This dark scenario is what's happening at the time of writing, but isn't necessarily permanent. The Red Rock 4-Wheelers are trying hard to address concerns of the green crowd, the BLM, and, of course, 4x4 owners. Ber Knight and Jeff Stevens are two club members who deserve some recognition for their hard work in this arena. It would be nice to have some new Safari trails, such as the Killer Kane Mine and the Pickle Trails, as well as legal side routes such as Eagle's Dare and the Rusty Nail on the Golden Spike Trail and the Gates of Hell and the Escalator on Hell's Revenge. With the exception of the last two, these are now open, legal routes. Who knows? They might be added to the official Safari line-up someday.
Figuring out what's going on in Moab and your favorite off-road playground regarding land-use rights is a daunting task at best. We think that with Jeff, Ber, and the rest of the Red Rock 4-Wheelers working hard to address everyone's concerns in Moab, we'll end up with hundreds of miles of open trails to enjoy. If you have any questions about what's legal and what's not, contact the BLM's Moab Field Office at (435) 259-2100 and speak with Russ von Koch or any of the other persons in the recreation branch. As this is being written long before the Safari and you're reading it after the Safari has been held, you might want to give the BLM a call and see what, if any, changes have been made before you make any trips to Moab.
If you're experiencing some of these same difficulties where you like to off-road, try contacting your local BLM office to see what you could be doing to keep roads and trails open. In many places, the BLM is doing everything it can to keep us off our lands. Sometimes, though, you find a kindred spirit working for the BLM who wants to help us keep our lands open for multiple uses.