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Keep the Owyhees Open: Support Responsible Motorized Access
Here in Idaho, we’re lucky to have places like the Owyhee Canyonlands — vast, rugged country where you can load up your family, hop on your OHV, and explore miles of trails and remote roads. It’s one of the last places in the West where you can truly choose your own adventure on public land. For motorized recreationists, the Owyhees are a gem. But we also know this land isn’t just for us — it’s shared with wildlife like bighorn sheep, sage-grouse, and golden eagles, and with folks who enjoy it in all kinds of ways. That means we all have a part to play in taking care of it. Unfortunately, a few bad apples have gone too far — cutting illegal trails across sensitive areas, dumping trash, and disrespecting both the land and private property. That kind of behavior doesn’t just give OHV riders a bad name — it threatens the very access we all value. Now the BLM is updating its Travel Management Plan for the Grand View area — 251,000 acres in the heart of the Owyhees. This plan will decide which trails stay open, which ones get closed, and how access will look in the future for motorized users like us. We believe in keeping public lands open — but open and managed responsibly.
Grand View Area
The green lines represent the inventoried routes. There are actually far more routes on the landscape.
Our Voices Were Heard: BLM Pulls Grand View Travel Plan
Thanks to strong public engagement — especially from Idaho’s OHV community — the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has officially withdrawn the Grand View Travel Management Plan Environmental Assessment.
According to the BLM, this decision came “due to a large volume of public comments regarding Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use and demand for access.” They’re now going back to reassess the data and revalidate their route inventory before moving forward.
This is a big deal. It shows that when we come together, speak up, and offer constructive feedback, we can make a real difference in how public lands are managed.
At Mountain West Recreation Alliance, we worked hard to connect with local dirt bike clubs, race organizers, and off-road groups to help raise awareness about the original plan and why it needed a second look. We're grateful to see our state leaders — Senator Risch, Senator Crapo, and Representative Fulcher — stand with their constituents and help elevate our concerns to the BLM.
We’re encouraged by the BLM’s willingness to work with the OHV community to improve the plan. We’re ready to keep showing up, offering clear feedback, and doing our part to protect access and the integrity of these landscapes.
Importantly, this decision means that for now, the 1,365 miles of routes in the Grand View area remain open.
We know this isn’t the end — the BLM will likely come back with a revised plan based on all the input submitted. That’s why we’re doubling down on our commitment to education and outreach. We’re producing more how-to videos and resources to help riders learn how to leave effective, respectful comments — because as this moment proves, comments work.
We all want to keep riding. That means we also have to protect the freedom to ride by showing up, staying informed, and being responsible stewards of the land. Thank you to everyone who made their voice heard — let’s keep the momentum going.