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For generations, Paul Wells reached his family's historic Marsing Ranch by the same route his family always used. Then a federal travel plan closed it. Overnight, the only legal access to his own family's land was gone.
Paul is not alone, and his story is not the worst of it. The 2024 San Rafael Swell Travel Management Plan, finalized in the final days of the Biden administration, closed roughly 665 miles of routes across the Swell. The San Rafael Desert plan closed hundreds more. These were not reckless trails carved into pristine wilderness. Most had been open and driven for decades, many of them long before the surrounding Wilderness was ever designated. Several were historic mining roads. Riders, hunters, ranchers, rockhounds, and families have been using them for generations.
When a route closes, the loss is not abstract. It is specific, and it adds up fast.
Every closed mile pushes more riders into less space. That is worse for the land, worse for the experience, and worse for the towns that depend on us showing up.
These are not lines on a map. They are the places we have already lost. Look at what the closure actually took away. If you want to take them back, sign the form below today!
Primitive backcountry routes were closed to create illegal wilderness buffer zones.
Closed routes like SS2217 that provided meaningful access to dispersed campsites.
The plan closed dozens of free, primitive campsites like this.
Campsites like this were closed.
Amazing free campsite closed by the plan.
Routes like this were closed, limiting access to the San Rafael Reef.
Mining sites and historic infrastructure remain inaccessible.
Accessing the Devils Canyon Wilderness was made almost impossible.
The Swell is filled with wonders and adventures, but not if we can’t access them.
After BlueRibbon Coalition took the agency to court in 2025, The BLM is proposing to reopen 226 miles in the San Rafael Swell and another 19.82 miles in the San Rafael Desert.
While it’s not a full reopening, it’s a great first step. But it only materializes if you speak up. The BLM needs to hear, in volume and on the record, that the off-road community wants these routes back and wants the agency to keep going.
Pressure works. The recent Public Lands Rule Rescission and Executive Order to rescind orders that were the basis for closing trails prove it. We asked for your signatures to put pressure on, and the agencies and President acted.
The public comment period closes June 8. That is today. After tonight, the window to speak on the record is gone.
Comment through BRC and you do three things at once. You build an independent record of community support that cannot be quietly under-reported. You protect that record in case this fight returns to court, so we are not waiting a year for the government to hand over documents. And you stay in the loop, because we will tell you what happens next instead of leaving you to guess.
Even if you already commented on the government site, submitting here makes your voice count twice and shows the agency the community is watching every move.
It takes two minutes. It tells the BLM, on the record, that these routes belong open. Fill out the form below to submit your comment in support of reopening the San Rafael Swell and San Rafael Desert routes.
Continue reading...
For generations, Paul Wells reached his family's historic Marsing Ranch by the same route his family always used. Then a federal travel plan closed it. Overnight, the only legal access to his own family's land was gone.
Paul is not alone, and his story is not the worst of it. The 2024 San Rafael Swell Travel Management Plan, finalized in the final days of the Biden administration, closed roughly 665 miles of routes across the Swell. The San Rafael Desert plan closed hundreds more. These were not reckless trails carved into pristine wilderness. Most had been open and driven for decades, many of them long before the surrounding Wilderness was ever designated. Several were historic mining roads. Riders, hunters, ranchers, rockhounds, and families have been using them for generations.
What we lose if these routes stay closed
When a route closes, the loss is not abstract. It is specific, and it adds up fast.
- Access to family land, hunting grounds, and dispersed campsites that people have relied on for generations
- Historic mining roads with real cultural and economic purpose, erased from the map
- Routes that guided tours, clubs, and organized events depend on to survive
- Backcountry that gets squeezed into smaller and smaller areas, concentrating use
- Local economies that rely on recreation
Every closed mile pushes more riders into less space. That is worse for the land, worse for the experience, and worse for the towns that depend on us showing up.
This is what is what they’re trying to erase from maps
These are not lines on a map. They are the places we have already lost. Look at what the closure actually took away. If you want to take them back, sign the form below today!
Primitive backcountry routes were closed to create illegal wilderness buffer zones.
Closed routes like SS2217 that provided meaningful access to dispersed campsites.
The plan closed dozens of free, primitive campsites like this.
Campsites like this were closed.
Amazing free campsite closed by the plan.
Routes like this were closed, limiting access to the San Rafael Reef.
Mining sites and historic infrastructure remain inaccessible.
Accessing the Devils Canyon Wilderness was made almost impossible.
The Swell is filled with wonders and adventures, but not if we can’t access them.
Pressure works!
After BlueRibbon Coalition took the agency to court in 2025, The BLM is proposing to reopen 226 miles in the San Rafael Swell and another 19.82 miles in the San Rafael Desert.
While it’s not a full reopening, it’s a great first step. But it only materializes if you speak up. The BLM needs to hear, in volume and on the record, that the off-road community wants these routes back and wants the agency to keep going.
Pressure works. The recent Public Lands Rule Rescission and Executive Order to rescind orders that were the basis for closing trails prove it. We asked for your signatures to put pressure on, and the agencies and President acted.
We Need Your Comments Today
The public comment period closes June 8. That is today. After tonight, the window to speak on the record is gone.
Comment through BRC and you do three things at once. You build an independent record of community support that cannot be quietly under-reported. You protect that record in case this fight returns to court, so we are not waiting a year for the government to hand over documents. And you stay in the loop, because we will tell you what happens next instead of leaving you to guess.
Even if you already commented on the government site, submitting here makes your voice count twice and shows the agency the community is watching every move.
Add your name before midnight
It takes two minutes. It tells the BLM, on the record, that these routes belong open. Fill out the form below to submit your comment in support of reopening the San Rafael Swell and San Rafael Desert routes.
Continue reading...