Off-Road News

Defending OHV Access to Public Lands

The SAN submitted comments to federal lawmakers defending continued use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) on federal lands in the Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel region in Southern California. The SAN opposes legislation (H.R. 6156) to designate as “wilderness” 475,000 acres of the federal lands located in Mono, Inyo and Los Angeles Counties. OHVs would be denied access to the land since motorized recreation is not permitted in wilderness areas. The bill was the topic of a hearing by a panel of the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee.

The SAN recommended an alternative approach that would protect our nation’s natural wonders and motorized recreation. The SAN recommended that the bill specifically protect OHV use on “cherry-stemmed” routes. These routes are often old roads, trails or paths formerly used for mining, logging or agricultural operations. The SAN also recommended the use of less restrictive land designations for portions of the land, such as a “Backcountry Recreation” designation proposed by the Blue Ribbon Coalition (www.sharetrails.org/backcountry). The SAN recommended continued access to the Furnace Creek Road.

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