Moab, Utah is an iconic and popular off-road riding and outdoor recreation destination that is in jeopardy of having 437 miles of trails closed to off-road use. The BlueRibbon Coalition and ARRA (American for Responsible Recreational Access) are urging off-road enthusiasts to submit a public comment by October 7, 2022. You can comment via the BlueRibbon Coalition website here.
Below is a post from the ARRA website regarding the possible closure and how you can help.
As a result of the Settlement Agreement in Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance et al. v. U.S. Department of Interior et al., the Travel Management Plan (TMP) of the Labyrinth Rims/Gemini Bridges Special Recreation Management Area is now underway. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Moab Field Office opened the comment period on September 7th and closes on October 7th for the public to provide feedback on a draft travel management plan for the Labyrinth Rims/Gemini Bridges Travel Management Area. ARRA members took action and submitted their comments to the BLM Moab Field Office that supports Alternative A in the draft TMP for the Labyrinth Rims/Gemini Bridges area.
The TMP will decide the fate of some of Moab’s most famous motorized trails and could close as much as 40% of what is currently open to motorized use (including the Gold Bar Rim 4WD Trail and the Dead Cow motorcycle loop).
The environmental assessment for the travel management plan analyzes what types of vehicles can access which roads and explores seasonal restrictions within the travel management area. The travel management area encompasses 303,993 acres of public land in Grand County, Utah, and includes approximately 1,127 miles of motorized routes on BLM-managed public lands. The travel management plan is intended to analyze the utility and usefulness of existing routes, not limit access to the area. Routes are being analyzed for visitor needs, impacts on natural and cultural resources, and other values. For specific alternatives information and maps, visit the BLM’s ePlanning website.
“Public comments are an important part of land management, and by providing comments during a public comment period, you become an important partner in the effort to keep public lands open for responsible recreation,” said Danielle McNiven, Assistant Director, Tread Lightly!, Inc. Tread Lightly is one of many groups that guided to assist their members, partners, and the off-road community in ensuring their comments will be considered substantive. The groups submitting comments included: Ride with Respect, Trails Preservation Alliance, Colorado Off-Road Enterprise, and the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVC).
