BLM Reopens Discussion on San Rafael Swell Routes — Why It Matters to the Off-Road Community
The Bureau of Land Management has reopened public discussion on portions of the San Rafael Swell and San Rafael Desert travel management plans in Utah, specifically involving routes that were previously closed or restricted under earlier decisions.
For the off-road community, this is worth paying attention to.
The BLM is reconsidering approximately 246 miles of routes that had previously been designated closed or limited to certain uses. Existing closures remain in place for now, but the agency is accepting public input through June 8, 2026.
The San Rafael Swell is one of the most iconic motorized recreation areas in the country. People come from all over to ride, camp, explore, race, overland, and experience a part of the West that still offers a true backcountry recreation experience. The area also supports local businesses, tourism, events, and rural communities that rely on outdoor recreation.
Like many public land areas across the West, the Swell also presents real management challenges. Balancing recreation access, conservation concerns, cultural resources, and increasing visitation is not simple, and that balance is exactly what travel management planning is intended to address.
What makes this situation important is that the BLM is willing to revisit portions of previous route decisions. That does not happen often, and it reinforces something the off-road community sometimes forgets: these processes are ongoing, and public participation still matters.
Travel management decisions increasingly shape where people can ride, recreate, and hold events on public land. Whether it is Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, or elsewhere across the West, these plans have long-term impacts on recreation access and the businesses and communities connected to it.
That is why it is important for recreation users, clubs, race organizations, businesses, and advocates to stay engaged and participate in these discussions when opportunities arise.
Constructive public input carries more weight than frustration after decisions are finalized. Comments that are respectful, route-specific, and grounded in actual recreation use help agencies better understand how these areas are being used and why they matter.
The off-road community has always been strongest when it combines advocacy with stewardship. Most riders and recreation users understand that continued access depends on responsible use, strong partnerships, and staying involved in the process.
ORBA supports balanced, practical land management approaches that recognize both the importance of protecting public lands and the value of continued motorized recreation access.
The San Rafael Swell is an important recreation area, and this comment period gives the public another opportunity to help shape its future.
The BLM is accepting comments through June 8, 2026.
For more information and to submit comments, visit: https://www.blm.gov/announcement/blm-seeks-input-travel-routes-san-rafael-swell-and-desert-areas