EXPLORE Act Section 121 Biking on Long-Distance Trails

What the BLM is proposing

EXPLORE Act Section 121, Biking on Long-Distance Trails, requires identification of no fewer than 10 long-distance biking trails and no fewer than 10 future trails/areas across public lands managed by Departments of the Interior (DOI) and Agriculture (USDA). These trails must be at least 80 miles long with a majority of the trail being on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and the USDA Forest Service. The project will begin with an opportunity for the public and agency staff to nominate existing and potential trails. Following the close of the trail nomination period, agency officials will consider nominations, apply trail selection criteria and other resource considerations, and identify no fewer than 10 existing trails and no fewer than 10 potential trails/areas for final selection. Following trail selection, agencies will release a report including trail identification, implementation plans if available, and a summary of comments gathered through this nomination process. Following release of the report the agencies will implement trail decisions, including but not limited to publishing maps, installing signage, issuing promotional materials, and coordinating with stakeholders to leverage resources necessary for the stewardship, development, or completion of the selected long-distance biking trails. Recognition as a Biking on Long-Distance Trail does not in and of itself change federal policy, land use designations, or authorize any new on-the-ground activity or disturbances. Any new trails or related facility construction will require site-specific National Environmental Policy Act consideration.

Project timeline

This list reflects what the BLM has published and may be incomplete.

Who to contact