Polaris and Foundation for America's Public Lands Award 10 OHV Grants Across Six States
Polaris and the charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management are putting more than $500,000 into 10 off-highway vehicle projects on public lands in six states.
- 10
- Over $500,000
- Nearly 450,000 miles
- 17
What Happened
The Foundation for America's Public Lands, the charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and Polaris announced the awarding of 10 grants to support off-highway vehicle (OHV) sites on BLM lands in six states. The partners say each project reflects their shared priorities: supporting OHV recreation, promoting safe and responsible off-road riding, enhancing the riding experience in and around high-use recreation areas, and partnering with local communities. The funded work covers safety improvements, wayfinding and new signage, modernization, better trail access, an enhanced visitor experience, and restoration and protection of the natural environment.
Over $500,000
Polaris and the Foundation for America's Public Lands are funding 10 projects across six states.
“BLM-managed public lands are home to some of the most exciting off-highway vehicle destinations in the world. Opportunities for riders are as rich and varied as the lands themselves. As the official charitable partner of the BLM, we know that ensuring safe, accessible experiences for 84 million visitors each year is a big task, and public-private partnerships like this bring the funding and stewardship needed to continue providing world-class experiences for generations to come.”
“The trails, dunes, and open spaces create opportunities for adventure, connection, and recreation. The Foundation for America's Public Lands and Polaris are investing in the places and communities that make off-road recreation possible. These grants give us the opportunity to partner with community groups, non-profits and BLM offices to support local efforts that promote responsible riding, enhance the riding experience, and strengthen stewardship.”
- Route 66 Portal Signage, Arizona: partnering with Tread Lightly! to replace outdated gateway signage along a 776-mile stretch across four Arizona OHV areas and BLM Back Country Byways.
- Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, California: with the BLM El Centro Field Office and Glamis Veterans, supporting community safety training and a clean-up event during Veterans Day weekend and California OHV Safety Week, and helping the local community group that manages the largest veterans offroad event in the country.
- Fort Sage OHV Area, California: the BLM Eagle Lake Field Office will improve access and safety around growing recreation use at the Widowmaker trailhead and the Fort Sage OHV area with new kiosks, interpretive panels, overflow parking and improvements to the Green Sticker Legal entrance road.
- Samoa Dunes Recreation Area, California: grant recipient Friends of Dunes will expand restoration work by removing invasive species and protecting snowy plover nesting sites, with new interpretive panels explaining the area's natural and cultural resources.
- Dove Springs OHV, California: Friends of Jawbone will replace the main entrance kiosk and update signage with maps, route information, safety guidance and responsible recreation messaging.
- Horsethief Recreation Area, Montana: the BLM Billings Field Office and Roundup Riding Club will add a new connector route, develop up to 10 miles of purpose-built motorized routes, and create an OHV training and obstacle area plus a new parking lot, kiosks and picnic area.
- Shoshone Trail, Nevada: a grant to the Nevada Offroad Association will build a one-mile designated trail linking Shoshone to Mill Creek Campground.
- Moab OHV Trailheads, Utah: the BLM Moab Field Office, in partnership with the State of Utah's OHV Recreation grant, will update trailhead kiosks and signage at popular OHV routes in the Moab area.
- Killpecker Sand Dunes Campground, Wyoming: in partnership with Wyoming's Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund, the grant helps the BLM Rock Springs Field Office begin revitalizing the campground, a primary gateway to a 12,000-acre open OHV area.
- Darnell Hill Open OHV, Wyoming: the town of Lovell and the BLM Cody Field Office will update infrastructure including a new double-vault restroom, accessible walkway, updated signage, campsite improvements and a children's OHV learner course.
The BLM manages nearly 450,000 miles of routes and trails on its lands, many of which still need to be inventoried, along with more than 200 designated OHV recreation sites open to responsible motorized use. It also oversees 54 National Back Country Byways spanning just over 3,000 miles across 11 western states. The release says this is the latest round of investments under the Polaris-Foundation partnership, which has now supported 17 OHV projects on BLM-managed public lands, expanding recreation access, improving rider safety and supporting local communities, volunteers and veterans groups.
Why this matters
The grants pay for trail access, signage, restrooms and rider-safety training on BLM lands that draw families, volunteers and veterans groups — and the release says those trips fuel local economies. Riders and the community groups, non-profits and BLM field offices in Arizona, California, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming are the direct beneficiaries.
Terms in This Story
- OHV
- Off-highway vehicle: a motorized vehicle built for use off paved public roads, such as all-terrain vehicles, side-by-sides and dirt bikes.
- BLM
- The Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. federal agency that manages large areas of public land, including motorized recreation sites and trails.
- National Back Country Byway
- A designated scenic route on BLM-managed public lands that is signed and promoted for touring.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.