IMBA:

Mountain bicyclists are facing significantly reduced access in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in Montana. Following a possible new regional policy, the Forest Service is recommending that at least 275 miles of singletrack in nine roadless areas be made off-limits to bicycles. Many of these trails are epic, destination-worthy routes that have been ridden for nearly 20 years.

Entire trail systems and important connector trails are at risk. The Snowcrest area alone contains 127 miles of singletrack currently open to bikes. In the Electric Peak area, cyclists will be banned from a 40-mile singletrack loop and multiple side trails.

IMBA and local cyclists urged the Forest Service last summer to preserve existing bicycle access to these trails, but the agency did not follow our recommendations.

Unless cyclists take action, the Forest Service will zone these lands as “Recommended Wilderness,” and will ban bicycles. Although many national forests around the country allow existing uses such as mountain biking to continue in Recommended Wilderness, Beaverhead-Deerlodge will not.

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