O/T: Closed offroad trails

[k9tim]

I'm curious how many out there have run into their favorite trails closed to the public.

When I was growing up we had some awesome trails behind our house in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado- Part of Roosevelt Natl Forest.
There were cattle guards in place and where there weren't there were gates with Natl Forest signs asking offroaders to close the gates.

At some point, somebody bought the property in RFL that the access roads went through, fenced off the trails or put 3+ foot diameter boulders in the way. Access is impossible without causing damage to these fences (and visiting the big house if caught).

Confessing ignorance here, is this sealing entrance points legal? I really miss going back there- there were old miners cabins, streams, climbing hills, etc... Most people who went back there (myself included) never left the trails, never left trash, and in general we would tread lightly.
Such a shame.... Is this common these days?

[k9tim]

I'm curious how many out there have run into their favorite trails closed to the public.

When I was growing up we had some awesome trails behind our house in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado- Part of Roosevelt Natl Forest.
There were cattle guards in place and where there weren't there were gates with Natl Forest signs asking offroaders to close the gates.

At some point, somebody bought the property in RFL that the access roads went through, fenced off the trails or put 3+ foot diameter boulders in the way. Access is impossible without causing damage to these fences (and visiting the big house if caught).

Confessing ignorance here, is this sealing entrance points legal? I really miss going back there- there were old miners cabins, streams, climbing hills, etc... Most people who went back there (myself included) never left the trails, never left trash, and in general we would tread lightly.
Such a shame.... Is this common these days?

[H3HUMVEE]

I'm afraid that is a growing problem ... when I first started wheeling in the 70's I could drive right off of my property on to countless miles of off road trails surrounding a lake that was 23 miles in circumference .. now all that that is gone and in it's place there are three golf courses and thousands of homes http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif

[Lucifer]

I've heard stories that you used to be able to drive offroad in California. To bad there just stories. Now there all moving to Idaho, Damn't

[NEOCON1]

places being closed in cali is very common the mice and butterflys have priority http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif

[ketcat]

It's very common and the only way to change it is to get involved. Talk to the Forest Service and BLM, join a club etc.....

[k9tim]

It really is a sad thing.
Ketcat- I think you are 100% right.
Something I am going to be looking into for these few trails I really miss.

[daddyo]

It is as common as it is sad.

There are lots of people and organizations that do not want people to go offroad. They are well organized, they have allies in power, and they spend time and money on their cause.

What you can do......

1) Don't screw up offroad (leave trash, drive off of established trails, damage the environment, etc.)

2) Join a group (The Blue Ribbon Coalition is probably the best and most effective) that is an ally to your cause, and lobbies on your behalf.

3) Get involved. Many offroad websites have land use forums where you learn about stuff. Write a letter to a politician against a trail closure even if you are not interested at all in that trail (then someone from another state will, hopefully, do the same for the trail near you).

4) Vote smart. Generally, Republicans are more offroad friendly than Democrats. Generally, anti-gun candidates are more hostile to offroading than pro 2nd Ammendment candidates.
The Blue Ribbon Coalition can help a lot by paying attention to how individual politicians have voted in the past.

Remember that you are part owner of public land.

Andrew

[Grandman]

I doubt the land was purchased , Public land is being closed every where to protect the wilderness . Didnt you know humans are ruining it ?

Support your local off road clubs and national level too or your not going to walk on " public "land pretty soon .

[k9tim]

All very good advice.

Worth a lil bump.

[Mike B]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Lucifer:
I've heard stories that you used to be able to drive offroad in California. To bad there just stories. Now there all moving to Idaho, Damn't </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes, you used to be able to 4 wheel all over the place in Cal. I grew up in So. Cal and lived there from the mid-1960s to mid-1990s. There used to be alot of trails and good off roading. It's sad to see what all the development and environmentalism has done to that state. I now live in North Carolina and it's no better here. Not as much development, but it seems all the land is owned by someone. However, in NC there are two pretty decent off road areas, Uwharie and Tellico.