A federal rule that’s been protecting wild forest lands for more than 20 years is suddenly at risk. Nearly 4 million acres in Utah — about half of our national forest land — could soon be open to new roads and logging.
The U.S. Forest Service is taking public comments on the proposal, but the window is only open until Sept. 19. That’s less than two weeks to speak up about the future of some of Utah’s most rugged, roadless landscapes.
Hear more about the rule and what's at stake on this episode of City Cast Salt Lake.
🚧 What Is the Roadless Rule?
The Roadless Rule was first enacted by the Clinton Administration in 2001 and prohibits road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvesting across nearly 60 million acres nationwide. The USFS held over 600 hearings across the country and received 1.6 million comments on the rule, which is still the most comments the agency has ever received on a single issue! And ever since, those protections have kept much of our pristine backcountry intact and shielded from logging and development.
🏔️ Why It Matters
These areas aren’t just pretty backdrops for hiking or camping (although they certainly are gorgeous). They’re crucial watersheds, wildlife habitat, and recreation spots. Conservationists argue that building roads fragments ecosystems, threatens clean water, and even makes wildfires more likely, since research shows fires often start near roads. On the flip side, supporters of doing away with the rule say more access could help with firefighting and rural economies.
📝 Want To Get Involved?
If you’ve got a favorite trail, fishing hole, or backcountry getaway in the Wasatch, Uintas, or beyond that you want to protect, now’s the time to put it into words. Comments can be submitted through the Forest Service’s website until Sept. 19. After that, the agency will draft a full environmental review and make a final call in 2026.
So consider this your heads-up!
