This page is dedicated to providing updated information on the San Rafael Swell Travel Management Plan. We will post new resources as they become available, with the most recent posts appearing at the top of this page after the static resource links at the top of the page.
Preliminary Alternative Maps have been released, and comments and a Draft EA is likely to be released in May. If Alternative B were selected, as it was in Moab, we would lose 44% of the routes in the Swell. Everyone should get prepared to submit substantive comments by May 1, don’t wait, there’s a lot of trails that will need protecting.
If you have information that you would like added, please email us at landuse@utahpla.com
UPLA Articles
UPLA Article On Writing Substantive Comments 03/10/2024
UPLA Article with Links to All Utah Travel Management Planning Information
AZ Backroads Preliminary Map Alternatives-Planning Your Trips
San Rafael Swell Arcgis Map from Jim Brewer, GIS/OHV Consultant- THIS IS OUR BEST INTERACTIVE MAP 4/1/2024
Map Created and Donated by Western Expanse Inventory & Cartography
Youtube Video Demonstrating UPLA SRS Swell Map Features and Functions
BLM Resources
Route Inventory Maps by Area 2/21/2021
Preliminary Alternatives Maps A B C D 02/22/2024
Swell Interactive Map (Dated 2/1/2021
Swell Route Reports 02/22/2024 (Most reports are from 2020 or earlier, but most current available)
Swell Google Earth Preliminary Alternatives Map
PLPCO Resources
PLPCO Swell Map of Open and Closed in Alt B and Comment Tool
Other Resources
Patrick McKay Colorado Offroad Trail Defenders Facebook Overview
So What Do We Need To Do Now?
- Select an Area that has routes that are marked on the map as targeted for closure. Write down the route numbers.
- Go to the BLM Route Report, refer to the link above. You can use the Search Bar on the webpage to find the Route Report for your trail, generally it will be about 4 pages long. Print it out, and try to understand what their resource concerns are. How do you determine what things mean in the Route Report? Google should be able to give you answers to abbreviations in the report. For example, I googled “What is PFYC Class 5?” and “What are abbreviation T E S T in BLM route reports for negative impacts” and it gave me all the answers.
- Schedule time to go out and run the trail. Take your route report. Look for areas or conditions mentioned in the Route Report. Take photos along the route, especially noting any possible resource impacts they may have cited and think about alternatives when you’re on the trail.
- When you get home, use TrailSaver to draft your substantive comments on the route. Be as specific as you can. 2 or 3 paragraphs on a route is an ideal length, include photos and gpx tracks. Videos are not recommended because of the large file size. If Archeological or Paleontology is listed, you won’t get a specific answer as to where that concern is located, but you can ask questions about possible mitigations around the concern such as rerouting the trail, informational signing, barriers to narrow trail to prevent stopping, etc. It is ok to mention how long you’ve been using the trail, with whom, etc, but this should be like the dessert to your meal, not the main course.
- TrailSaver will email you a formatted draft of your report. You can edit, add to it or change it. When the BLM comment period opens, TrailSaver will send you another email with your report and more suggestions, along with instructions on how to submit reports to BLM.
Summary When you look at the comments required for one route, it seems like a lot, but when put in the scope of things, it might take you 20-30 minutes to write a good comment. Compare that to the fun you had running the trail, the people you enjoyed the company of on the trail, the overnight camping you did, and being able to enjoy this trail for generations to come and I hope you’ll agree it’s a good investment of your time. Please do your research and get out there and help save our trails!
We Need Your Support to Make This Come Together, please help!
www.TrailSaver.com