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Trails committee reports motorcycle intrusion on Littles Creek trail, highlights countywide bike-safety outreach
Summary
Committee members said motorcycles recently rode onto the non-motorized portions of Littles Creek, damaging switchbacks; staff and volunteers plan signage and continued education after a summer of bicycle rodeos in Emery County schools.
At a meeting of the Emery County Trails Committee, members reported recent motorcycle use on the upper portion of the Littles Creek non‑motorized trail and discussed steps to reinforce signage and public education.
Committee members said two motorcycles were observed cutting switchbacks on the Orange Trail portion of Littles Creek during early May, compacting tread and creating shortcut lines that widened and eroded the trail. Terry (committee member) said signage marking the lower part of the loop is clear but the upper loop needed additional posts and 4x4 sign supports. "It's all marked now with a little Littles Creek Mountain Bike Trail and ... at the top of Littles Creek in two places there's coroplast that says non motorized trail," Terry said.
The committee discussed immediate fixes and monitoring. Forest Service staff said they will coordinate with fire crew resources to install additional 4x4 posts and coroplast signs on the upper loop and at the cattle guard access points where local speakers said there is not yet a sign. Members asked the county and volunteer groups to report new incidents so staff can respond quickly.
Members also reviewed recreational education efforts this spring. Terry reported the committee carried bicycle‑safety rodeos into all six Emery County elementary schools and that volunteers and law‑enforcement partners taught helmet use and on‑road safety. "The kids had a blast," Terry said, adding that the program produced visible safety behavior by some students on local roads.
The committee discussed outreach to the mountain‑biking community and publication venues: Littles Creek and other routes are now listed on Mountain Bike Utah and the Avenza map cited by BLM staff. Members said clearer maps and targeted educational language—explaining why trail hardening and no‑path‑building rules exist—would help reduce outlying trail development and ad‑hoc pads built by users.
Committee members asked the Forest Service and BLM to follow up with placement of signs at the cattle guard access and at two upper‑loop locations, and they agreed to monitor whether additional enforcement or community education is needed.
The committee did not adopt a formal new policy at the meeting; members described a mix of short‑term fixes (post and sign installs) and longer‑term outreach (maps and education) to reduce motorized intrusion and unplanned trail building.
