On March 6th, following a meeting, I was invited into to see a map.   Its vision filled my head.  On the west was Brigham City on the east was the Utah Wyoming border.  On the south was Monte Cristo and on the north was the Utah Idaho state line.  In between clearly marked with dark lines were the roads and trails, introduced as the Shoshone National Recreational Trail System.  This designation is to be given by mandate of the Senate and House of Representatives to forever after set aside this system of trails and roads for the shared use of American's no matter what their form of preferred recreation conveyance may be.

Draft of the Potential Shoshone National Recreational Trail System.  (Any and all routes on this image are subject to change and final approval.)

This vision has not come without effort.  The map in front of my eyes was the culmination of many years of hard work and cooperation  by Representative James Hansen (R-Utah), the Utah State Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks and Recreation, the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, various County and State government officials and other public and private land managers and owners.   This is the evidence of our OHV recreation registration fees being put to excellent use.  This plan has been developed in the sunlight with the full knowledge and cooperation of all appropriate public and private individuals.  Many public meetings were held to discuss the possibilities of this outstanding recreational and economic opportunity.

The scope of this trail system can hardly be comprehended.  I was told that it comprised some three hundred fifty (350) miles of roads and trails open for OHV use presently.  This interconnecting patchwork of trails and roads intersect fifteen (15) cities and historical sites of interest in three (or is it four) Utah counties.

It will require at least one year to survey all the trails and record the tracks on GPS to validate the trail locations and recommended use.  Thereafter appropriate signage will be required throughout the system to provide the needed direction and preservation.

For those who may be concerned about the motorized access into some of the forests and deserts covered by this area, this action will have a very beneficial effect and do more to protect the environment than to harm it.  By providing a major trail system with loops and destinations, the natural inclination of the motorized enthusiasts will be to plot their courses that allow them to circumnavigate several loops included in the trail system.  This will actually reduce the impact on the surrounding areas by maintaining a flow of traffic rather than cherry stem activity units that so frequently invite abuse at the distant ends of such dead end trails.  This will also assure our aging population of their rights to access publicly owned lands without further restriction and unneeded wilderness designations.

The majority of the trails and roads identified in this trails system are intended for high clearance vehicles, (4x4, Motorcycles, and ATVs) with winter use by Snowmobiles. This will permit only the most nominal  and cost effective efforts of maintenance for such users.  In fact 100% of this system is on roads and trails that have previously been designated and manged to OHV use.

The Shoshone National OHV Trail System is yet another piece of the puzzle that will ultimately permit the preservation of OHV travel and recreation throughout the State of Utah from border to border.  Several additional pieces of the puzzle beyond the scope of the Shoshone remain to be negotiated and designated.  All the pieces are needed to complete the Governor's vision of a recreation enabled state, for the advantage and use by its citizens and visitors, be they national or international.

The next opportunity to explore will be to put together an annual Shoshone Trail Jamboree to permit a major extravaganza and sharing of our unique Utah resources with our fellow citizens and national visitors.  Several of the communities may wish to put together their own jamborees to maximize the opportunity and economic advantage offered by this resource.  Welcome, one and all.

I hope you will all share my enthusiasm and great pleasure in this monumental trail designation.   It will truely be the best way to protect and preserve at the same time reap enormous economic advantages to several of our more isolated communities in northern Utah.