Two Utah BLM Travel Plans Open for Comment; Third Released for Early Review
June 24, 2026
If you hold a Special Recreation Permit (SRP), or are planning to apply for one, on BLM public lands in southern or northeastern Utah, two pending travel management plans have comment deadlines in less than a month. A third plan, for the Dolores River area near Moab, is not yet open for comment but has preliminary alternatives available for early review.
On June 22, 2026, the Bureau of Land Management released formal public comment documents for two Utah travel management plans (TMPs) and published preliminary alternatives for a third. Together, these planning efforts cover more than 816,000 acres and roughly 1,490 miles of routes across the Kanab, Vernal, and Moab field offices.
View the BLM press release covering all three plans and access the project pages HERE.
What is a Travel Management Plan and Why Does It Matter?
A Travel Management Plan (TMP) is the formal planning document that designates inventoried routes as open, limited, or closed for motorized vehicle use. These designations determine whether your clients, or your own support vehicles, can legally drive to a trailhead, river put-in, hunting camp, 4WD tour destination, or dispersed campsite.
SRP holders may retain or receive access where BLM specifically authorizes administrative, permitted, or other limited use, but that access is not automatic and should be confirmed route by route in the TMP and permit terms. Even where an SRP remains valid, the route network as a whole can affect the commercial viability of an operation, including the quality of the experience you sell, the level of competition or conflict from general public OHV use, and your ability to operate efficiently.
The Three Plans and What Is Being Decided
Trail Canyon TMP, Kanab Field Office, Kane County
This plan covers approximately 326,000 acres and 469 miles of routes in the Kanab area, including Coral Pink Sand Dunes, the Parunuweap Canyon and Moquith Mountain Wilderness Study Areas, and corridors adjacent to Zion National Park.
Four alternatives are under consideration:
- Alternative A would designate 473 miles as OHV-open and 19 miles as OHV-closed.
- Alternative B would designate 326 miles as OHV-open and 2 miles as limited.
- Alternative C would designate 423 miles as OHV-open and 5 miles as limited.
- Alternative D would designate 446 miles as OHV-open.
This plan could affect outfitters running OHV tours, equestrian trips, canyoneering operations, hunting shuttles, and photography guide services in Kane County.
Comment deadline: July 22, 2026.
Dinosaur North TMP, Vernal Field Office, Uintah and Daggett Counties
This plan covers approximately 345,000 acres and 700 miles of routes along the Utah-Wyoming-Colorado border area, including Browns Park, the Green River corridor, and access near Dinosaur National Monument.
The choice of alternatives is consequential:
- Alternative A would carry forward the 2008 TMP open network and designate approximately 421 miles of currently undesignated routes as OHV-closed.
- Alternative B would designate approximately 285 miles as OHV-open, plus additional limited routes, for roughly 304 total miles available for OHV use.
- Alternative C would designate approximately 637 miles as OHV-open, plus limited routes.
- Alternative D would designate approximately 694 miles as OHV-open, plus limited routes.
Routes along the Green River, Browns Park SRMA, and the Diamond Mountain area are directly relevant to licensed river outfitters, hunting guides, and 4WD tour operators.
Comment deadline: July 23, 2026.
Dolores River TMP, Moab Field Office, Grand County
Preliminary alternatives for this plan, covering approximately 127,000 acres and 321 route miles along the Dolores River canyon, were released on June 22 for informational review.
No comment period is currently open.
A formal Draft Environmental Assessment is expected in fall or winter 2026.
Outfitters operating in the Moab and Grand County area should review the preliminary maps and route reports now on the BLM ePlanning website so they are prepared to comment when the Environmental Assessment is published.
How to Comment on Trail Canyon
Deadline: July 22, 2026
Online:
Visit the project’s BLM ePlanning page and select “Participate Now.”
Email:
[email protected]
Public Meeting:
July 9, 2026
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Kanab Center
20 N. 100 E.
Kanab, UT 84741
Contact the Kanab Field Office at 435-644-1200 for accommodation requests.
How to Comment on Dinosaur North
Deadline: July 23, 2026
Online:
Visit the project’s BLM ePlanning page and select “Participate Now.”
Mail:
BLM Vernal Field Office
Attn: Dinosaur North TMP
170 South 500 East
Vernal, UT 84078
Make Your Comments Count
BLM is asking commenters to be specific and to provide new, technical, or scientific information relevant to the analysis and alternatives.
The most useful comments identify specific routes or uses affected, provide site-specific business or access information, question the accuracy of BLM’s information or assumptions with a reasonable basis, or identify reasonable alternatives or mitigation measures.
Generic form letters carry less weight. Explain which routes you use, what commercial activities they support, how route designations would affect your clients or operations, and which alternative best preserves the balance of access, resource protection, user experience, and business predictability your operation depends on.
For assistance drafting comments or to coordinate an AO member comment coalition, please contact the AO team directly.
The July 9 public meeting in Kanab is an opportunity to speak directly with BLM staff. We encourage members with Kane County permits or adjacent permit areas to attend.
