Senate Committee Passes Capitol Reef OHV Access Bill
Senate Committee Passes Capitol Reef OHV Access Bill
S.2970 would apply Utah motor-vehicle law to existing roads within Capitol Reef National Park.
October 2, 2026
The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources passed a bill this week that would allow off-highway vehicles to use certain existing roads within Capitol Reef National Park in Utah.
S. 2970, introduced by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Mike Lee (R-UT) and cosponsored by Senator John Curtis (R-UT), would authorize OHV use on 12 specifically identified roads within the park (list below) and clarify that Utah motor vehicle laws, including those governing OHVs, apply on those routes.
Burr Trail Road
Cathedral Road
Hartnet Road
Highway 24
Notom-Bullfrog Road
Polk Creek Road
Oil Well Bench Road
Baker Ranch Road
South Desert Overlook Road
Temple of the Sun and Moon Road
Gypsum Sinkhole Road
Sulphur Creek Road
S. 2970 does not establish new OHV trails or authorize unrestricted cross-country motorized recreation within Capitol Reef. Instead, it focuses on which vehicles may use a specific group of existing roads.
Why Capitol Reef Is Different
The Capitol Reef proposal presents a somewhat different land-use question than many of the issues traditionally faced by the off-road community.
Rather than addressing route closures on Bureau of Land Management or U.S. Forest Service lands, S. 2970 concerns roads located inside a National Park Service unit. National parks operate under different management authorities and conservation responsibilities than many other federal public lands.
Supporters of the legislation have focused on the distinction between opening new areas to OHV recreation and allowing state-legal vehicles to travel existing roads that are already used for motor vehicle transportation. What Happens Next
S. 2970 will now advance to the full Senate and awaits a vote on the floor. ORBA will continue to advocate for the Senate to pass S. 2970 and other federal proposals affecting motorized access, public lands and the businesses that serve the off-road recreation community.
Resources
• Read S. 2970 and track the legislation
• Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee - September 30 Business Meeting
• SEMA - Motorized Recreational Access Policy