BLM closes 1/3 of Moab OHV trails to OHVs and e-bikes

Side by sides (UTVs) are an insane problem in Moab. Out of state wilderness activists are also a problem.

BLM used a nuclear bomb instead of a scalpel.

Mass closure is not land management.

This is a pretty well written article about what BLM decided and why.

https://cleantechnica.com/2023/09/30...-nest-in-moab/

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There’s no other way to say this. 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, including Day Canyon Point, Hey Joe Canyon, Mashed Potatoes, Ten Mile Canyon, Hell Roaring Canyon, Mineral Canyon, Hidden Canyon, 7-Up, two of the three overlooks on Deadman Point, and many more. Poison Spider, Golden Spike, 7 Mile Rim, 3D, Buttes and Towers, Hell Roaring Rim, and Metal Masher will stay open but that’s about it.

All motorized access to the Green River except for county B roads is closed. Most overlooks on the rims of Labyrinth Canyon, 10 Mile Canyon, Taylor Canyon, and South Fork 7 Mile Canyon are closed. For no other reason than the fact the BLM decided to completely reverse course and prioritize non-motorized recreation everywhere there is anything remotely scenic, contrary to the express direction of their own resource management plan. I thought this would be bad, but I never dreamed it would be this bad.

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https://cleantechnica.com/files/2023...osures-Map.png

Damn, that sucks. I was just riding some of those trails a few weeks ago on the moto. Had no idea they were closing. Headed out this weekend to that area. Will be interesting.

That article is written by someone who's completely unfamiliar with how the travel planning process works. This has been in the works for years.

It's ultimately not too surprising. The conflict of having 2 massive national parks directly adjacent to a motorized free-for-all and all of the redneckery that goes along with that was never going to last. It was semi-sustainable when it was mostly ultra specialized jeeps and relatively skilled dirt bikes in the area. But once any half-wit with $25k could get into a side-by-side and go tear-assing around, the end was imminent.

It's a bummer about the loss of access, but some other desert destination that's not so close to national parks will probably capitalize on this.

In the spirit of being only half educated on the issue and pointing the figure at someone else, SxSs are fucking up motorized access everywhere.

Self policing with a bit of enforcement worked good enough for decade. Then these entitled twats showed up and it went mental.

It's a super unsustainable situation everywhere.

Sent from my Turbo 850 Flatbrimed Highhorse

How about a halfwit with $250 to rent one for a day. SxS are minimal skill vehicles to access what used to take a really built up 4x4 with an experienced driver... and the SxS can do it at 5x+ the speed.

But instead of regulating the actual problem children, it is taken away from all.

I thought they were going to hire more people to enforce the regulations. I wonder if this will work, or if they’ll just ignore the rules like many E Bikers?

It's insane that e-bikes were banned from previously motorized trails when e-bikes were never the problem.

I'm not an off roader, but the full closure of existing trails from bikes/e-bikes just seems short sighted. These trails are not going to miraculously recover and because "wilderness" again. I'm all for regulating/banning SxSs from many of the trails, but kicking off all users just seems wrong.

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Originally Posted by Name Redacted

Damn, that sucks. I was just riding some of those trails a few weeks ago on the moto. Had no idea they were closing. Headed out this weekend to that area. Will be interesting.

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it doesn't go into effect right away.

I don't have time to read all that - and that map doesn't tell me a good damn thing - but when this decision happened I got the impression they mainly closed random double track that accessed areas that better, well-used double track also would access too (they closed/eliminated unneeded roads), and the big closure is you can't drive down to Green River except along the White rim - I get that sucks for a bunch of people. Lots of random lookouts and viewpoints were also closed, which I'd bet a lot were created by off-roaders without permission. I'm sure some other major sections are closed to that were well used, legal, and popular, but again that map shouldn't even be posted it's worthless, I can't tell what is what.

I don't think it's as a big deal as off-roaders say, but one of the more intelligent ones need to explain the facts to their peers and to me. All I see in the off-road FB group is dumb knee-jerk reaction about the libs screwing them over. Looks like they took access for granted with no knowledge of the history of the trails, knowing why the decision was made and by whom, that the decision was years in the making, or how it will actually effect them and what trails are closed. So no good info from them, or from that shit article posted above.

"If speed is the issue, limits need to be set and enforced. If going off trail is the problem, those going off trails need to be punished."

Gee, that's such an easy solution! Why didn't anyone think of that before, ya dumbass.

I wasn't under the impression this is a done deal quite yet either, like the Author states.

I can't believe that all the extra SxS's didn't contribute to improved access for everyone. The ebike community has led me to believe that more people and more use = lots of winning on access issues.

