Fighting for Access to our National Forests

The Roadless Rule Rescission

Since 2001, The BlueRibbon Coalition, along with various states, have been fighting the implementation of the Roadless Rule— one of the last outgoing actions by the Clinton Administration at the request of anti-access organizations. It essentially designated 59 million acres of national forests as de facto wilderness through a regulation instead of an act of Congress.

While the rule locked out ⅓ of our forests to most recreation, more importantly, it hampered the ability for the U.S. Forest Service to sustain the health and diversity of the nation’s forests and grasslands. Roads allow recreationists to explore their public lands, brush to be cleared, and new wildfires to be fought more effectively.

Without the ability to improve or create routes through remote sections of our forests, the Roadless Rule contributed to the spread and destruction of catastrophic wildfires since it was enacted 24 years ago. Of the 58.5 million acres covered under the Rule, 28 million acres are in areas at high or very high risk of wildfire according to the USDA. The Roadless Rule restrictions have contributed to the 36 million acres of forest that have burned since the Rule was adopted, according to the American Forest Resource Council.

After 24 years of challenges, we just scored a major win. But the fight is not over.  We need your help to push the rescission across the finish line.  Fill out the form below to add your support of the rescission and add your own comments. Comments are due September 19th!

Find additional information, including common misconceptions and a timeline of our longstanding fight, further below.

Debunking Roadless Rule Misinformation

We’re creating a series of articles that debunk prevailing misinformation about the Roadless Rule. Keep checking back for more updates.

Getting into the woods: Learn more about the Roadless Rule & BRC’s longstanding fight.

A 59-million Acre Win | How You Can Support | FAQ | Timeline

Wyoming forest under the Roaldless Rule

A 59-Million-Acre Win for the Grand Reopening of our Public Lands

On June 23, 2025, Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the USDA will rescinded the 2001 Roadless Rule—lifting restrictions on nearly 59 million acres of National Forest lands. This major policy shift restores vital access for forest management efforts like wildfire defense, timber thinning, and responsible recreation.

Forest wildfires cost local governments and their citizens a lot of money. When these roadless area tinderboxes ignite, they —obviously— don’t actually “conserve” the forest nor protect wildlife. And they completely inhibit recreation. Rescinding this rule will allow forests to be actively managed with every available tool for more flexibility to reduce wildfire risk and protect surrounding communities and infrastructure. It also reopens our forests to responsible recreation once again, so that more Americans can enjoy their public lands.

But, there’s still a battle ahead…

We’re Not Across the Finish Line, Yet…

The announcement that the Rule will be rescinded is the culmination of a long fight. Underscoring it in our team’s D.C. trip earlier this year, we informed Congress and the Administration that one of our top priorities was to rescind the Roadless Rule. They listened.

However, our fight is not over. The Rule has faced extensive legal and regulatory scrutiny throughout existence, and BlueRibbon Coalition has taken numerous actions against it as referenced in the timeline below. It’s been plagued by lawsuits since its inception and this action is sure to result in many more legal challenges from anti-access groups.

We haven’t quit since 2001. With momentum on our side, we are ready to defend this action for access. Our lawyers are ready to continue this fight. So right now, we need your support more than ever.

Consider making a generous donation so we can ensure this rescission gets finalized.

Roadless Rule Rescission T-Shirt

Grand Reopening: Roadless Rule Rescission T-Shirt

We’ve partnered with Offroad Outfitters for this limited edition Roadless Rule Rescission T-Shirt. All donations will aid BlueRibbon Coalition’s efforts to help keep forest access open.

All proceeds from T-Shirts sales are donated to BlueRibbon Coalition

Buy Now

About BlueRibbon Coalition

Since 1987, the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) has fought to preserve recreation access to America’s public lands. Serving members in all 50 states, BRC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit driven by grassroots energy. We work across all outdoor recreation sectors—4×4, ATV, snowmobiling, UTV, public watercraft, e‑biking, and more—to ensure every adventure is possible .

We’re among the few national groups with a storied history of defending access in court—including a U.S. Supreme Court victory— to preserve recreation on public lands.

Every dollar and membership helps us:

  • Investigate and research public land policy & proposals
  • Fund lawsuits and legal defense
  • Rally grassroots action and cultivate advocates
  • Ensure strong representation in rule-making and planning
  • Expand trails, dispersed camping, and overall access

Our work is ongoing and encompassing.  We’re currently involved in other intiatives, including:

  • Challenging route closures in Moab, Utah
  • Challenging route in closures Chuckwalla, California
  • Advocating accessibility via the Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act

Roadless Rule: FAQ

If there’s no Roadless Rule, will our forests turn into a spiderweb of paved roads?

No. Forest service roads are not paved roads. They are more akin to trails, which our community loves to respectfully recreate on. We’re sure some of your favorite trails are actually forest service roads!

Current forest service roads which were once closed may now be opened and the USFS can repair / maintain them. Additional service routes may be created at the discretion of the USFS for wildfire mitigation, health and habitat purposes. It is not a private free-for-all.

Do they allow motorized-recreation on forest service roads?

Yes. Forest service roads are publicly owned. Those which are not within a Roadless Rule designation are usually open to the public as long as it’s federal land. Again, we’re betting some of your favorite trails are forest service roads.

Some forest roads do require temporary closures. This might include restoration/revegetation, a dangerous hazard in the road which needs to be repaired, etc. BRC does support and respect closures for temporary purposes. But that’s also why we’re here, to ensure that our members’ rights are protected on these public access roads.

I heard this will open up the forests to logging and decimate them. Is this true?

