- A federal judge ordered closure of 2,000 miles of trails.
- The ruling aims to protect desert tortoises and habitat.
- Off-road fans warn closures may hurt small desert towns.
Off-road fans heading into California’s Mojave Desert soon might want to double-check their maps. A federal judge has ordered the closure of roughly 2,000 miles (3,200 km) of off-highway vehicle routes to protect a creature that moves at a fraction of the speed of a tuned four-wheeler. The creature in question is the desert tortoise.
The ruling targets trails that cut through critical tortoise habitat across the western Mojave. Environmental groups argued the routes allow trucks, dirt bikes, and side-by-sides to drive directly through sensitive desert ecosystems. The judge agreed and ordered the Bureau of Land Management to shut them down.
Related: Feds Shut Down A Third Of All Moab Off-Road Trails Sparking Outrage
The decision follows years of legal battles between environmental groups and the federal agency responsible for managing the land, the Los Angeles Times reports. Judge Susan Illston ruled that off highway vehicles remain a significant ongoing threat to tortoise survival in the region.
Desert Tortoise Population Collapse
The numbers behind the ruling are grim. Scientists say desert tortoise populations in some monitored areas have dropped by as much as 96 percent since the 1970s. Researchers claim crushed burrows, disturbed soil, and destroyed vegetation all play a role in the decline.
Tortoises spend most of their lives underground in burrows they dig themselves. Those burrows don’t stand much chance against a fat-tired truck. And because other desert animals also use those shelters, losing tortoises can ripple through the ecosystem.
Still Plenty Of Room To Play
The ruling does not close the entire Mojave to off roaders. Around 3,800 miles (6,100 km) of routes will remain open, along with roughly 270,000 acres where vehicles can still roam freely across open terrain. Popular off road areas like Johnson Valley and other major recreation sites are expected to stay accessible, Jalopnik reports.
Still, the closures have sparked serious backlash among off-road enthusiasts and local businesses that depend on tourism. Some residents say the decision could damage small desert towns that rely heavily on visitors hauling trailers full of dirt bikes, ATVs and, maybe a few years from now, Kawasaki’s crazy motorcycle with legs.
Four-wheelers Not Solely To Blame
Supporters of the ruling say motorized recreation simply grew too large for the fragile desert ecosystem to handle. Critics argue off-roaders are being unfairly blamed for problems that include invasive species, disease, development, and climate change, which can all affect ecosystems.
The Bureau of Land Management now has until 2029 to develop a new route network that better protects wildlife. Until then the Mojave desert will remain a little quieter, a little dust free, and perhaps a little safer for a very slow animal that just managed to win the biggest race of its life.
Chris Chilton
Senior Editor
Chris is a seasoned automotive journalist with over two decades of experience. He has worked... Read full bio
