After all of the swirling controversy over land access this year, we were beginning to think that things would finally quiet down during this final stretch to 2018, but we were wrong. Yesterday the state of Michigan announced that they will open 6,300 miles of trails to off-road vehicles, following a law enacted last year which authorized off-road vehicle use on state forest roads. This same law also required Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to develop an inventory of these traversable routes, which we hope will be wrapped up and available to the public in the near future.
While this is certainly exciting news for enthusiasts, it places a monumental responsibility on those who will be using these trails regularly. It will be up to them to ensure these roads and their surrounding environments are treated with the utmost respect if they’re to remain open for future generations. Amidst the torrent of irresponsible use and destruction of land this past year, you can bet that state and federal governments, along with major activists groups will be watching this situation closely. To learn more about Michigan’s off-road vehicle laws, available trails, proper safety and proposed closures, check out the DNR website here.
To learn more about how you can do your part in keeping trails open and protecting the lands we love, visit the Tread Lightly page here.
