{"id":2298,"date":"2013-04-11T16:08:21","date_gmt":"2013-04-11T16:08:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanhiking.org\/?p=2298"},"modified":"2021-08-06T12:10:30","modified_gmt":"2021-08-06T16:10:30","slug":"motorized-recreation-off-road-vehicle-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanhiking.org\/motorized-recreation-off-road-vehicle-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Motorized Recreation – Off-Road Vehicle Position Statement"},"content":{"rendered":"
Background<\/b><\/h5>\n

The increased popularity of off-road vehicles1<\/sup> (ORVs) in recent decades has coincided with technological advances enabling these machines to penetrate deeper into the backcountry than ever before.\u00a0 High-powered engines driving aggressive knobby tires can quickly remove vegetation cover and erode soils along trails, primitive roads, and unauthorized, visitor-created routes.\u00a0 Research has demonstrated these motorized uses to be substantially more impacting to natural resource conditions and the experiences of recreational visitors than other non-motorized forms of recreation. Increasingly these machines are being used in places once considered pristine and wild. Furthermore, their use on federal lands has grown substantially, though land managers have frequently been unable to address the resulting resource damage to soils, vegetation, wildlife, cultural resources. In addition, their use has been the source of escalating user conflicts.<\/p>\n

Hikers visit our nation\u2019s parks, forests and deserts to escape the fast pace of modern society, connect with nature, observe flora and fauna, and experience solitude, fresh air, and natural sounds while exploring and enjoying the outdoors on foot. \u00a0Unfortunately, these experiences are increasingly at risk in many areas due to the proliferation and uncontrolled use of ORVs on public lands. ORV use is displacing or negatively affecting the experiences of hikers in all regions of the country. Hiking and trail organizations indicate that the widespread increase in ORV uses adversely affect the land, environment, and wildlife that are important to hikers.\u00a0 Hiking clubs have reported numerous examples of severe ORV damage and incursions on hiking trails. The sight and sounds of ORVs alter the remote, wild character of parks and forests and deny other visitors the quiet, pristine, natural experiences they seek.<\/p>\n

ORV use does more than damage the land and displace hikers: emergency trail\/route repairs, mitigation and rehabilitation of critical or sensitive resources are expensive and a drain on limited agency funds.\u00a0 Volunteer trail maintainers increasingly find themselves spending time repairing damage to hiking trails caused primarily by ORVs.<\/p>\n

AHS Position<\/h5>\n

American Hiking Society supports the principle of managing trails for the primary purposes for which they are designated. Other uses and types of travel should be evaluated for their impact on the primary use and purpose of the trail.<\/p>\n

American Hiking Society views ORVs as incompatible with hiking trails, including national scenic trails and trails on which travel by foot is a primary pursuit. American Hiking opposes the use of ORVs in wilderness study areas, roadless areas, and remote portions of backcountry areas within National Park System units, National Forests, Wildlife Refuges and Bureau of Land Management Lands, or other areas where natural resource protection is the prime management objective.<\/p>\n

Trail designations should be based upon the collective input of all stakeholders, which may include local users, American Hiking Society, and other national groups when dealing with federal lands, as well as any attendant resource concerns.\u00a0 In issues involving local and state trails, American Hiking may defer to the local hiking constituency.<\/p>\n

When requested by a local hiking constituency, American Hiking Society may assist on behalf of hikers or intervene to assist in the mitigation of conflict. Particularly in matters pertaining to federal land, American Hiking may speak on behalf of hikers at large, particularly where the hiking constituency is not organized.<\/p>\n

Recommendations for Land Managers <\/b><\/p>\n