Congressman Mike Kennedy of Utah’s Third District and Congressman Jeff Crank of Colorado’s Fifth District introduced the Public Lands Access Restoration Act (PLARA) on March 26. The proposed legislation aims to restore broad recreational access to public lands, reversing a policy change made in 2005 that limited such access.
The issue is significant for outdoor enthusiasts who have seen reduced opportunities for motorized and non-motorized recreation due to the closure of roads and trails not included in agency inventories after the policy shift. The bill seeks to ensure that public lands remain accessible unless there are specific concerns related to resource protection or public safety.
“Utahns have watched 1,500 miles of trails be restricted under a federal rule that was designed without us in mind,” said Congressman Mike Kennedy. “Public lands should be open to the public; it is that simple. PLARA restores this common-sense standard, giving Utahns recreational access to the landscapes that have defined us for generations.”
Congressman Crank said, “America’s public lands support a wide range of recreational uses. The Public Lands Access Restoration Act will limit restrictions of motorized access to concerns over resource protection and public safety. This bill expands opportunities for Coloradans and all Americans to access and enjoy our public lands.” He also thanked Rep. Kennedy for co-leading the bill and acknowledged the Trails Preservation Alliance for highlighting the issue.
Chad Hixon, Executive Director of Trails Preservation Alliance, commented on shrinking opportunities despite Colorado’s growing population: “This isn’t an issue of overuse, it’s an issue of over-concentration driven not by a lack of trails, but by a lack of access to them.” Becky Leinweber from Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance said, “By improving the process for maintaining and designating routes, this bill supports responsible motorized access while ensuring decisions remain grounded in resource protection and public input—benefiting all who recreate on our public lands.”
Karen Bailey-Chapman from Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) added support: “This bill offers an important policy shift… We strongly support the return to an ‘open unless posted closed’ policy on public lands.”
The PLARA would codify this approach within U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management areas by limiting restrictions only when necessary for resource or safety reasons; requiring clear signage; mandating updated maps; allowing comment periods before closures; applying restrictions as narrowly as possible; and reviewing justifications every five years.
