The Bureau of Land Management announced Tuesday it is reassessing the 2023 Labyrinth Canyon and Gemini Bridges Travel Management Plan, which closed 317 miles of routes to off-highway vehicles while maintaining access on about 700 miles of open routes and 100 miles of limited-use trails across the 300,000-acre area.
The Labyrinth Canyon area encompasses more than 40 miles of the Green River as it flows through towering red rock canyons, featuring ancient petroglyphs, archaeological sites, and landscapes that provide what local outfitters call “multi-day flatwater wilderness experiences suitable for families.” The west side was designated as Wilderness by Congress in 2019, and the river corridor itself is protected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
According to the motorized access advocacy group The BlueRibbon Coalition, the reassessment could reopen 148 miles of previously closed routes. The original 2023 restrictions affected what the BlueRibbon Coalition describes as “world class routes such as Dead Cow Loop, dispersed camping over looking the Green River, Jeep Safari routes and many other crucial motorized trails.”
An interactive map from the BLM shows which specific routes are being considered for reopening.
This decision extends far beyond Labyrinth Canyon. According to the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, this is one of 11 travel management plans under a court-supervised settlement agreement. The BLM has completed five of the 11 plans so far, with remaining decisions affecting other Utah landscapes.
The stakes are high given Utah’s booming off-road vehicle population. According to state records, more than 200,000 ORVs are registered in Utah alone, not counting vehicles trailered in from other states.
The reassessment comes after the BlueRibbon Coalition’s federal lawsuit against the 2023 plan. A federal judge denied an emergency injunction from the group in March 2024.
The case was scheduled for a hearing in May 2025 but has been stayed at the Trump administration’s request. The BLM now cites Executive Order 14313, “Establishing the President’s Make America Beautiful Again Commission,” as justification for reconsidering the restrictions.
“To be clear, motorized groups suffered multiple legal defeats, and in March 2024 a Federal District Judge ruled that they were likely to lose on the merits of their case,” said Steve Bloch, SUWA legal director.
Laura Peterson, SUWA staff attorney, said the reassessment represents “a naked political decision to appease radical off-road vehicle groups and Utah politicians.”
How residents can participate
Public comments are being accepted through Friday, October 24, 2025. Comments can be submitted online at ePlanning or mailed to: Labyrinth/Gemini Bridges TMP, 82 Dogwood Avenue, Moab, UT 84532.
The BlueRibbon Coalition is mobilizing supporters to participate in the comment period, promoting what it calls the “Grand Reopening of our Off-Road Trails in Moab.” The organization has partnered with Rocky Mountain ATV/MC to give away a custom 2025 GasGas EX 300 “Dead Cow Loop Edition” motorcycle to promote participation in the comment process.
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