BLM Trail Closures near Moab

[AVGeek99]

Looks like the BLM finally released their final decision on trail closures. Let the litigation begin, or continue depending on how you look at it. Not looking to good. Hopefully the plan is blocked during the appeal process. Here's a couple stories.

https://cleantechnica.com/2023/09/30/the-bureau-of-land-management-kicks-a-hornets-nest-in-moab/

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/...popular Green,confluence with the Green River.

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[azjl#3]

Your article goes to a spyware website

 

[AVGeek99]

Hmm... Both links work for me on PC and my phone.

Google "BLM closing trails Moab". These are the first and third links. The second link is a story from last week before the BLM issued the press release of their final decision on Friday.

I was surprised when I saw no one had posted about it here yet. I guess the strategy of releasing the press release late on Friday as described in the Clean Technica story worked. No one noticed.

 

[Friday2322]

No surprise here.... I'm waiting for the same thing to happen in Colorado. Side-by-sides have taken over Jeep rentals and for the last 5 years at least they have gotten more and more popular and the trail roads are torn up, I'm starting to see more trash on the trails and the same morons are going off the trails and creating their own. It will eventually lead to closures where I frequent and I don't blame the government, I blame the lack of education, common sense and respect for the outdoors and others in the the side-by-side crowd. Not all of them, but a lot of them are the problem.

 

[Red Dirt]

Looks like the BLM finally released their final decision on trail closures. Let the litigation begin, or continue depending on how you look at it. Not looking to good. Hopefully the plan is blocked during the appeal process. Here's a couple stories.

https://cleantechnica.com/2023/09/30/the-bureau-of-land-management-kicks-a-hornets-nest-in-moab/

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/blms-labyrinth-rims-travel-plan-closes-28-of-ohv-routes/#:~:text=Under the plan, popular Green,confluence with the Green River.

 

[Ruby Mike]

Be warned. SWUA has only started. From what I know, which is limited, this group only considers this as a starting point. If you look at their website, the intent is pretty clear. Please understand what we are up against.

 

[AVGeek99]

Give an inch, they'll take a mile. This doesn't stop until all trails are closed. It's sickening.

 

[Deki]

SxS are the problem. Look at how they drive on every trail they are on. All they do is just give it gas at the slightest inconvenience and they rut up every single trail. Back Way to Crow King is a prime example. in 2016 I made it up with a full size Ram with just a leveling kit and bigger tires, now the road is so torn up, and not from the rains and snow, that Jeeps with 35s have trouble in some spots.

 

[Ruby Mike]

Give an inch, they'll take a mile. This doesn't stop until all trails are closed. It's sickening.

The issue is much broader than 4x4, motorcycle and ATV/SXS access. If you look at the BLM order, even bycles are can not use the area. The issues with SUWA and mechanized access goes back decades. From what I have seen, this group won't be happy until the entire southern Utah is wilderness, national moment or national park. As you said, give an inch, take a mile.

Edit: please remember SUWA isn't the only group dedicated to closing public lands to mechanized use. Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity and a slew more well funded groups are ready to run us off public lands. We have the BRC with us, but that's about it. Unless we, the off-road community get our collective butts together and not simply sit back and do little or nothing, expect more closures.

 

[Sublime]

Right now the best thing that can be done is financial support for lawsuits to try and limit the damage to off-road enthusiasts. SUWA and their crowd are well-funded. We need to step up too.

 

[jeep1]

Having just gotten back from Moab, the local "Jeepers"are pretty vocal about the damage the SXS are causing and it's pretty obvious. Trails that were once one jeep wide are now wide enough for a bus. Huge embankments where the SXS are running at high speed and obvious damage everywhere where people have just ignored the trails and made their own routes.

SxS's aren't solely to blame but the sheer number of them and the relatively lack of experience of the drivers is astounding.

Sadly, it's a political battle with the local politicians worried more about tourism and the money that SXS rentals bring in than trails being closed........

 

[driventoadventure]

SxS are the problem. Look at how they drive on every trail they are on. All they do is just give it gas at the slightest inconvenience and they rut up every single trail. Back Way to Crow King is a prime example. in 2016 I made it up with a full size Ram with just a leveling kit and bigger tires, now the road is so torn up, and not from the rains and snow, that Jeeps with 35s have trouble in some spots.

I 100% agree with you on that, but as was pointed out to me Wednesday night - this club has been trying to do this for about 3 decades now, and are even trying to get Mountain Bikes banned... This isn't about protecting the environment like it should be (and to which I would say yes let's just make this area restricted or require training to go there etc).

FWIW, the 4wd club I am in mentioned that supporting the Blue-Ribbon Coalition in their fight to stop this is a good way to help... https://www.sharetrails.org/the-brc...actions-you-can-take-to-fight-for-our-trails/

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