It won’t be prestine and quiet but there are already PLENTY of places that are and will never be tread by a tire. I don’t think it’s a big deal if a pile rocks looks different next week or next millennia. That is the purpose the Moab area has served for quite some time.
Ride your Jeep or UTV around Moab and visit the four surrounding parks that are mostly off limits to tires. All the while spending lots of money with the local economy that clearly enjoys sticking it to tourist.
I have no doubt the increased traffic on the open trails will bring fees, permits and reservations. Then everyone can just enjoy sitting on their ass watching it on television like it’s just a dream.

How about the Off Roading community start enforcing some standards of Behavior. As in don't damage private property and quit leaving your trash wherever you happen to be. If you see someone throw a beer can out the window then box them in and remove their wheel nuts and tell them they'll be 5 miles down the trail. Because if you don't start acting with some consideration for the effect of what the general public sees, something like using a golf course for a race track, your activity will get banned.

Here the problem is not the people in the off-road COMMUNITY.
It’s the folks that go out there on their own and aren’t a part of the community. The folks in the community here which includes the area ensigmatic posted about are pretty conscious about leaving things in good shape and have big clean up rides a couple times a year.

I also instill this in my kids. We go fishing we walk the banks when we are done and collect trash. We go off-roading we pick up trash.

'Leave it Better than you found it'...

I don't know how to respond. OK, PARA won't like this because its political. Here's what you can do. Don't vote for democrats, ever. They're rotten bastards.

I probably have more time off road time in Moab than anyone else here. I led Hells Revenge trail for 35 years. Yeah, a real off roader in our midst.

A lot of the trails closed were very sparsely used. I'd guess none of the folks closing them have ever been off road. Also those complaining about it haven't even been in a jeep, or off road. Its the principle of others having fun that they can't stand. Probably most of those here haven't been to Moab either. Part of the problem is outsiders bitching on the principle of it. This is a gun forum, and I'd venture a guess that we'd be better off shooting the bastards.

The freedom of going where we want is the principle mostly being argued here. Probably none of those posting will ever spend the $60 thousand for the jeep and more fixing it up to go. Jeeping ain't cheap. Trust me, I know.

When I used to go spelunking the Motto was,
"Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints"

I hear almost every excuse to close areas. Birds nesting is a classic. My point is that area is perfect for off-roading and has been exceeding popular for a long time. It’s a scenic wasteland not an old growth forest. Sand and rocks. Why can’t we just let folks continue to enjoy the place for that purpose? Yes it will cause some dreamed up damage to a wasteland but the wasteland will carry on. I see it as a dick swinging and run up to a fee system.