What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

BLM land use study for Moab area

ZooMad75

ZooMad75

#crawlabago
Staff member
Moderator
GMOTM Winner
Joined
Apr 5, 2003
Posts
11,321
Reaction score
27,932
Location
Arvada, CO
@Fastereddie had posted this last week in the land use section, but we need more eyes to see it.

The BLM is reviewing closing the area that encompasses the Gemini Bridges trail. Over 300,000 acres of our public land which includes 1,127 miles of trails within it.

The meeting is at 5:00 local Moab time and can be watched remotely. Comments will be accepted up to October 7th and I encourage everyone that loves to wheel in Moab as well as anybody opposed to closing off OUR public lands from OUR use.

www.blm.gov

BLM announces public meeting and comment period for the Labyrinth Rims/Gemini Bridges draft travel management plan | Bureau of Land Management

www.blm.gov www.blm.gov

Make your voice heard. Let them know you are not ok with this.
 
I was checking this out, can someone provide a direct link on where I can go to comment.
ie: old guy that doesn't navigate websites as good as an 8 year old.
 
Capt Ron said:
I was checking this out, can someone provide a direct link on where I can go to comment.
ie: old guy that doesn't navigate websites as good as an 8 year old.
Click to expand...
Mail: BLM Moab Field Office, Attn: Labyrinth Rims/Gemini Bridges Travel Management 82 East Dogwood Moab, UT 84532
ePlanning: https://go.usa.gov/xs57Y
 
Thanks
Is my thinking flawed that lets say 100 vehicles on 50 trails is better then 100 vehicles on 20 trails?
If anything, opening more trails is better then closing trails?
As a wheeler I obviously have a dog in the fight but more trails = less of an overall "footprint".
 
Last edited:
Another thought,
I wonder if the county has thought about the legal/social ramifications of banning motorized use and the effects that would have on those with physical limitations. After all its not just about 4wheeling but also enjoying nature.

We are small voice'es in the big picture.

Perhaps someone more articulate then myself could contact organizations such as ADA or AARP (I'm sure there are others) and try to gain some allies.
 
Capt Ron said:
Another thought,
I wonder if the county has thought about the legal/social ramifications of banning motorized use and the effects that would have on those with physical limitations. After all its not just about 4wheeling but also enjoying nature.

We are small voice'es in the big picture.

Perhaps someone more articulate then myself could contact organizations such as ADA or AARP (I'm sure there are others) and try to gain some allies.
Click to expand...
Valid points.

Digging deeper into this particular meeting this is in result to a lawsuit brought against the BLM that was settled a few years ago (southern Utah wilderness alliance vs US department of the interior). The results are being worked out now. There are 4 maps on the BLM planning page that show the trails as they are now and what options they have for closure.

Map A, is as is it now. Map B has the most closures (which is what the SUWA wants most), map c has less closures and map D has the least trails closed or impacted.

Because of the legal settlement trails are going to get closed. The question is how much. Comments sent to the BLM need to reflect option/map D for the least closures and less impact on the recreational side. Keep in mind the closures the SUWA is pushing is COMPLETE as in not even a mountain bike going down it.

One would assume the folks that own and operated businesses locally that use these lands for tours, equipment rentals and such would be against total shutdown of most of the trails in the area. But we can’t put it all on them to try and get option D pushed through.

Those of us that have been there know what a shame it would be to loose access to our public lands that way. For those that haven’t been (you should go, just saying it’s awesome) it’s still impacting your rights to our public lands by letting a vocal minority get one over on the silent majority. We can’t be silent on it.

The BLM is asking for comments up to 10/7/22. We can at least make our voices heard.
 
Linking to the BLM's maps.

Map A, current trails as of today:

Map B, most closures of trails:

Map D, least closures of trails:

Here's some perspective to get a gauge of the scale of the area that is in question. The line highlighted in yellow that goes across the top of the map is actually I-70. The yellow line that goes down the length of the map is Hwy 191. The yellow line that leads off of 191 midway down is highway 313 leads to Canyonlands and Deadhorse Point State park. Moab is to the right of Deadhorse point near the edge of the map.

Put another way, anybody that has driven to Moab from I-70 south on Hwy 191, a good chunk of that land you see to the west all the way to the green river and down to Moab could be cut off from our use. That's almost 467 square miles.

Trails inside this area are well known. These are just the ones between Hwy 313 and the Colorado river.

Poison Spider Mesa
Golden Spike
Where Eagles Dare
Gold Bar Rim
Bull Canyon
Metal Masher
Four Arches Canyon
Long Canyon
Gemini Bridges
Copper Ridge

Trails north of Hwy 313 to the Green river and west of Hwy 191:

Wipeout Hill (backwards Bill)
Spring Canyon Bottom
Deadman Springs
Deadman point
Hey Joe Canyon
Secret Spire
Dellenbaugh Tunnel
Spring Canyon Point
Rainbow Terrace
Bartlett Overlook
Pickle, Mashed Potatoes
Hidden Canyon Overlook
Courthouse Rock
Sevenmile Rim
Crystal Geyser

Those all are just named "jeep" trails pulled from my Funtreks book of trails for Moab. As you can see from the other maps there are countless other trails connecting all of these in that area.



​

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom