No doubt these are the signs most hated by off-roaders and we’re seeing more and more them every time we go out.  We’ve all encountered them, often in places that makes us seriously question the sanity or very genetic makeup of who put them there.  I once encountered one in the middle of a trail, seven miles from the nearest entry point!  Sometimes trails ARE closed at the behest of over-zealous environmentalists for no other reason than to harass off-roaders.  But not always.

I spent a day with a CORVA (California Off Road Vehicle Association) team marking trails around Randsburg, California and learned that some CLOSED signs are actually for our benefit.  There was a significant push for the BLM to close all trails in the area and CORVA was seeking to keep major routes open.  By limiting traffic to designated routes, we avoided having the entire area closed to off-road travel.  But riders who choose to ignore the CLOSED signs are jeopardizing the entire program.   Unfortunately, there aren’t always enough volunteers to support all the trail projects CORVA would like to do.  As a result some trail closures aren’t nearly as friendly.  A BLM manager admitted to me that some closures I complained about were the result of a “paper exercise”.  Their office was ordered to limit the environmental impact of off-road activities in certain areas and lacking the manpower to thoroughly investigate the usage, they simply looked at a map and arbitrarily decided which routes to leave open and which to close – without any concern for or even knowledge of the usage, safety, or popularity of the trails.  Now we can whine and complain about how “they” are ruining our sport, but until we step up and do our part, we don’t really have any right to do so.  If we, as responsible off-roaders were doing our part and supporting our off-road organizations and volunteering for their cleanup and trail maintenance projects and for BLM trail projects, they would have the resources to make more thoughtful and intelligent decisions.  And we might even be able to have some say in those decisions.  But as long as our activity is restricted to whining about loss of riding areas and indiscriminately riding where ever we please without regard for private property and other users and ignoring CLOSED signs, we are inviting the environmentalists and eco-Nazis to step in and control the situation. 

Responsible off-roaders realize that some areas are not appropriate for off-road activity.  The best way to preserve our riding areas is by demonstrating good citizenship and responsible stewardship over the areas we still have.  In Limited Use Areas, stick to the designated trails.  Keep the trails and staging and camping areas clean.  “Pack it it, pack it out”.  Avoid “cutting corners”.   Ride responsibly near other campers and private property.  There are plenty of places to go fast and do stunts.  There is no excuse for roosting and dusting campsites or local establishments.  That just gives the eco-Nazis more ammunition!