| There currently is lots of controversy about access to | | | | was now in place to protect two endangered species |
| Factory Butte. Located near Capitol Reef National | | | | of cacti from recreational impacts. The BLM also |
| Park, it has been a magnet for years for off highway | | | | announced that there were still lots of fun area, from |
| vehicles. It is many times described as a barren | | | | challenging terrain to easy-riding scenic loops to the |
| moonscape, or a towering monolith. For years people | | | | 2,600-acre "open play area" at Swing Arm City. OHV |
| have had almost unlimited access, until now! Author: | | | | riders will be able to access points throughout the |
| Bob Therrien Factory Butte Recreational Area, Utah is | | | | 148,500-acre Factory Butte area on the extensive |
| near Capital Reef National Park in Wayne County, | | | | network of designated routes that run from the Emery |
| Utah and seen off of highway 24. Currently there is | | | | County line in the north to the Garfield County line to |
| much discussion on how to protect its unique badlands. | | | | the south, and from Capitol Reef National Park on the |
| Much of the discussion is on how to control erosion | | | | west to Skyline Rim on the east. Other motorized |
| from ORV's (off road vehicles). The concern is | | | | opportunities exist at Factory Butte for everything |
| damage to the crust of the Mancos shale. The BLM | | | | from passenger car touring to single-track |
| announced fall of 2006 that it was limiting some | | | | motorcycling. Many locals and people from surrounding |
| motorized travel to designated routes while keeping a | | | | states who are avid off-roaders who worship Factory |
| popular off-highway recreational area open to | | | | Butte's wide-open terrain are angry about the new |
| cross-country travel. The area offers opportunity for | | | | rules. It's easy to see why. These wide open badlands |
| hiking, canyoneering, camping, cycling in addition to the | | | | are well suited for dirt bikes, and ATV's. The out of this |
| ATV's and 4WD vehicles. The lands are administered | | | | world landscape is one draw. It's one of the largest, |
| by the BLM. The BLM has noted the rare species of | | | | most spectacular badlands on the Colorado plateau. |
| fishhook cactus growing in the San Rafael Swell in the | | | | There are miles and miles of rolling hills that the wind |
| north to east of the Waterpocket Fold in the south. | | | | shaped the Mancos shale soil into a rider's paradise. |
| Unique formations include Mancos Shale, Morrison, | | | | Utah is one of the last Western states still largely |
| Dakota, Carmel, Entrada, Moenkopi and Curtis. The | | | | wide-open for travel on public lands. The BLM controls |
| Richfield, Utah Bureau of Land Management | | | | nearly half of Utah, and offers more than 70,000 miles |
| announced in Sept, 2006 that some limiting of the area | | | | of dirt roads, tracks and trails. |