SALT LAKE CITY – On Thursday April 10, 2025, BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) filed a legal challenge to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Travel Management Plan that closed recreation access to 612 miles of roads and trails in the Henry Mountains and Fremont Gorge area in Utah. The legal challenge was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Utah. After months of delay, the final plan was finalized during the final hours of the Biden Administration and released on January 17, 2025. The plan affects recreation access to 1,451,385 acres of BLM-managed public lands in Garfield and Wayne counties. Instead of being signed by the local Field Manager, the plan was signed by a political appointee in the BLM’s Washington D.C. office. Because of its excessive restrictions that will limit motorized access to the area, this plan has been controversial since its release. Representative Malloy, who represents the district affected by the decision, introduced legislation to nullify this plan.
BRC argues that the BLM was arbitrary and caprcious in their justifications for these route closures. BRC also argues that the closure of 612 miles of important motorized recreation access routes in this area violate the EXPLORE Act. The EXPLORE Act was signed by President Joe Biden on January 4, 2025. The EXPLORE contains language that requires the BLM to expand recreation opportunities for motorized and non-motorized recreation on public lands. The BLM made no effort to update this uncompleted plan at the time to meet the new requirements set forth in the EXPLORE Act.
“It isn’t everyday that legislation designed to expand recreation access to federal public lands is passed unanimously by both Houses of Congress and signed into law. The passage of the EXPLORE Act was a signal that federal policy is adapting to address the importance of recreation on public lands, and it is a shame the BLM made no effort to adapt its ongoing planning efforts to this new law” BRC Executive Director Ben Burr said. “This new law requires the BLM to find additional opportunities for motorized recreation on public lands, and it is difficult to imagine how they will justify a 25% reduction of motorized access to the Henry Mountains and Fremont Gorge as anything other than a 25% reduction in opportunities for motorized recreation in this area. Because this area is so remote, these motorized restrictions will also limit access for those who visit the area to hunt, hike, camp, and explore. Hopefully this plan is set aside, so the BLM can develop recreation access policies that meet the growing needs of those who recreate on public lands.”
The Henry Mountains plan is the the third Utah travel management plan that BRC is currently challenging in federal court. BRC is also challenging the closure of 665 miles of recreation access roads in the San Rafael Swell and the closure of 317 miles of recreation access routes in the Labryinth Rims/Gemini Bridges area near Moab.
