The Billings Field Office in Montana is accepting comments until January 2, 2025 for the Cottonwood Travel Management Plan. This area is just north of the Wyoming border and south of towns of Bridger and Wade. It has long been a popular destination for OHV use and dirt biking. The area includes 377 miles of routes, but only 321 are currently considered open. This area includes the Elk Basin Motorcycle Area and Weatherman Draw. The environmental assessment analyzes 3 different alternatives to the current management. The plan contemplates opening/constructing new routes for both motorized and non-motorized single track. Many of these single track routes will have seasonal closures under all of the proposed alternatives. The access alternative also analyzes opening routes to Class 1 e-bikes only. It would make more sense to just allow class 1 e-bikes on all trails open for mountain biking. The alternatives do not analyze new route construction for motorized two-track routes, but some alternatives close a lot of routes for OHV use.
BRC will be supporting a modified version of Alternative C, where we will closely scrutinize the 15 miles that are proposed for closure, We plan to advocate for a more reasonable approach to allowing e-bikes. We will support the new routes being constructed and be looking for any new ways we can be expanding recreation use in this area. If you have on the ground experience in this area, we encourage you to submit your feedback.
You can submit a comment below to the BLM to let them know you want this area open for recreation.
Full Briefing
Alternative A (current management): 321.5 miles open to all use, .5 miles open to motorcycles, 0 closed.
Alternative B (environmental emphasis): 58.2 miles open to all use year round, 77.8 miles open to motorcycles year round, 79.5 miles closed.
Alternative C (motorized access emphasis): 198.1 miles open to all use year round, 98.8 open to motorcycles year round, 15.1 closed to all uses.
Alternative D (preferred alternative, “balanced” approach): 98.4 open to all use year round, 94.2 miles open to motorcycles year round, 37.3 miles closed to all uses.
ACEC
There is the Weatherman Draw Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) located in the northeastern portion of the travel area that due to the designation, the BLM is proposing route closures. The proposed alternative would leave only 7 miles open to motorized users while closing 33 miles to motorized uses.
Alt. A: 8 miles open to OHV use, 33 miles limited to non-motorized, non-mechanized use.
Alt. B: 6 miles open to OHV use, 33 miles closed to all uses.
Alt. C: 8 miles open to OHV use, 7 miles closed to all use, 5 miles to authorized and administrative use, 20 miles open for class I e-bike and non-motorized use, 3 miles open to non-motorized, non-mechanized uses.
Alt. D: 7 miles open to OHV use, 8 miles closed to all use, 5 miles open to authorized and administrative use, 21 miles open to non-mechanized and 3 miles to non-motorized, non-mechanized use.
