So I spent the better part of 150 minutes scouring the GCNRA website and other sites trying to find out if ohvs were legal in the Orange Cliffs section of the GCNRA, all to no avail. I did find a picture a Jeeper took of a no ohv sign at what I assumed was the border of the Maze district of Canyonlands, but nothing on the GCNRA. Fast forward to last week, and I physically had to travel 45 miles on my quad to get to the Orange Cliffs section of the Rec Area only to find a brand new sign specifically outlawing ohvs, street legal ohvs, pets, fires, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness within the Rec Area! OK, so the last three weren't actually on the sign, but they might as well be if the first four are. So apparently, the Rec Area is just an extension of Canyonlands NP, and its following their same lame rules!?
It ticks me off that the GCNRA hides this info. It ticks me off that they make no mention of the discrimination they have for ohvs anywhere a normal human might look. It ticks me off that they don't do us the courtesy of at least mentioning on the sign by the highway that this trail is a 45 mile dead end for ohvs (street legal or not). It ticks me off that you must physically cross a river and ride all the way to the border before you can find out you're not welcome in one of the prettiest places in OUR state. It further ticks me off that someone can slap a street legal kit on a 500cc 2 stroke dirt bike with a decibel level somewhere near that of a jet engine, and go right on into the Rec Area AND the NP! But our street legal, spark arrested, fairly quiet ATVs must stop at the boundary? Horse $#it.
Why do I care? Because the Rec Area is cutting us out of literally one of the best riding areas in Utah. If this little sliver of the GCNRA would allow us passage, we could ride the 16 miles of Poison Springs, cross the Dirty Devil, ride twenty miles to Sunset Pass, then decide to go left or right. Right would take you to the Hite Bridge and hwy 95. Left would take you to the Flint Trail, Hans Flat, Big Ridge, Sam's Mesa, Robber's Roost, and eventually clear on in to Green River! It's a connecting piece of land that ties in over 350 miles of prime trails and roads!
We need to get this section opened up to ohvs. There is no logical reason on God's green Earth that we should not be allowed to ride this area. It's one of the most remote places in the lower 48. It receives less than 400 people per year, and all must see it by high clearance 4x4 or motorcycle. ATVs do nothing to the roads that the other's do not. And 90% of those existing roads were made by locals trying to make a living off the land, NOT by the Park Service (like they'd like you to believe). I think these roads inside this Rec Area boundary ought to be used for RECREATION!
What say you?

The whole thing is pretty lame. I saw some interesting dirt roads in Capitol Reef and asked a ranger the same thing. Is a street legal RZR good to go. Got a big fat NO!. When I asked as to why a truck/jeep/car/motorcycle was okay, she had no answer. Hell. Even a smart car which is about the same size, if not smaller is okay. there is no rational reason for this ban.  

Valleysol wrote on 04/10/17 at 10:41:03:


Thank you Valleysol. I will get on this. I have a burr under my saddle about this particular area. We have enough National Parks in this state. We don't need a Rec area acting like another one!

Wow!  They even named it after you Glen!  You are well known!