(*This story was originally published as OHV Closures and Up to Date Information About Restrictions in The Elevator in June, 2023. As such, this information may be out of date.)

Closures and new restrictions on OHV areas have been happening all over the nation but it’s been happening a concerning amount in Oregon. From the coast range all the way in eastern and southern Oregon. They are getting out of hand and people aren’t happy. 

Avid users of those areas aren’t happy about it at all and are doing their all to stop or even slow down the rapid spread of restrictions and closures. These closures are happening because of all sorts of reasons ranging from environmental issues to wildfires and people wanting to use these areas for something else. There was a proposal to open a huge trail system from pretty much one side of Oregon to the other.  But unfortunately for avid OHV users it got shot down in court due to concerns that it would disrupt and destroy wildlife in the area.  Sarah Cuddly said “this was a huge win for environmentalists and a big step forward for the future.”

What’s it About and Who’s Affected?

OHV or off highway vehicle is just what it sounds like. It’s a vehicle that isn’t road legal for the most part. So it includes dirt bikes, quads, SXS, and modded everyday cars and trucks. These areas are the only places where you can ride these vehicles without getting in trouble for the most part.

Places Affected

In places like browns camp, which is a huge OHV area that lots of people enjoy. But it’s getting affected by things like wildfires and temporary closures. Also permanent closures but those are very rare and hardly ever happen. Rob Johnson said “they love going to browns camp and it’s always a blast and it’s always the highlight of my week.” So this place has a big impact on a lot of people who actively use it.

Sales of Off-Road Toys

The sales of the off road toys hasn’t slowed down very much at all. There’s been a slight decline in the past years, said the top salesman at power motor sports. On the repair side of things is a different story. Ron from apex Motorsports says there’s been a huge decline in people coming in to get bikes and quads repaired” and also said if it wasn’t for them selling merchandise that the business wouldn’t be here today.” He’s hoping that things turn around for his business in the future.

McCubbin’s Gulch

There’s been talks of one OHV area called McCubbins Gulch. Environmentalists want to turn the area into all hiking and mountain biking trails. Even though there’s already designated trails for walking. There’s no mountain bike trails but there’s plenty of room for them on the main trails.

There’s a big spot where everyone used to camp called Cooks camp. Everyone who rides there and has gone there for years has called it that. It’s been a big part in the history of mcCubbins. Now it’s all gone. Or at least it’s been flattened. Kyle baitman said he was the one who made the trails in the spot when he was little and was sad to see it gone” 

One person who actively uses this area named Kyle Baitman said it’s stupid and laughable that the national forest is even considering this. They are taking trails that we worked so hard to build and ripping them away from us. He also said he’s been riding and camping here for over 40 years.

Natural Occurrences

Natural occurrences are one of the biggest things environmentalists like to bring up to stop or slow down the process to make new OHV areas or shut them down. 

A lot of them are worried about people ruining the land. Like putting tire marks in the dirt or tearing up spots where animals live which are very valid points. But people who use the land lots if not all respect and don’t have that intent to hurt or disturb anything. Kyle Baitman said “he respects the land and does his best to not leave his mark on it.”

Negatives of OHV Areas

There aren’t many negatives but there’s a few. Lots of people love to partake in drinking or other things while in these areas. Which isn’t the best but it’s what people do. 

People also have fires which is fine when it’s not fire season but sometimes people don’t know that and they start ones in the middle of summer and people say they see it happen all the time. 

Logging OHV Areas

Logging is one of the biggest reasons OHV areas get closed. They have been a big problem for people who use these areas. Also the environmentalists don’t like them either because they are destroying the land. One place that’s in Colton that’s not really an established riding area but people ride there and it’s been destroyed by logging. But not very many people talk about it because they don’t know about it. 

OHV users can find all the up to date information about road closures and all sorts of other information at 

https://www.oregon.gov/odf/recreation/pages/motorizedtrails.aspx