Travel Rules Of Recently Designated National Monuments
As established by Presidential Proclamations and specific legislation
This table, prepared by the International Mountain Bicycling Association, traces the history of Presidential and Congressional actions that govern travel in national monuments. Generally, the President and Congress did not specify travel rules prior to the year 2000. The National Park Service managed most of the national monuments designated prior to 1996 and applied its general travel rules to those monuments.
In 1996, President Clinton assigned for the first time management responsibility for a national monument, the Grand Staircase-Escalante, to the BLM. That Proclamation did not include travel language. Subsequent proclamations did address travel and most used nearly identical language that prohibits motorized and mechanized travel "off road." But the Proclamation for the Giant Sequoia National Monument differed, in that it clearly distinguished rules for motorized from mechanized. Travel rules in the 2000 law that established the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument were more specific than ever before and clearly delineated mountain biking as an acceptable use.
When the President or Congress designates a new national monument, the agency in charge of that area creates a site-specific management plan. That plan usually includes travel rules. The plan must abide by any rules specified by the President or Congress.
This table demonstrates that the process and rules governing national monuments vary and are evolving. Language that prohibits "off road" travel confused some managers and users. Local plans will need to further delineate the meaning of the words used by the President and Congress.
The International Mountain Bicycling Association supports a widespread ban on cross-country (off of trails and roads) travel by both motorized vehicles and bicycles. IMBA encourages the agencies managing national monuments to clarify their travel management policies by reaffirming that bicycle use on dirt roads and trails in new national monuments is legal and appropriate, if supported by specific travel plans.
Listed chronologically
|
Area |
State |
Acreage |
Date |
Agency |
Travel rule in Proclamation (or legislation) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument |
WA |
111,000 |
8/82 |
USFS |
Public Law 97-243; Sec. 4(d): "In order to protect the significant features of the Monument, reduce user conflicts, and ensure visitor safety, the Secretary is authorized to control times and means of access and use of the Monument and parts thereof; Provided, That nothing in this section shall be construed as to prohibit the use of motorized vehicles, aircraft or motorboats for emergency and other essential administrative services, including those provided by State and local governments, or when necessary, for authorized scientific research." |
|
Grand Staircase-Escalante |
UT |
1,700,000 |
9/96 |
BLM |
None in Proclamation; final plan limited bicycles to roads. |
|
Grand Canyon-Parashant |
AZ |
1,014,000 |
1/00 |
BLM |
" For the purpose of protecting the objects identified above, all motorized and mechanized vehicle use off road will be prohibited…" |
|
California Coastal |
CA |
Various islands |
1/00 |
NPS |
None (no trails or roads on these lands). |
|
Pinacles |
CA |
About 21,000 (7,900 added 1/00) |
1/00 |
NPS |
None (Existing NPS regs apply) |
|
Giant Sequoia |
CA |
327,769 |
4/00 |
USFS |
" For the purposes of protecting the objects included in the monument, motorized vehicle use will be permitted only on designated roads, and non-motorized mechanized vehicle use will be permitted only on designated roads and trails,…" |
|
Agua Fria |
AZ |
71,100 |
6/00 |
BLM |
" …all motorized and mechanized vehicle use off road will be prohibited,…" |
|
Canyons of the Ancients |
CO |
164,000 |
6/00 |
BLM |
" The Secretary of the Interior shall prepare a transportation plan that addresses the actions, including road closures or travel restrictions, necessary to protect the objects identified in this proclamation." |
|
Cascade-Siskiyou |
OR |
52,000 |
6/00 |
BLM |
" the Secretary of the Interior shall prohibit all motorized and mechanized vehicle use off road and shall close the Schoheim Road,…" |
|
Hanford Reach |
WA |
195,000 |
6/00 |
Fish & Wildlife Service |
" …the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Energy shall prohibit all motorized and mechanized vehicle use off road,…" |
|
Ironwood NM |
AZ |
128,917 |
6/00 |
" The Secretary of the Interior shall prohibit all motorized and mechanized vehicle use off road…" |
|
|
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains |
CA |
272,000 |
10/00 |
BLM and USFS |
Public Law 106—351, Sec. 5: "(a) RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES GENERALLY.–The management plan required by section 4(a) shall include provisions to continue to authorize the recreational use of the National Monument, including such recreational uses as hiking, camping, mountain biking, sightseeing, and horseback riding, as long as such recreational use is consistent with this Act and other applicable law. (b) MOTORIZED VEHICLES.–Except where or when needed for administrative purposes or to respond to an emergency, use of motorized vehicles in the National Monument shall be permitted only on roads and trails designated for use of motorized vehicles as part of the management plan. " |
|
Vermilion Cliffs |
UT |
293,000 |
11/00 |
BLM |
" For the purpose of protecting the objects identified above, the Secretary shall prohibit all motorized and mechanized vehicle use off road, except for emergency or authorized administrative purposes." |
|
Craters of the Moon enlargement |
ID |
661,287 |
11/00 |
BLM and NPS |
" For the purpose of protecting the objects identified above, the Secretary shall prohibit all motorized and mechanized vehicle use off road, except for emergency or authorized administrative purposes." |
