Big Cypress Proposal Could Expand Responsible Off-Road Access

Big Cypress Proposal Could Expand Responsible Off-Road Access

ORBA supports National Park Service proposal to move forward with designated motorized access in the Preserve’s Addition Lands

The National Park Service is considering a regulatory update that could clear the way for expanded, designated off-road vehicle access within approximately 147,000 acres of Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida.

For the off-road community, the proposal represents more than a technical change to an outdated regulation. It is an opportunity to move forward with long-planned motorized access while demonstrating how recreation and responsible land management can work together.

The Off-Road Business Association (ORBA), a subsidiary of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), has submitted formal comments supporting the proposal and is encouraging off-road enthusiasts, businesses, clubs and other public-land users to participate in the public comment process.

An Outdated Map Is Holding Up Access

Big Cypress National Preserve has a long history of motorized recreation. Swamp buggies and other off-road vehicles have been used throughout the area for generations for recreation, hunting, camping, transportation and access to remote portions of the Preserve.

The issue currently before the National Park Service (NPS) stems from a regulation that still references a map dating back to 1975.

In 1988, approximately 147,000 acres were added to Big Cypress National Preserve. Those lands, commonly known as the Addition Lands, are not reflected on the map referenced in the existing regulation.

The NPS is proposing to update that regulatory map reference to reflect the Preserve’s current boundaries. Doing so would provide the Superintendent with the authority necessary to establish designated ORV routes in the Addition Lands using routes that have previously been evaluated and approved.

The proposal does not create unrestricted or cross-country motorized access. Instead, it would allow the NPS to implement a managed system of designated routes, with applicable site-specific surveys and resource protections completed before routes are reopened.That distinction matters.

ORBA has consistently advocated for public-land policies that provide meaningful motorized recreation opportunities while giving land managers practical tools to address legitimate resource and safety concerns.

Designated routes, clear maps and predictable management requirements are important parts of making that balance work.

ORBA Has Already Weighed In

ORBA submitted formal comments to the NPS supporting the proposed rule on October 6th. ORBA’s comment encouraged the agency to finalize the update and move forward with implementation of responsible motorized access within the Addition Lands. Our comments also emphasized the importance of keeping current route maps, closures and operating requirements easy for the public to find.

Access works best when recreationists know where they can go, understand the rules and have confidence that management decisions are based on current conditions on the ground. This proposal provides an opportunity to put that approach into practice.

Why Big Cypress Matters

The debate over public-land access often gets framed as a choice between recreation and conservation.

It does not have to be.

Responsible motorized recreation can provide access to hunting areas, camps, remote destinations and other public-land experiences while designated routes help concentrate use and protect sensitive resources.

Big Cypress is particularly significant because off-road vehicles are not a new use of the landscape. Motorized access has long been part of how people experience the Preserve.

The NPS itself recognizes off-road vehicle use on designated trails for activities including hunting, fishing, camping, wildlife observation and transportation to private property as an authorized traditional use within Big Cypress.

The current proposal creates an opportunity to continue that tradition through a modern, managed trail system.

The Off-Road Community Should Participate

ORBA’s formal comments are only one voice in the process. Public participation matters.

The NPS is accepting comments on the proposed rule through December 1, 2026.

Off-road enthusiasts, local businesses, clubs, hunters and other recreation users who support responsible access at Big Cypress should consider submitting individual comments. Personal comments are particularly valuable.

Explain why access matters to you. If you have experience with Big Cypress, hunting, public lands or designated motorized trail systems, share it. Tell the agency why clearly managed access is important and why recreation and resource protection should be addressed together rather than treated as competing goals. The goal isn’t unrestricted access. It is responsible access.

Updating a decades-old map so the NPS can implement previously planned and evaluated routes is a practical step toward achieving it.

Take Action

To review the proposal and submit comments, visit FederalRegister.gov or Regulations.gov and search 1024-AE54