At the end of 2024, the BLM released a proposal affecting the West Fork Pine Creek routes in northern Idaho, an area that includes the well known Roller Coaster Trail and a long history of legal battles over motorized access to this iconic route. This route is located approximately 8.4 miles South of Pinehurst, ID in Shoshone, County.
For years, BlueRibbon Coalition and our local partners have fought to keep this trail open for the public. The Roller Coaster Trail, a segment of the historic West Fork Pine Creek road system, has been at the center of a legal fight. After years of litigation, a federal judge just earlier this year, recognized what riders and locals have known all along: this is and always has been a valid public route.
Despite that win, our work is not over. BRC is currently asking our members to ask the local county commission to not vacate that route and to recognize and maintain it for continued public access. The BLM has also now released an Environmental Assessment (EA) for route structures on this same route. The comment period is open until August 13, 2025 and we need you to weigh in to keep this road open and functional for full sized vehicles.
In 2000, many structures were placed to discourage use such as excavated pits, large boulders, and cut and cabled logs. As many off roaders know, these structures add to the technical challenge of navigating rollercoaster and is what makes this route so iconic and alluring for off-road enthusiasts. Keeping them in place means keeping the entire route usable for full sized vehicles, not just motorcycles or foot traffic.
The Three Alternatives:
The EA considers three options for the future of these structures
Alternative A: No action. Structures remain but no work or maintenance is done.
Alternative B: Remove the structures and excavate the areas. This is the BLM’s current preferred alternative.
Alternative C: Maintain the structures, the BLM would place signs notifying the public of the technical nature of the area and users could continue at their own risk.
BlueRibbon Coalition appreciates that Alternative C is on the table but we must push hard to make sure it is the final decision. As BLM states in the EA regarding Alternative C:
Under this alternative (C), the structures would remain on the route and would be maintained periodically as technical off-road features, and under BLM management. Full-sized vehicles could continue to navigate the structures at the user’s discretion. On both ends of the structures, signage would be installed to inform users of the existence of man-made structures within the route. The BLM’s Alternative C is in conformance with the 2007 CDA RMP and complies with the following Land Use Plan decision (full text included in Appendix D):
- Recreation Objective RC-1.5
- Recreation Action RC-1.5.1
- Recreation Action RC-1.5.3
- Recreation Action RC-1.5.6
Adopting Alternative C is the only path that aligns with current federal law and policy. This route is located within the Rochat Divide-Pine Creek Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA). Therefore it should be maintained for recreation and recognize the work that was done by Idaho Parks and Recreation and North Idaho Trail Blazers volunteers to create these structures to turn this route into what it is today. The EXPLORE Act passed with broad bipartisan support directs federal agencies to expand and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities, not quietly reduce them. Multiple Executive and Secretarial Orders, including EO 13957 (Making America Beautiful Again), reinforce the responsibility to protect and maintain roads, routes and trails for responsible motorized recreation.
Removing these structures would undermine these directives.
Your comments matter! BlueRibbon Coalition is calling on all members and local riders to submit comments urging the BLM to adopt Alternative C and maintain the route structures to keep the entire route open for full-sized vehicles and multi-use recreation.
