The federal government is yet again targeting off-road enthusiasts and anyone who actually enjoys using public lands. Under the pretense of “environmental protection,” the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and other agencies have been shutting down trails, seizing control of massive swaths of land, and restricting access to the very people who care about these areas the most.
It’s a blatant power grab, and it’s time we call it what it is—bullshit.
Take Utah, for example. The state is fighting back with a lawsuit against the feds to take control of millions of acres that the government has locked up for years. Utah’s Attorney General has had it with the federal government dictating how the state can use its own land. They’re not trying to sell it off—they just want to manage it in a way that actually makes sense for the people who live there.
Utah is taking a stand against what it sees as federal overreach by filing a significant lawsuit against the U.S. government. The state’s Attorney General, backed by Governor Spencer Cox, is challenging the federal government’s control over millions of acres of land within Utah. Specifically, the lawsuit targets what’s known as “unappropriated land,” which makes up a significant portion of the 70% of Utah that is currently under federal control.
The state argues that this land should be managed locally, not by distant federal agencies. The lawsuit isn’t about privatizing the land or selling it off; it’s about giving Utah the authority to manage these lands in a way that benefits both the environment and the people who live there. Governor Cox has made it clear that the state is better positioned to make decisions about land use, whether it’s for recreation, grazing, or conservation.
Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes speaks in the Gold Room at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City, Aug. 20, 2024. State leaders are suing the federal government over 18.5 million acres of Bureau of Land Management land, which covers about 34% of Utah.
Part of the state’s frustration stems from recent decisions by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to close off significant portions of public land to off-road vehicles. For example, the BLM recently restricted 317 miles of trails near Moab, citing environmental concerns. Utah, along with Wyoming, is pushing back, arguing that these closures are unnecessary and that they harm the communities that rely on access to these lands for recreation and economic activity.
No more camping at Government Wash at Lake Mead because of so-called “crime”.
And it’s not just Utah feeling the squeeze. In Nevada, the National Park Service has recently closed the Government Wash portion of Lake Mead National Recreation Area to motor vehicle access and overnight camping as of August 1, 2024. They’ve blocked Government Wash Road and 8.0 Mile Road, cutting off vehicle access entirely. Their excuse? They claim it’s because some stolen cars have been dumped out there.
But let’s be real—how is that the fault of outdoor enthusiasts?
Instead of going after the criminals who dumped those cars or questioning how they got through the supposedly guarded entrances in the first place, they’re punishing everyone else. Why shut down a whole area to law-abiding citizens who just want to enjoy the outdoors? It’s another example of how the government is using any excuse it can find to restrict access and control public lands, all while ignoring the real issues.
Off-road enthusiasts aren’t the villains here. They’re the ones out there fixing trails, cleaning up trash, and making sure the land stays accessible for everyone. They’re the real stewards of these public lands, not the bureaucrats in Washington who wouldn’t know a trailhead from a pothole.
The fact is, these so-called “environmental protections” are just a cover for a federal land grab. They’re stripping states of their rights, shutting down access, and killing the off-roading culture that’s been a part of these areas for generations. It’s an attack on our freedom to enjoy the land that belongs to all of us, not just a bunch of out-of-touch bureaucrats.
This isn’t just about Utah or Nevada. It’s happening all over the country, and it’s time we stand up and fight back. The federal government has overstepped its bounds, and if we don’t push back now, we’re going to lose even more access to the lands we love.
It’s time to tell the feds to back off and let the people who actually know and care about these lands manage them.