Misleading and hyperbolic. 36 million acres of forests are already designated as wilderness, which prohibits all logging and most recreation. Rescinding the Roadless Rule does not affect these designations.

A dying and burnt forest does not conserve a forest, protect wildlife, nor allow for recreation. Most wildfire and forest experts agree that fire prevention sometimes requires salvage logging, thinning and dead tree removal in order to protect the health of the ecosystem. We’ve supported many active forest management initiatives, we have also opposed them when they permanently curtail recreation access.

Our position always remains the same: does this permanently affect recreation? If it does— including logging proposals— BRC will fight to protect the rights of our members. These kinds of issues are best addressed on a case-by-case basis, relying on experts and locals on the ground, rather than adopting policies from Mt. High that actually have decimated forests and restricted access.

Who else supports rescinding the Roadless Rule?

In addition to the USDA/USFS, many states, organizations and wildfire/forestry experts. Since the Roadless Rule came into effect in 2001, multiple states have opposed the rule, including: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming.

BRC joined other recreation groups in multiple suits throughout the implementation of the law, including: California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, United Four Wheel Drive Associations, and the American Council of Snowmobile Associations. Our timeline below showcases the long history of opposition.

Timeline: BlueRibbon Coalition’s Fight to Rescind the Roadless Rule

  • Clinton Issues Roadless Rule

    On January 5, 2001, the Clinton Administration issues the Final Roadless Rule, seeking to govern the 58.5 million acres of U.S. forests.

  • BRC Files Suit

    BlueRibbon Coalition, Kootenai Tribe, Idaho State Snowmobile Ass’n, livestock grazers, several Idaho counties and Boise Cascade file suit in federal court in Idaho.  The State of Wyoming and State of Idaho file similar suits shortly after.

  • Preliminary Injunction

    The Idaho plaintiffs, including BRC, move for a preliminary injunction and prevail.

  • 9th Circuit Reverses Decision

    In December, a divided three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit reverses the district of Idaho injunction.  This clears the way for the Roadless Rule to be implemented.

  • BRC Supports Wyoming Suit

    The judge in the Wyoming case issues an order declaring the Roadless Rule unlawful and enjoins its implementation nationwide. Anti-access organizations appeal the decision to the Tenth Circuit. BlueRibbon Coalition files an amicus curiae, or “friend of the Court”, brief in support of the State of Wyoming.

  • 10th Circuit Vacates Based on new Bush Rule

    President Bush announces new “State Petitions” Rule with intent to override the Roadless Rule and would allow governors to manage requirements of roadless areas in their states. 10th Circuit vacates Wyoming District Court opinion for mootness.

  • BRC Gets a Seat At the Table

    BlueRibbon Coalition’s Adena Cook is selected to sit on the Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee (RACNAC), a formal advisory committee tasked to review the state roadless petitions.

  • Clinton Roadless Rule Reinstated

    California court rules Bush’s State Petitions Rule was in violation of NEPA and Endangered Species Act and orders Clinton Roadless Rule to be reinstated.

  • BRC Files New Suit with USFS

    The Forest Service, BlueRibbon Coalition, and Oregon timber interests appeal to the 9th Circuit.

  • BRC Supports Wyoming in New Suit

    The state of Wyoming refiles a new lawsuit modeled on its previous action, and the litigation proceeds swiftly. The BlueRibbon Coalition remains actively engaged in all state petition processes and obtains amicus curiae status in the Wyoming lawsuit.

  • Wyoming Wins, Roadless Rule Illegal

    Wyoming prevails in its district court lawsuit, securing a ruling that the 2001 Roadless Rule violated multiple environmental laws and obtaining a nationwide injunction against its implementation. Also, BlueRibbon’s appeal to the Ninth Circuit is argued in October.

  • 9th Circuit Confirms Roadless Rule

    The 9th Circuit court affirmed 2006 decision striking the State Petitions Rule and reinstating 2001 Roadless Rule. Obama administration moves to appeal the Wyoming ruling as well.

  • BRC & Recreation Groups File in 10th Circuit Court

    A coalition of recreation advocacy groups, including BRC, CA4WDC, UFWDA, and ACSA, filed an Amicus Curiae brief in the 10th District Court of Appeals. This brief was filed in an appeal by anti-access groups against a 2008 decision by U.S. District of Wyoming that declared the Clinton-era Roadless Rule illegal.

  • 10th Circuit Court Rules Against Wyoming Court & Recreation Advocates

    10th Circuit Court disagrees with Wyoming court, officially reinstating the Roadless Rule and delivering a blow to recreation advocates involved, including: BRC, California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, United Four Wheel Drive Associations, and the American Council of Snowmobile Associations.

  • U.S. Supreme Court Overturns Chevron Deference

    This decision eliminates the longstanding practice of courts deferring to an agency’s interpretation of an ambiguous statute, requiring courts instead to exercise independent judgment in interpreting the law.

  • BRC Goes to Washington

    BlueRibbon Coalition delegation travels to Washington D.C. to meet with lawmakers. The first item on their list: To rescind the Roadless Rule.

  • Roadless Rule Rescinded by the USDA

    U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule.

Articles

Latest On Public Forest Access

Limited Edition Roadless Rules T-Shirt Redemption

After a successful donation, you will recieve an email with a unique code to purchase a BlueRibbon Coalition Grand Reopening T-Shirt at offroadoutfitters.com. The code will suffice 1 qty Grand Reopening t-shirt and cover the shipping within the continental U.S. If you have elected to set up a recurring donation (thank you!), the t-shirt promotion is only valid on the initial donation.