BLM Utah Salt Lake Field Office Prospector OHV Trail System Development

Background: BLM Salt Lake Field Office SLFO is seeking proposals to assist with development of an OHV/ATV trail system in the West Desert of northern Utah. The Prospector Trail system was proposed by Utah State Parks as a means to provide long-distance trail riding opportunities for OHV/ATV riders and their families to supplement off-set the short range riding opportunities currently available at Fivemile Pass Recreation Area and Little Sahara SRMA both popular OHV/ATV play areas. The concept is a series of loop routes around several mountain ranges in the West Desert with connector routes between each loop and extending from Fivemile Pass Recreation Area to Little Sahara. The development, operation and maintenance of an off-highway vehicle OHV trail system is important to achieving the missions of the Forest Service, BLM and the State to provide outstanding OHV recreation opportunities for the public. In 2014, a Memorandum of Understanding for joint cooperation in the development, operation and maintenance of the Prospector Trail system was signed by Tooele and Juab counties; Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest; Utah Division of Parks and Recreation; School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration; and BLM Salt Lake and Fillmore Field Offices. This project is to continue support of the goals that are outlined in the MOU. Objectives: The primary objective of the Prospector Trail system is the establishment of an identified, well-marked and maintained long-distance trail system with adequate support facilities such as trailheads that is open to the general public for recreational motorized vehicle use especially OHVs, ATVs and UTVs that is free from conflict with other public land users and private landowners, provides protection for natural resources, respects public and private property, promotes responsible use of OHVs and provides an economic boost for surrounding communities.