The Henry Mountain/Fremont Gorge travel management area is located in Southern Utah surrounded by Capitol Reef National Monument, Lake Powell and Glen Canyon NCA, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Bears Ears National Monument. This area has world class off-roading, trails, hunting, and camping opportunities. Factory Butte and the Swing Arm City open OHV area are popular destinations within this planning area.
Earlier this year the BLM released preliminary alternatives to gather public comment on. The agency has now released the proposed alternatives to gather additional public feedback through October 26, 2024. We want to protect the world class routes within this area. BRC supports a modified Alternative D as the most conducive to recreation and public access. We will do what we can to review the 373 miles of closures that are proposed under this alternative. If we find viable routes with a purpose and need, we will be encouraging the BLM to include these routes in the final decision. We encourage everyone to submit your comments and include any specific areas you have been or want to see stay open and why!
Alternative A (No Action): This maintains the current management from the 2008 plan. 1,781 miles (78%) of routes would remain open for OHV use, while 435 miles (19%) would be closed. There would be no new restrictions.
Alternative B (Resource Conservation Priority): This alternative prioritizes resource conservation, especially in sensitive areas such as wilderness characteristics and endangered species habitats. It would close more routes, with only 1,323 miles (58%) remaining open, and a shocking 956 miles (42%) would be closed.
Alternative C (Balanced Access and Conservation): This option seeks a balance between public OHV access and resource conservation. 1,754 miles (77%) of routes would remain open, and 518 miles (23%) would be closed. It designates some routes as limited by vehicle size or season.
Alternative D (OHV Access Priority): This alternative prioritizes OHV access. The most routes (1,898 miles, 83%) would remain open, with fewer closures (373 miles, 16%).
You can see the route proposals below showing which routes would be closed with each alternative. If there are routes you have used, we need to hear about those in your comments.
I am 100% disabled and riding my ohv is the only way a can see the beautiful area and wild life alternative A, leave it alone!
My husband and I have been off road riding over 50 years.We have seen hundreds of miles of trails closed while we fought to keep them open. Enough is enough. Millions of acres of Wilderness are never used, we don’t need more.
My wife and I primitive camp throughout the SW (practicing leave no trace) and UT is one of our primary destinations. To be able to go somewhere remote and camp and hike is truly a blessing. Closing roads that provide access to those areas is not managing them and it makes no sense. Please leave these areas accessible so that the few who want to can enjoy them.
I support Alternative D because closing OHV routes concentrates traffic on routes that remain open and limits access to public land for the disabled. Interest in exploring the southwest in motor vehicles is increasing and limiting access is a management approach that runs counter to long established land use policy and the public interest. If the public is unable to access the natural and cultural resources in these areas, what is the value of preserving them? Furthermore, those who recreate in these areas are often the best stewards of the resources within. Many of the BLM areas I visit are more actively managed by off-road groups who pick up trash, block illegal routes, repair erosion and manage gates. People that do cause damage in public lands will ignore closures and it is clear that the BLM does not have the resources to prevent or punish illegal activities. Removing the eyes and ears of conscientious recreators in these areas only lessens the ability of the BLM to respond to bad actors. The BLM needs to recognize the increased demand for access to public land as an opportunity to engage the public in the management and preservation of public lands and unfortunately, closing routes makes some people feel that the BLM is the enemy and engenders disregard for the rules that legitimately protect the public’s resources.
My husband and I are seniors. We love off-road driving to places we could never get to on foot. We are respectful and many times go to under used areas. Don’t take away our rights to view our wilderness. It belongs to all of us
Management is not denying access.
GOOD management is not denying access…BAD management is often prof facia unfair and discriminatory against protected classes….such as myself a disabled veteran who’s only means of access if via motorized vehicles. Don’t think it matters?…talk to my VA PTSD Mental Health treatment Doctor’s who have stacks of evidence based results to demonstrate significant improvements in my quality of life including giving me purpose and peace.
Read about it on my site. hardshadows.com
As a mobility impaired person, who can no longer hike, Snow Ski let alone continue arduous pack test level service a a Volunteer in the Wildland Fire Service, such recreational trails are the only means for me to enjoy our remote sections of public lands. It’s an affront towards all mobility impaired, that too much dispersed camping on Federal Lands has already been closed with no regard for handicapped persons, which has only caused increased use of what trails and camp sites are left over. Since this area is surrounded by National Parks, it’s imperative that what public access lands are left for dispersed camping, remain as is. Please enact Alternative A
I agree with the statement that closing roads is not resource management. It becomes unmanaged and a defacto wilderness. America and S Utah has plenty enough wilderness areas, not to mention WSA’s!
