US Forest Service Opens 5 Million Acres to Off-Road Vehicles After Trump Voids 50-Year Protections
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 15
US Forest Service Opens 5 Million Acres to Off-Road Vehicles After Trump Voids 50-Year Protections
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 15
Summary
5 million acres in Idaho and Montana are being prepared for off-road vehicle access under a US Forest Service plan that would let dirt bikes, ATVs, trucks and snowmobiles enter far broader areas of public land.
Trump triggered the move by rescinding Nixon- and Carter-era orders that had confined vehicles to designated roads and trails; the administration calls those limits outdated and burdensome.
500,000 miles of roads were already open across federal lands and parks, but opponents say wider access will fragment habitat, damage streams and push species including grizzlies, lynxes, sage-grouse and desert tortoises into greater risk.
Environmental groups say they cannot directly sue over the rescission itself, but plan to challenge the coming rulemaking as Trump broadens logging, grazing, fishing and energy access on public lands.
A court just rejected similar environmental rollbacks. Can the administration's new off-roading plan legally succeed?
As off-roading booms, can our public lands and endangered species survive the surge in new vehicle access?
Can managed off-road trails boost rural economies without destroying the natural landscapes that draw visitors?
Federal Lands at Risk: Trump’s 2026 Order Opens 58 Million Acres to Off-Road Vehicles, Sparking Conservation and Legal Fights
Overview
In May-June 2026, the Trump administration launched a major policy shift by rescinding Executive Order 11644, a rule set by the Nixon Administration over 50 years ago to protect wildlife, water quality, and natural resources from off-road vehicle (ORV) impacts. This move marks a clear departure from long-standing environmental protections, as the administration actively reduces statutory limits that previously restricted ORV access. The change opens the door for broader use of federal lands by ORVs, raising concerns about increased environmental damage and conflicts among different land uses, while signaling a new direction in federal land management policy.