BLM’s reopening of the devastating Labyrinth Rims/Gemini Bridges Travel Management Plan is a monumental opportunity, but our success will depend on our ability to submit massive numbers of public comments to BLM on the Action. We know it’s tedious to ask, but we’ve all been asking for this, and we must act to ensure our success on future plans.

Here’s What You Should Do:

• Go to this BLM Interactive Map to see which routes they have proposed reopening. When you get on the map, the Green lines mark the routes BLM proposed for  reopening. The Pink indicates routes they are proposing to open seasonally. Black lines indicate single track routes they are proposing to open to 50” width or less. If you need to see more detail on the map, click on the 4 squares at the upper right and pick a different basemap for more details on the map. When you click on a line, it will give you additional information about the trail.
• Optional: Research UPLA Files to help identify routes and give you more information on them. We have added some of the most requested information for you to see as follows:
  • Click Here if you’d like to see a list of the BLM Route Numbers with Common Names for the Trails
  • Click Here if you’d like to see rationale from the 2023 Decision Record including common names, and highlighting the routes that BLM designated for reconsideration
  • Click Here if you’d like to look up the Route Report for a specific route number. These can be very useful, as the last pages (Alternative D in green) show the conditions BLM identified that the route could be opened. These can be mentioned in your comments
  • Click Here if you’d like to read the 2023 Final EA. You probably won’t need this unless you’re just curious about a detail.
• Draft your detailed comments about trails you are familiar with. Include personal experiences, how you’ve used it, how often, who you’ve been there with; in other words, why it’s important that it be reopened. Use as much of the factual information from one of the sources as you can.
• Submit your Comments using any of three ways
  • A. If you feel comfortable submitting them directly to BLM, you can do so at the BLM EPlanning Website  Use the Participate Now button there, you can type comments in, or upload a word or pdf document, and can attach photos if you have them.
    OR
  • B. If you want help formatting your comments, Email your draft to our Comments Coach. Rose will help you format them so they are ready to submit, and will return it to you to submit to BLM. Rose is also working on UPLA’s formal comments, so to get a response you must send them no later than Sunday, October 19. You will then need to submit them to BLM or through BlueRibbon Coalition’s Action Tool.
  • OR
  • C. Submit the comments using BlueRibbon Coalition’s Action Tool. This method will submit comments directly to BLM, but will also provide them to BlueRibbon Coalition so they know hear directly from you. This method will not allow you to attach items.

Q&A

• If you want to comment on a route that is not in the reconsideration list, can you? Yes, go ahead and submit comments on any closed trail you would like reconsidered.
• When must comments be received by BLM? October 24, 2025
• Where is the announcement from BLM? BLM Announcement
• How did this come about? This action has been the result of many different organizations and individuals that filed lawsuits for  reconsideration, among them BlueRibbon Coalition, the State of Utah, Texas Public Policy Foundation, Colorado Offroad Trail Defenders, Ride with Respect, and everyone that has filed comments or made donations to support their efforts.
• What trails are being reconsidered? Nearly 50% of the 2023 closures are being reconsidered, including popular routes like Hey Joe Canyon, Deadman Point, Dead Cow Loop, Day Canyon Point, Hell Roaring Canyon, Mineral Canyon, several key Green River overlooks, and many other backcountry access routes. Click Here for a Complete List
• Are the routes open now? No, they are not reopened at this point, the existing Travel Management Plan will remain in effect until a final decision is made.
• Will these all be reopened? That depends a lot on you, we need your comments to make this happen.
• What about other Travel Plans that resulted in closures like San Rafael Swell and Henry Mountains? Trust us that we’re continuing to work on those, but don’t let this opportunity pass us by.

Submit Your Comments On Every Route You Know About

The hearing for a stay or temporary injunction of the Moab Labyrinth Canyon/Gemini Bridges Travel Management Plan was held on February 21before the Honorable Dale A. Kimball in Salt Lake City. The OHV community turned out in force to observe the hearing, which Judge Kimball mentioned that it was good to see so many concerned citizens turn out to fill his courtroom.

This hearing was for the Federal lawsuit filed by BlueRibbon Coalition, Patrick McKay, and Colorado Off Highway Trail Defenders against BLM. The judge allowed SUWA to act as an intervenor in the case. Plaintiffs were represented by Matt Miller and Nate Curisi with Texas Public Policy Group, defendants were represented by Paul Turcke and Steve Bloch. Final prehearing briefs from both attorneys are attached if you’d like to read them.

To qualify for an injunction, four elements must be proven:

• That Plaintiffs are likely to prevail on the merits. Matt Miller presented four counts for violations and the reasons that plaintiff was likely to prevail on all 4 of them. It is only necessary for the Plaintiff to prevail on one of the counts.
• That Plaintiffs will suffer irreparable harm if relief is not granted. Substantial focus, including questions from Judge Kimball, surrounded the impact of BLM’s intent to “obliterate” the trails in their plan. Another focus was that some of the arguments in the 4 counts were constitutional violations, which automatically qualify them as being irreparable.
• That the Plan was arbitrary and capricious in it’s evaluation and implementation. BLM is required to take a “hard look” at the impacts from implementation of the plan, and cannot consider factors not intended by Congress. Many examples of infractions occurred including improper analysis of science and the failure of BLM to respond to significant and relevant comments, including the impact to recreation, including Elderly and Disabled users. Another important example was the inclusion of user conflicts citing noise without any precise definition of what noise levels were acceptable or unacceptable.
• That relief is not adverse to the public interest and that plaintiff’s injuries outweigh any alleged damage to defendants. Since the current TMP has been in effect for 15 years, delaying the effective date of the new plan will not result in any new harms to BLM, while without relief, the many users, including those that are elderly or handicapped, are deprived of the opportunity to enjoy these areas is both substantial and irreparable. One of the largest Off Road Events in the world, Easter Jeep Safari, had 9% of it’s historic trails closed by this Plan. In addition, public interest has been demonstrated by both the volume of public comments, and efforts by Federal and Utah legislators who have introduced legislation to overturn this Plan.

