Proposal Opens Most National Forest Trails to ATVs
The Trump administration proposes rolling back a Biden-era rule that restricts off-road vehicle use on national forests.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in National Parks
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Should most national forest trails be opened to dirt bikes and ATVs?
The Trump administration has proposed opening nearly all national forest trails to dirt bikes and ATVs. The plan would roll back the Biden-era travel management rule that restricts off-road vehicle use on national forests.
Why it matters
The change would shift decisions about trail access from the federal framework to local forest officials, affecting how public lands across the country are used and managed. Environmental groups and wildlife advocates have criticized the proposal.
The proposal would open nearly all national forest trails to dirt bikes and ATVs, reversing limits set by the Biden-era travel management rule. The final number of trails opened remains undetermined while public comment is ongoing.
The players
U.S. Forest Service
The U.S. Forest Service is a federal agency within the Department of Agriculture that manages the national forest system.
Trump administration
The Trump administration is the current federal executive branch led by President Donald Trump, which proposed the rule change.
The details
The administration would revise the travel management rule to expand off-road vehicle access, with local forest officials deciding trail access under the revised framework. The Forest Service, a federal agency under the Department of Agriculture, would oversee the process.
Timeline
November 6, 2026: Proposal to open national forest trails to dirt bikes and ATVs is reported.
Seasonal Patterns
The proposal reverses the Biden-era travel management rule that limited off-road vehicle use on national forests to curb trail damage. It represents a policy shift away from the federal restrictions that governed national forest access during the previous administration.
Travelers planning off-road trips on national forest land may find new trail access options if the proposal is finalized. Visitors should check local forest office guidance once the rule is in effect, since trail availability will be set by local officials.
The takeaway
Public land access is shifting between federal rules and local decisions, so travelers should watch how forest officials define trail use as the proposal moves forward.
Further reading
Explore more on National Parks for context on how public lands are managed across the country.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Elko Daily Free Press.
Live Poll
Should most national forest trails be opened to dirt bikes and ATVs?
