Public lands—something we all cherish, right? Well, apparently not by everyone. If you’ve been paying attention to the news much, you’d know it’s more complicated than a Sunday drive. Utah’s legislature has been in a tug-of-war with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) over 14 million acres. They’ve been itching to privatize it under the guise of “states’ rights,” and now the BLM has handed them a golden opportunity with its Bears Ears National Monument management plan.
I Fear This Is the Beginning of the End for Many Public Lands
While the BLM tries to protect cultural and environmental treasures, it’s gone and closed or limited access to vast OHV trails—over half a million acres closed, with another chunk under tight restrictions. Sure, hunting is still on the table, but good luck retrieving game without your trusty off-road vehicle.
This latest move has off-roaders fuming and gives Utah’s anti-public land politicians fresh ammo for their land-grab agenda. They’ll sell it to the highest bidder faster than you can say “mining rights.”
The BLM’s plan is well-intentioned—partnering with indigenous tribes to manage these lands—but the result? A bitter pill for the public, and it’s stirring up more anger than compromise. And guess who’s waiting in the wings? Politicians with no love for public land, promising to “return it to the people”—when really, they just want to sell it off.
So, while we’ve got 30 days to protest, the battle lines are drawn, and the stakes are high. Voice your concerns to the BLM—it’s still our land, for now.
For more on this topic, I urge you to read Jonathon Klein’s coverage at RideApart and Andrew McKean and other folks’ coverage at Outdoor Life.
