BLM Trail Designation Process

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has no nationwide regulation on mountain bike access. Though CFR regulations exist for nationwide management of OHVs on BLM land, none currently exist for mountain bikes. Decisions regarding which trails are open to mountain bikes are made at the local level. The BLM has an informal "open-unless-designated closed" policy for mountain bikes.

The BLM National Mountain Bicycling Strategic Action Plan provides guidance for mountain bike policies, but not official rules and regulations. Because this document is generally very favorable towards bicycle access, BLM planner Jack Placchi explained that restrictions are rare in areas not designated as Wilderness or Wilderness Study Areas.

The BLM's general management plans are called Resource Management Plans (RMP). They are updated though a NEPA process similar to Forest Plan updates in the U.S. Forest Service and typically require several years to complete. Trail use designations are most often decided in the RMP update. However, sometimes this is not possible, due to "size or complexity of the area, controversy, incomplete data or other constraints." In such a case, the BLM is required to define its process for formally designating uses for trails at a future date. (BLM Land Use Planning Handbook, Appendix C, page 19)

Mr. Placchi and Mark Goldbach, planner in Washington, D.C., recommended involvement in RMP and travel management planning process as the traditional, simplest way to open trails to mountain bike use. Many RMPs and travel management plans are currently being updated or developed.

If no RMP update is underway, mountain bike advocates can contact the local field office and request that a popular user created trail or trail network be formally recognized by BLM. Building a relationship with the land manager is very important. This person must be convinced of the route's merits and its importance to mountain bikers. If the field office is favorable to the idea, this can be done through an RMP amendment or revision. The BLM must follow NEPA regulations for this decision, but because it is confined to a smaller geographic area, a less time consuming Environmental Assessment (EA) may be used. This process usually takes a few months, given that the decision is not controversial and likely to be appealed by opponents. If the RMP has already recognized the area as a zone or niche for mountain bikes, an activity-level planning process (this does not require an RMP amendment) could lead to this route being officially recognized (and therefore eligible for maintenance, etc). This also requires an EA and can take several months.

Mountain bikers who have a favorite secret trail are advised to make the BLM aware of such routes, although under the "open-unless-designated closed" policy it is legal to ride these trails. While these social trails may have been safe in the past, the BLM is currently inventorying all local trail systems and routes not cataloged will not be eligible for services and could become illegal to ride. They will receive no funding for maintenance and construction or reroutes and they will never be mapped or considered for integration into a larger network of mountain bike trails. Further, once the trail system has been inventoried, the BLM will likely step up efforts to fine users of secret trails. Mountain bikers are better off building a positive relationship with local BLM land managers and letting them know of all the trails they ride.

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	BLM Trail Designation Process The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has no nationwide regulation on mountain bike access. Though CFR regulations exist for nationwide management of OHVs on BLM land, none currently exist for mountain bikes. Decisions regarding which trails are open to mountain bikes are made at the local level. The BLM has an informal "open-unless-designated closed" policy for mountain bikes. The BLM National Mountain Bicycling Strategic Action Plan provides guidance for mountain bike policies, but not official rules and regulations. Because this document is generally very favorable towards bicycle access, BLM planner Jack Placchi explained that restrictions are rare in areas not designated as Wilderness or Wilderness Study Areas. The BLM's general management plans are called Resource Management Plans (RMP). They are updated though a NEPA process similar to Forest Plan updates in the U.S. Forest Service and typically require several years to complete. Trail use designations are most often decided in the RMP update. However, sometimes this is not possible, due to "size or complexity of the area, controversy, incomplete data or other constraints." In such a case, the BLM is required to define its process for formally designating uses for trails at a future date. (BLM Land Use Planning Handbook, Appendix C, page 19) Mr. Placchi and Mark Goldbach, planner in Washington, D.C., recommended involvement in RMP and travel management planning process as the traditional, simplest way to open trails to mountain bike use. Many RMPs and travel management plans are currently being updated or developed. If no RMP update is underway, mountain bike advocates can contact the local field office and request that a popular user created trail or trail network be formally recognized by BLM. Building a relationship with the land manager is very important. This person must be convinced of the route's merits and its importance to mountain bikers. If the field office is favorable to the idea, this can be done through an RMP amendment or revision. The BLM must follow NEPA regulations for this decision, but because it is confined to a smaller geographic area, a less time consuming Environmental Assessment (EA) may be used. This process usually takes a few months, given that the decision is not controversial and likely to be appealed by opponents. If the RMP has already recognized the area as a zone or niche for mountain bikes, an activity-level planning process (this does not require an RMP amendment) could lead to this route being officially recognized (and therefore eligible for maintenance, etc). This also requires an EA and can take several months. Mountain bikers who have a favorite secret trail are advised to make the BLM aware of such routes, although under the "open-unless-designated closed" policy it is legal to ride these trails. While these social trails may have been safe in the past, the BLM is currently inventorying all local trail systems and routes not cataloged will not be eligible for services and could become illegal to ride. They will receive no funding for maintenance and construction or reroutes and they will never be mapped or considered for integration into a larger network of mountain bike trails. Further, once the trail system has been inventoried, the BLM will likely step up efforts to fine users of secret trails. Mountain bikers are better off building a positive relationship with local BLM land managers and letting them know of all the trails they ride.


Help \| Site Map \| Copyright