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Originally Posted by toast2266

I can't believe that all the extra SxS's didn't contribute to improved access for everyone. The ebike community has led me to believe that more people and more use = lots of winning on access issues.

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So perfect.

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Originally Posted by summit

It's insane that e-bikes were banned from previously motorized trails when e-bikes were never the problem.

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Banning ebikes from former 4x4 routes is definitely going full scorched earth. Not that it will actually stop anyone from doing it, and most of those routes probably aren't great MTB rides anyway.

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Originally Posted by muted reborn

Looks like they took access for granted with no knowledge of the history of the trails, knowing why the decision was made and by whom, that the decision was years in the making, or how it will actually effect them and what trails are closed.

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Probably didn't bother participating in the public comment period(s), either.

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Originally Posted by toast2266

I can't believe that all the extra SxS's didn't contribute to improved access for everyone. The ebike community has led me to believe that more people and more use = lots of winning on access issues.

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Zing!

We both bike and drive in Moab with regularity I'm not sure I have a problem with any of this. I do think the old trails will get overtaken by the desert faster than we think. And it's better than SxSs flying around and people who have no knowledge of how to be in the backcountry breaking down 20 miles from water.

Also, it's a sacred place that should be respected. Right now it isn't.

FWIW

4x4 and motos built most of the trails in the area. It just sucks that SxS poor behavior ruined it. That’s what I think is the most logical reason for the outrage. But yeah, Ive ridden most trails on that map on a dirtbike, mountain bike, and some on a RZR. After closer examination, it really isnt that huge of a loss. I would say 10 mile and Hell Roaring canyon are the biggest losses. I was in 10 mile last week and honestly it kinda sucks for anything but a SxS. I think there are petroglyphs in there that they are worried about though.

went thar & done it pre-covid,

got the riding jersey,

just happy I went before things went in the shitter

So in summary -

They closed roads down to the Green River to preserve riparian zones as river guides and enviros were saying overuse over the years was fucking up the river. They closed a bunch of newer short illegal roads up higher, and a bunch of short sections of old roads that didn't have much use and had other better roads going to the same place anyways. And they closed a bunch of illegal viewpoint dead ends and camping areas on them.

I don't see SxS riders being responsible for all this besides overuse down at the GR, because 99% people out there are motor heads and they aren't complaining to the BLM. Seems like they just tidied up the areas up high and shut down river access due to overuse. I get that some of those areas near the river were popular, but beyond what i wrote, is that all? I don't know much of that area or how exactly the BLM decided what to close, but IMO it doesn't seem like the sky is falling.

I was surprised to see one viewpoint I camp at still marked as open, so they didn't cut all the good dead-end viewpoints that are questionable. Maybe because there was an old mine at the end....ah, I bet that's why. Grandfathered in.

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Originally Posted by toast2266

There were good people......on both sides

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FIFY

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That map is utter shite.

SxS overuse there is a glance into what's going on most everywhere with them and steps that need to be taken, IMO. I do think the SxS's give all motorized users a worse reputation than they had before they became popular. As a former 4x4 off-roader having led trails for club events in and around Moab for several years, I'm actually ok with this decision, knee-jerk as it may be.

SxSs don't really require off-road skills like manning a full-size rig, or even old-school atv's. Most folks that use them don't have the education and training that goes along with it, nor do they adhere to ethics of protecting desert landscapes that many 4x4 clubs routinely teach. Many well-known off-roaders, jeepers and the like have been preaching about this for decades, and warning of trail closures if we, collectively, weren't good stewards of the land. There are bad apples in every bunch but, you can't say we weren't warned this would happen.

I recall the 4x4 mantra, Stay The Trail. It hurts to see once remote trails and canyons getting trashed with no respect for the slow-growing flora and cryptobiotic soils that grow alongside the trails, lack of respect, veering off the trail, fire rings, tp flowers, bullet holes on 'glyphs. People just cannot help themselves and social media has given access to heat maps that highlight where others routinely go, creating more of these spurs and dead-ends, getting fodder for the 'gram. It has gotten out of hand and why I haven't been back to Moab in over a decade.

Perhaps they will reassess access for e-bikes down the road on some trails, but for now it's hit the brakes for a bit, let things heal (this will take time, the desert is painfully slow at regeneration), button things up so to speak and go from there. I don't think it's the end of the world. I am glad I got to wheel 7-mile, Hell Roaring, and so many others back in the day. It's truly a magical place and does need further protection. No way could they just ban SxS though and leave access to everyone else, so I understand the need to use a broad brush at this time.

Yes, it sucks. But also, things have just snowballed to the point something needed to be done, as with most outdoorsy places we love the past 5-10 years.

