NEWS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Steve Stuebner, 208-484-0295; steve.stuebner@gmail.com
Owyhee County contact: Jim Desmond, Natural Resources Director, 208-249-0571; ocnredir@aol.com
Owyhee County Commissioners urge outdoor recreationists to show respect for roads, trails and other users
Do your homework before you go: Know where to go; what trails are open to you
MURPHY – (March 10, 2022) – Recreationists may be eager to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors as things begin to thaw in March, but it’s crucial that they respect the land in Owyhee County, stay off muddy trails and roads, practice proper trail etiquette, stay on designated trails and follow the rules set forth in Bureau of Land Management travel management plans, officials said.
“When Ridge to Rivers tells people to stay off muddy trails in the Boise Foothills, people often come out here in the Owyhee Front and look for trails and roads to ride as an alternative,” said Jerry Hoagland, an Owyhee County Commissioner and rancher. “But it’s just as important to avoid tearing up the trails and the land in Owyhee County as it is anywhere else.”
“We expect outdoor recreationists to treat the land and other trail users with respect when they’re out here in Owyhee County,” Hoagland said. “It’s really important that people do their homework before they come here to know where it’s appropriate for them to recreate and do it responsibly.”
Owyhee County is one of the most spectacular locations in the state of Idaho for exploring 4.9 million acres of public lands – canyons, high plateaus, lava features and more. Some of the most popular destinations are the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Trails near Murphy, Wilson Creek non-motorized trails, Bruneau Canyon overlook, Big Jacks Creek, and the 100-mile Owyhee Canyonlands Backcountry Byway from Grand View to Jordan Valley, Ore.
Key issues that Owyhee County Commissioners are concerned about with regard to outdoor recreation in Owyhee County, include:
• The need for mountain bikers to practice proper trail etiquette on non-motorized singletrack trails in the Wilson Creek area. Mountain bikers riding at high speed on the trails can spook horses and cause potential safety issues.
The proper procedure is as follows: If mountain bikers encounter horseback riders on the trail, step off the trail, talk to the horseback riders so the horses know you’re human, let the horseback riders pass by, and continue your ride.
• Stay off muddy raids, Mieral for ild on donuts on owhee County roads is not appropriate at
any time. Owyhee County has an ordinance on the destruction of public roads 6-1-8 (misdemeanor); 6-