In September, the Trump administration announced its plan to expand destructive off-road vehicle (ORV) use in the Labyrinth Canyon area. The move came less than two years after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) finalized a plan determining where ORV use is and is not allowed in the region (see autumn-winter 2023 feature story).

Few places in redrock country are as well-known and loved as the Labyrinth Canyon stretch of the Green River, which was congressionally designated as a “scenic river” under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 2019. For more than 40 miles, the river’s placid waters flow through towering canyon walls, providing an unparalleled multi-day wilderness adventure suitable for boaters of all ages and experience levels.

The 2023 Labyrinth Canyon Travel Management Plan struck a thoughtful balance between motorized and non-motorized recreation and protected this internationally recognized river corridor, including its irreplaceable cultural and historic sites, critical wildlife habitat, and unmatched quiet recreation opportunities. The plan was a long overdue step forward, closing about 300 miles of dirt routes and two-tracks while keeping open over 800 miles of routes across a roughly 300,000 acre planning area—in addition to the more than 4,000 miles of routes that remain open in the greater Moab area. Over 4,500 SUWA members and supporters submitted comments on the plan.

Now, at the behest of the State of Utah and others, the Trump administration is planning to reverse course and open 141 miles of previously closed routes, including along the Green River and within Hell Roaring and Mineral Canyons. The people pushing this course reversal aren’t seeking reasonable access or balance in public land management. They simply want to allow ORVs anywhere and everywhere, regardless of the impact to ecosystems, wildlife, and other public land visitors.

We expect the BLM to issue a decision later this year to expand ORV use in Labyrinth Canyon. While this is a significant step back, it is not the final word. We will not stop fighting to Keep Labyrinth Canyon Wild.

—Laura Peterson

The above article first appeared in the Autumn/Winter 2025 issue of our Redrock Wilderness newsletter. Become a member to receive our print newsletter in your mailbox 3 times a year.