.02

I'm waiting for Rory Irish to chime in with his opinion. As someone who makes his living from off road recoveries of all types, and given that he knows every inch of Moab, coupled with his extremely vocal LNT/Stay The Trail ethic, I'd give a nod to his views over what my mostly uninformed opinion right off the bat may be from over the border.

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Originally Posted by toast2266

I can't believe that all the extra SxS's didn't contribute to improved access for everyone. The ebike community has led me to believe that more people and more use = lots of winning on access issues.

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So perfect that it deserves another quote.

The parallels between SXSs and mopeds are just so obvious. Even the cultural differences between the new motorized users (mopeders) and OGs (dirtbikers) are similar.

Most trailbuilders use emtbs these days. Every builder i know coast to coast is using emtb's. Emtb's are getting us the most new trails/fact. No idea who is in moab though. No doubt when/if tgese trails reopen emtb will pkay a large part in maintaining them. You'd need some serious blinders to think otherwise

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I don’t think anyone agues against E-mtbs as tools for trail building if allowed by land use. Seems like a great application. Just like how some search and rescue groups use side by sides on trails that are normally closed to them for evacuations. I bet that will keep happening on some of these routes in Moab.

I was riding in Crested Butte last weekend riding a gravel path back into town (lower loop). It’s used by families and older folks so you spin back from other trails gently if you’re in a bike. I had three guys on Yeti E bikes (rentals) riding along at what I assume was full boost come around the corner in front of me. The first guy is out of control and panic grabs a handful of rear brake and lays his bike down side ways. I turned off the trail as avoided getting hit. How many instances like that with hikers before the town decides lower loop is just a walking path?

Same here. Side by sides pushed land mangers to make substantive access changes that impact multiple groups.

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Originally Posted by grinch

Most trailbuilders use emtbs these days. Every builder i know coast to coast is using emtb's. Emtb's are getting us the most new trails/fact. No idea who is in moab though. No doubt when/if tgese trails reopen emtb will pkay a large part in maintaining them. You'd need some serious blinders to think otherwise

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Originally Posted by Tailwind

I don’t think anyone agues against E-mtbs as tools for trail building if allowed by land use. Seems like a great application. Just like how some search and rescue groups use side by sides on trails that are normally closed to them for evacuations. I bet that will keep happening on some of these routes in Moab.

I was riding in Crested Butte last weekend riding a gravel path back into town (lower loop). It’s used by families and older folks so you spin back from other trails gently if you’re in a bike. I had three guys on Yeti E bikes (rentals) riding along at what I assume was full boost come around the corner in front of me. The first guy is out of control and panic grabs a handful of rear brake and lays his bike down side ways. I turned off the trail as avoided getting hit. How many instances like that with hikers before the town decides lower loop is just a walking path?

Same here. Side by sides pushed land mangers to make substantive access changes that impact multiple groups.

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That sounds like our scooter rentoids here.Right out of control. Shaky bars going waay faster than their skills completely obliviiys of the consequences. The older rail trail cruisers on ebikes seem fine. The emtbers on trails are all long time riders. The majority do trail work. After my post i got thinking about friends with trail building companies, then thought of more, then more again, then soms that are now working with other friends companies. Theyre all on emtbs. That doesnt even include the cycling association crews tgat are putting them to use. We should be thankful we have these tools. Im pretty happy i have one for thst reason. Each day i decide a mission that mission could involve a ride to a spot i want to work on. Without the emtb i would do less and i would miss that. I enjoy that maintenance work out in my ride sometimes. Another fun adventure mission. Obviously im not alone

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I suppose it is pretty hard to justify banning side by sides in places where both 4x4s and dirt bikes are legal.

I mean, you could do it, but it would require a lot of bending over backwards and senseless arguments. It would be like saying the lake is open to jet skis and >20’ powerboats, but an 18 footer is simply not allowed in the water.

At least when you are talking about e-bikes you can say “non-motorized, your moped has a motor, so you can’t ride it here”…

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Originally Posted by grinch

Most trailbuilders use emtbs these days. Every builder i know coast to coast is using emtb's. Emtb's are getting us the most new trails/fact. No idea who is in moab though. No doubt when/if tgese trails reopen emtb will pkay a large part in maintaining them. You'd need some serious blinders to think otherwise

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Right...moped riders are going to get out there in Moab and maintain OHV trails. LOL. You're delusional.

Also delusional giving credit to mopeds for building trails. Builders build trails, not mopeds. Builders were out there building trails before mopeds existed, and they would still be out there digging if mopeds disappeared off the face of the earth tomorrow. All mopeds do is make it easier for builders to get to the work site.