Utah’s lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management isn’t just a swipe at bureaucracy—it’s a direct threat to America’s public lands and by extension the people who use them, like outdoorsmen and motorcyclists. The bottom line more public land is about to disappear, or at the very least be at risk of doing so.
The state’s bid to seize 18 million acres managed by the federal government masks a grim motive: selling off our cherished spaces to developers and extractive industries. While the campaign postures as a fight for state control, it’s less about Utahans managing Utah and more about paving over wilderness to make a buck.
Fourteen States Are Backing the Lawsuit
This isn’t just Utah’s problem. Fourteen states, along with trade groups and anti-public land interests, have jumped aboard, backing the lawsuit that could imperil 211 million acres of federal land nationwide.
If successful, the consequences are staggering: fewer trails to ride, fewer streams to fish, fewer campsites under the stars. What’s at stake isn’t just land; it’s the shared American experience.
But the fight isn’t over. Public land means public say. Groups like Backcountry Hunters and Anglers are rallying to push back. The Supreme Court might not even hear Utah’s case, leaving it to languish in lower courts for years.
Until then, it’s up to us to protect what’s ours—write, vote, and speak up. Because once sold, these lands are gone for good.
For more great reporting on this topic, make sure to follow Jonathon Klein’s reporting over at RideApart. He’s keeping a close eye.
