The Forest Service has proposed a rule that would allow motorized vehicles on nearly all national forest trails. Under the plan, every trail, two-track, and road would be open to dirt bikes, ATVs, and other off-road vehicles unless the agency explicitly designates it as closed.
The proposal is a major shift in how the agency manages public lands. Rather than requiring each trail to be opened to motorized use, the new rule would require each trail to be closed if it is to remain off-limits. That would affect nearly all of the national forest system's trails.
The rule is still a proposal and has not yet been finalized. If adopted, it would broadly expand motorized recreation across the national forest system.