Clarkston Mountain Trail System at Risk

Despite the documented history of motorized and non-motorized use, Clarkston Mountain routes have recently been blocked following a change in land ownership. Utah state law favors public access to trails that cross private land if they have historically been in regular use by the public.

This is not about creating new routes or expanding access—it is about protecting roads that have been openly and continuously used by the public for decades. If these closures are allowed to stand, they could set a dangerous precedent for public access across the West. While we support private property rights, these have to be balanced with longstanding public access rights.

As you cross the border from Idaho to Utah on I-15, you will see Clarkston Mountain looming in the East. Rural local communities have been accessing this mountain through a system of motorized trails for generations. The public has relied on established roads like Winter Canyon, Elbow Canyon, Green Canyon, New Quigley Canyon, and Old Canyon to access U.S. Forest Service-managed public lands for:

• Hunting and scouting
• Dirt bike and OHV riding
• Hiking and camping
• Family recreation and local travel

As the West keeps sprawling—fueled by out-of-state developers drawn to its beauty and by anti-access groups pushing for more gates and restrictions—it’s more important than ever to defend the access we still have.

We belong here.