This proposed region is not being overused, it is under most everyone’s radar for recreation.
Do not close this area just because you can.
Thanks,
R Goacher
Please help us keep these riding areas open! My family and children have loved riding down there over the years and it would be a shame to lose it now.
The land should be open for all. Everyone should be educated in how to respect the land. It’s not just one groups responsibility or right to dictate what another group does. Those proposing against it should actually go see it for themselves.
Please enact Alternative A.
My whole family enjoys RZR riding. From 2 years old to 91. We all respect nature and greatly appreciate what it offers. The trails were made for all of us to enjoy, so please use alternative A and let us continue to ride and enjoy the wildlife we love seeing and the beauty we appreciate so much.
I lived in this area earlier in my life and love riding my side by side there with my wife.
I can’t walk or hike this area.
Please do not close access to any of this area.
Please enact Alternative A.
Exactly!
Please use “management” instead of closures. Closures, while favored by environmental groups, tend to be a low creativity and low effort blunt instrument which does not meet the broader mandates for access, shared use and conservation.
Conservation and OHV access are not incompatible goals as evidenced by ‘Tread Lightly’, ‘Leave no Trace’ and the volunteer efforts of many in the offroad community to keep these areas pristine for future generations. Signage, education, enforcement, engagement with area ORV clubs are among the many tools available to allow continued access while conserving and protecting this beautiful and diverse area.
Accordingly plans ‘A’ or preferably ‘D’ are preferred to allow continued access to this area.
Thank you.
The Henry Mountains hold a special place in my heart. We first started exploring in 2007 with clubs both from CO and UT (Rising Sun 4×4 Club of Colorado and the Wasatch Cruisers). I’ve spent endless nights in the Henry’s be it solo camping our out exploring with friends. In 2020, we rang in the 4th of July on a ridge below Mt. Ellen where we watched the fireworks from Hanksville. This area is wonderfully remote and provides access to miles upon miles of open wilderness. Being from Denver, I don’t get out as much as I would like. But absolutely love exploring that last mountain range to be discovered by Powell. Please keep roads open for all to use. Especially the disabled.
Outdoor access is how i keep my sanity and connect with nature outside of our concrete jungles. You take this away and you add to the mental health crisis our society is facing today. Its in our nature to be out and enjoy it, not look at it from a digital device.
Do not close off more roads to the public.
The BLM is supposed to manage our land and keep our natural resources flourishing but all they seem to know how to do is cut down unnecessary acres of trees down so our animals have no where to take refuge and “controlled burns” that seem to always get out of control. And then on top of doing a piss poor job of “management” they want to take away all our access to this land so that we the public can’t do our part to help mange the land for the future generations to enjoys since they can’t seem to do anything they are supposed to stand for. If you support this load of crap then you obviously don’t leave your big city office and shouldn’t have an opinion.
We have explored some of this area and are looking forward to exploring more, closing access to these lands is not Management. Do not close off public lands to the public, it is for all to recreate
responsibly.
Ed and Katie Tenney
As a older retired person who has enjoyed the experience of hiking and camping for most of my life am appalled at the thought that just because I can no longer put a pack on my back and hike for miles means that I can’t enjoy the wild places that I love? This is down right discrimination!! Please enact plan A. Closing the land is not management!
I am a disabled veteran and am unable to walk more than a short distance. I use motorized vehicles to gain access to the great outdoors. I support plan D, no not remove any areas from offroad vehicles due access.
We are a retired disabled couple that use our SXS to enjoy the outdoors. Without access to these areas you are taking lands that are supposed to be for the people away from the people, Wrong idea and plan. Manage the areas don’t close them. BLM stand for BUREAU of LAND “MANAGEMENT” not Bureau of Land Closures. Do your job and Manage so ALL can enjoy.
Our public lands should be kept in multiple use. It is unfair to lock these places up so just a few people can enjoy them. Good management includes grazing, logging and firewood cutting, not closing more roads! There are more people in favor of keeping the land usable and open to the public than there are to close them off.
I favor leaving the existing routes open. So that I and others may enjoy them with our low impact OHV’s
Alternative A or D are the most welcome. Please consider outdoor recreation as safe and healthy and excellent for the entire family. I’m 78 years old and enjoy weekly trail rides and hope and pray the opportunities do not diminish. Thank you for the consdireation.
Alternative D appears to allow the most access which would be my vote. There is far too much wilderness designation I think enough is enough. We need to be able to recreate on public land.