In a major win for outdoor and adventure communities, the U.S. Senate has halted a proposal that would have allowed the sale of up to 3.3 million acres of public land. On June 24, 2025, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled Senator Mike Lee’s land sale provision violated budget rules and removed it from the reconciliation bill. The proposal targeted Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service lands in 11 Western states, sparking serious concerns among backcountry riders and conservationists.
Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR), an organization dedicated to preserving motorized access to public lands, actively opposed the bill and mobilized its community. While the immediate threat has been paused, Senator Lee plans to reintroduce a smaller version in future legislation.
BDR remains vigilant and continues to work with advocacy groups to protect recreational access. This recent outcome underscores the power of collective action in preserving the landscapes riders cherish.
BDR Press Release
BDR Statement on Public Land Legislation and Access Concerns
Update: June 24, 2025
Public Lands Sell-Off Halted—for Now
On June 24, 2025, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that Senator Mike Lee’s proposal to sell up to 3.3 million acres of public land violated Senate rules (the Byrd rule) and could not remain in the budget reconciliation bill.
This provision—which targeted BLM and Forest Service lands across 11 Western states—has been removed from the current reconciliation package. It’s a significant victory that prevents the immediate threat to many of the backcountry roads and trails that BDR riders cherish.
This success proves that rider voices—and the voices of outdoor communities—can make a real impact. However, Senator Lee has acknowledged plans to reintroduce a scaled-down version of the sale in future legislation.
BDR is actively working with advocacy partners and monitoring upcoming legislative changes.
Thank you to everyone who spoke up—your voices helped safeguard the lands we explore and ride on.
June 15, 2025
To the BDR Community,
We are aware of the recent legislation introduced by Senator Mike Lee that would require the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service to identify and sell between 0.5% and 0.75% of federal lands—estimated at 2 to 3 million acres across 11 Western states—including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming—over the next five years. The stated goal of the bill is to increase land available for housing in growing Western communities, where affordability and availability are increasingly pressing issues.
BDR’s mission is to create, preserve, and protect off-highway motorized access to public lands. As such, our focus in reviewing any proposed land policy is clear:
Will this expand or restrict access to public lands in the backcountry for BDR riders?
While the bill does include several built-in protections—such as exclusions for national parks, national monuments, recreation areas, wilderness, and areas with existing rights-of-way—we remain concerned about the broad scope and the potential for unintended impacts on recreational access.
The concern is not theoretical. Many BDR and BDR-X routes rely on access to BLM and Forest Service lands that could be affected by this policy. Though the bill emphasizes a public input process and prioritization of parcels adjacent to existing development, until a clear and detailed map of the affected parcels is made public, there remains uncertainty around which areas could be impacted.
We recognize the need to address housing challenges in rural gateway communities. These same communities are often essential partners in supporting BDR riders—providing fuel, lodging, food, and emergency services. Strong rural communities benefit all of us who enjoy backcountry riding.
However, it’s critical that solutions to housing shortages do not come at the expense of long-term access to our shared public lands.
We are currently reviewing the full language of the bill and have been in communication with partner organizations to better understand its implications. We are also encouraging legislators and policymakers to ensure that motorized recreation access is explicitly protected in any land disposal efforts.
We appreciate the thoughtful concern from many in our community who have reached out to ask where BDR stands. We believe it is essential to approach these issues with accuracy, clarity, and a strong collective voice, and we are committed to sharing more as the situation evolves.
For those seeking a deeper dive into this issue, we encourage you to review this detailed breakdown from the Utah Public Lands Alliance:
Understanding the Lee Amendment – A Balanced Look at the Public Lands Sale Bill
We will continue to monitor this and any future proposals that affect access to the backcountry routes we’re dedicated to protecting.
Thank you for your support!
Public Land Sale (Temporarily) Blocked—Here’s How You Can Help Protect BDR Trails
Step 1
Dial your Elected Official’s phone number.
• You can call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to connect to your legislators in Washington D.C.
• You can find your Senators’ contact information HERE.
• You can find your Representatives’ contact information HERE.
Step 2
When the answering machine or person picks up, use the message below to guide your comments.
Step 3
Hello, my name is [insert name].
I’m calling to urge you to oppose any proposals in the budget reconciliation process that would mandate the sale or privatization of America’s public lands.
As someone who relies on these lands for outdoor recreation—whether it’s motorcycling, hiking, hunting, or camping—I’m deeply concerned about losing access. These lands are vital to outdoor recreation, tourism, and access to America’s backcountry.
Please protect public access and reject any provision that would authorize the selloff or transfer of federal public land. Our public lands must remain in public hands.
Thank you!
Step 4
Hang Up.
What is BDR?
Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) is a non-profit organization founded in 2010 with a mission to create, preserve, and protect off-highway adventure riding routes on public lands across the United States. BDR develops detailed GPS tracks, maps, and travel resources to support riders exploring remote regions responsibly.
With routes spanning states like Colorado, Utah, and Arizona, BDR promotes tourism in rural communities while advocating for sustainable access to trails and wilderness areas. Over the years, BDR has become a leading voice in the outdoor motorized recreation space—helping protect the freedom to explore America’s backcountry.
Today, BDR continues to influence land policy and rally rider communities to safeguard the trails and lands that fuel their passion.
