Stewardship committee backs pilot to curb 'high banking' on Fins and Things

The Grand County Sand Flats Recreation Area Stewardship Committee on March 19 heard a multi-slide presentation about 'high banking' — vehicle-driven berms that have formed along the north side of Fins and Things — and agreed to pilot a low-cost physical deterrent in selected locations.

The presenter described a photo sequence showing a bank that began within the trail line and progressed to points “100% off of the line of the trail,” creating braided routes, encouraging off-trail driving and producing safety risks. The presenter said a small field test done in March 2023 — two four-foot wooden posts set roughly a foot to 16 inches into the sand — remained in place in February 2026 and appeared to deter drivers: “Those posts were put up in March 2023, and they're still there in February 2026,” the presenter said. The presenter urged the committee to ask the Motorized Trail Committee for recommendations and to commit to trying an experimental pilot rather than a network-wide rollout.

Committee members debated materials and visibility: wooden posts with reflectors, white highway posts (about $50 each), rebar anchors, and whether cable would create an added safety hazard for motorcycles. One member said signs alone had not reduced the behavior in prior attempts. Several members emphasized the plan should be an experiment, with staff and partners identifying 3–5 test sites and monitoring maintenance and user behavior before any broader adoption. The committee did not take a formal vote; staff will coordinate the pilot sites and consult motorized-user groups and Red Rock 4-Wheelers.