So what does this mean? Judge Kimball closed the hearing after about 2 hours of arguments and will issue his ruling in “short order.” Judge Kimball has a reputation for a strong understanding of land use issues in the 10^th Circuit, and also for issuing rulings quickly, so we hope to see his ruling in a short period of time. It should be noted that this Injunction Hearing is only the first step in this effort, regardless of this ruling, the Federal Lawsuit will still be heard at a later date.

I am not an attorney, but my lay opinion was that Matt Miller did a much more persuasive job than Turcke and Bloch, and Judge Kimball’s questions seemed to bolster Miller’s presentation, while they seemed more critical of BLM’s arguments.

I’ve learned that nobody can predict the outcome of any court hearing, but I’m both optimistic about our potential for success in this first step and proud and grateful of the actions taken by BlueRibbon, Patrick McKay, and Colorado Offroad Trail Defenders for standing up for our rights. Please make sure you let them know that you support them too.

Join and Support Utah Public Lands Alliance

Join and Support BlueRibbon Coalition

Through the generosity of UPLA’s supporters, cooperating clubs, and a match of $50,000, Loren Campbell presented BlueRibbon Coalition with $103,317 to fight against the constant onslaught of route closures in Utah in the closing ceremonies of Winter 4×4 Jamboree.

The final check was presented to BlueRibbon Coalition’s Public Policy Director, Simone Griffin. Board President Ranch Pratt and Board Members Matt “Sarge” Westrich and Phil Rawlings also expressed their appreciation for the Community’s support.

Here is a partial list of Donors that supported this effort

• Winter 4×4 Jamboree
• Moab Friends for Wheelin
• Pacific Northwest 4 Wheel Drive Association
• UTV Takeover
• Contra Costa Jeepers
• Ride Utah
• Esprit de Four
• KMAC Corporation
• FMCA 4 Wheelers
• San Diego 4 Wheelers
• and over 150 Individual Donor

Thank you so much for fighting!

Today, a coalition of off-road groups took their challenge to the federal government’s arbitrary and illegal closure of over 300 miles of trails near Moab, UT, to federal district court for the District of Utah. The federal court filing follows a ruling by the Interior Board of Land Appeals to deny a stay of the closures earlier this month. Now it will be up to a Utah federal judge to decide whether the trails will remain closed while the litigation is pending, or whether they will be open and available to the hundreds of thousands of Jeepers, mountain bikers, dirt bike riders, and others who have enjoyed them for decades.

The coalition, which consists of the BlueRibbon Coalition, Colorado Off-Road Trail Defenders, and an individual named Patrick McKay, is asking the federal court to issue a preliminary injunction that will allow the trails to remain open while the litigation is ongoing.

“The government has already announced that they would begin re-vegetating, bulldozing, and otherwise erasing these trails the moment they were closed,” said Matt Miller, a Senior Attorney at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and lead attorney on the case. “That is why an immediate injunction is necessary. If these closures are not immediately reversed, there could be no trails left after this litigation concludes, even after the plaintiffs win.”

“The federal government’s closing of these world-class routes ignores the evidence on the ground, the needs of the community, and the rich history of off-road recreation in the area,” added TPPF Attorney Nate Curtisi. “Worse yet, this government overreach was done in violation of a myriad of constitutional and statutory protections that were made specifically to avoid these kind of arbitrary and capricious actions.”

“After reviewing the legal deficiencies with this decision, we committed to our members that we would do everything we can to keep these popular trails open,” said Ben Burr, BlueRibbon Coalition Executive Director. “Now that they are closed and the Bureau of Land Management will get to work erasing these trails from the landscape, the irreparable harm to our members will be difficult to quantify. It’s impossible to place a value on generations worth of traditions, experiences, and meaningful connections to these spectacular lands. The BLM didn’t just close 317 miles of trails, they closed 317 miles of some of the best trails, and we are prepared to do what it takes to keep them open.”

Please show your support to the sponsors of these actions!

Following are copies of both the Lawsuit Complaint and the Injunctive Relief Request

Federal Lawsuit ComplaintMoab-District-Court-Original-Complaint

Moab-Motion-for-injunction

Watch the Fox 13 News story about the David & Goliath story of BLM and SUWA stripping 317 miles of OHV access in Moab Labyrinth Canyon. This decision only appears to affect motorized OHV now, but the decision details will affect many others including equestrians, photographers, mountain bikers, rock hounders, and even base jumpers.
We need to start acting as big as we are. Get involved and support BlueRibbon Coalition with your time and your money by Donating Here.