I was thinking of heading out there in a couple years when I retire to do some wheeling and camping. I wonder if they'll have the whole thing restricted by then.

Feds Closing 317 Miles of Truck Trails Around Moab, and Off-Roaders Are Livid

They will keep closing down trails every chance they get. Lots of reasons, but over use and lack of good care by users is probably the biggest reasons. My Grand kids won't be able to even see it except with a reservation on a tourist bus.

This has less to do about protecting the environment and more about control.

BLM has been in a lot of news cycles by closing down and restricting all types of activities on public land, especially drilling.

We’ve all been hearing g about “equity” also. Equity is not equality. Equality is leveling playing field so folks all start at same point. Equity is everyone having the same results. It doesn’t work.

Since a lot of folks don’t have access to off road vehicles to enjoy Moab, then no one is going to enjoy it.

That’s equity. Elections have consequences.


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Sad to hear this. Thankful I got to visit once and do a few mild runs in my 4th gen.

That being said, the “clientele” that was in Moab is a mixed bag when we were there. When we were there, it was overrun with Side-by-sides, 4wheelers, dirt bikes, and people that didn’t seem to be caring for the trails or “leaving no trace”


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Unfortunately, this is a lose-lose proposition, either way it sucks.

Closures suck. And so does blatant, wide spread abuse by a certain type of driver who only care about themselves. too many of those around Moab and Ouray.

Specifically, UTVs and ATVs ruined a lot of places cause they are being driven like there is no tomorrow.

I would much rather see "street legal only" limitations but it is easier to just close. Closing over 30% sure sounds a bit much.

I immediately checked Mineral Bottom because that made no sense to me, the road is open. Maybe they closed a side section going opposite of CNR/White Rim Road.

Hey Joe canyon, meh, that had become a hardcore trail that can take the sides off your vehicle anyway. But if they closed the access trail down to the river, that would be a big loss indeed.

And so on...

The main trails affected are these ones: Labyrinth Rims and Gemini Bridges BLM closure - FunTreks

The change to Hidden Canyon is irrelevant to that trail though if they closed what I suppose that they did, it was a nice dirt road with some minor water crossing. No idea if that is what they closed.
I cannot picture the change to Deadman Point but I do hope they left at least one of the major overlooks open, those are great.
Mashed Patatoes: that closure will irk hardcore folks, for sure
Bull Canyon, as long as portions of both rays remain accessible, that's not a big deal but I fear they closed a short fun section on the left. Hard to tell, it has been 10 years since I drove that (in my Outback, ha!)

Overall, doubt that more than like two dozen folks total in 4R will feel the changes. Jeepers will indeed be livid about Hey Joe and Mashed Patatoes but the rest are minor changes.

So hard to tell what the impact on lesser known trails is. EIther away the mileage affected is huge which may force even more overcrowding elsewhere, leading to even more closures....