Capitol Reef National Park Opens 12 Roads to OHVs, Shifting Vehicle Rules to State Law

This bill is straightforward: it authorizes the use of off-highway vehicles (OHVs) on a specific list of twelve roads inside Capitol Reef National Park in Utah. The big change here isn’t just allowing OHVs, but that the rules governing all motor vehicles—including these newly authorized OHVs—on these designated “covered roads” will shift from federal park regulations to Utah state law. This includes routes like Burr Trail Road, Cathedral Road, and Notom Bullfrog Road.

The Rulebook Swap: Federal vs. State

When you drive into a National Park, you usually operate under National Park Service (NPS) rules, which are often stricter than state highway laws, especially concerning vehicle types and noise. This bill, found in Section 1, essentially creates a carve-out for a dozen specific roads. For anyone driving a car, truck, or now an OHV on those routes, the park service takes a backseat, and you follow the Utah state motor vehicle code. This is a win for OHV enthusiasts, who gain access to scenic park corridors that were previously off-limits to their vehicles, and they can operate them under familiar state rules. For the park service, this means less control over how vehicles are regulated on those specific, though important, roads.

Who Feels This Change?

This legislation creates two distinct experiences within the park. If you’re a local or a tourist who owns an OHV (defined by Utah state law), you now have legal access to some seriously beautiful backcountry roads within Capitol Reef. This could boost tourism for certain recreational groups. However, for the traditional park visitor—the family in the minivan seeking a quiet, immersive nature experience—this could be a significant downside. OHVs are often louder and kick up more dust than standard vehicles. If you’re hiking near one of the covered roads, like Gypsum Sinkhole Road, the increase in noise and traffic, regulated only by state standards, could fundamentally change the atmosphere of your visit. This is the classic trade-off between maximizing recreational access and preserving the quiet, protected nature of a national park.

Implementation and the Long View

Because the bill is very specific about which roads are included—listing them by name—the implementation challenge isn't about figuring out where the rules apply, but how the NPS will manage enforcement and resource protection. Since the rules for vehicle operation are now tied to Utah state law, the park service might find its hands tied if it wants to impose stricter limits on speed, noise, or emission standards for resource protection on those specific routes. The concern among resource managers will be how to prevent increased traffic and OHV use on the covered roads from leading to unauthorized use or resource degradation on adjacent, sensitive park lands. This bill clearly prioritizes access and state regulatory alignment for these specific corridors, which could set a precedent for how vehicle use is managed in other national parks.