Thumbs Down on Sedona BLM

[Marine359]

Last week, worst boondocking experience ever. Loy Butte Rd, aka FS525 loops all the way around from a few miles north of Cottonwood to mid-town in Sedona. Many of the camping areas have been closed. So, all rvs crowd into the few that are open near the road. Lots of trash left behind and beer cans being thrown on side of road by ATVs. If you like hearing the grating noise of ATVs 20 hours a day, this is the place for you. And, although off-roading near camp areas is posted off-limits to ATVs, they race through anyway with music blaring at 150db and throwing billows of gravel and sand dust into the air near your campsite. Although, I don’t condemn ATV use on public lands, I feel off-roading and peaceful boondocking don’t mix well. Hopefully BLM will reopen some areas to boondockers only, but until then forget about camping off FS525. We left two days earlier than planned, but almost couldn’t leave, as some knucklehead pulled a burned out camper van right in front of our rig during the night, so we couldn’t get out. Had to wait for him to return then bang on his door.

[Fushux]

I am an avid ATV rider but I will be the first to admit we are our own worst enemies. So many times we attempt to educate people on the need to follow rules and leave places cleaner then we found them but they just shrug their shoulders and continue to doing these things. Then, when places get shut down for these activities, they will be the first to complain about government oversight and harsh restrictions.

[TandW]

Originally Posted by Fushux

I am an avid ATV rider but I will be the first to admit we are our own worst enemies. So many times we attempt to educate people on the need to follow rules and leave places cleaner then we found them but they just shrug their shoulders and continue to doing these things. Then, when places get shut down for these activities, they will be the first to complain about government oversight and harsh restrictions.

Tax them at the point of purchase and explain what they must do as a part of the whole to reduce that tax. That should force the manufacturers to educate their customers about being responsible.

[Jon_C]

We stayed there too back in October, lots of dust having to camp right on the road but its the only area we found we could get our motor home into. We spent most days offroading in the Jeep which helped

[Marine359]

Originally Posted by Fushux

I am an avid ATV rider but I will be the first to admit we are our own worst enemies. So many times we attempt to educate people on the need to follow rules and leave places cleaner then we found them but they just shrug their shoulders and continue to doing these things. Then, when places get shut down for these activities, they will be the first to complain about government oversight and harsh restrictions.

I did notice that most of the ATV owners were conscious of campers and pretty courteous. The problem was all the people that rented ATVs from town, and felt their rental fee entitled them to rampage through public lands. Obviously they dont own ATVs, because if they did, they would know the consequences of their actions.

[twogypsies]

The other areas were probably closed because of the problem you encountered. The only way to get results of use is to contact the proper authorities about what you endured. The rental companies should perhaps give more instructions on where to go and how to respect property.

We've been to the Sedona/Cottonwood areas going way back in time when they were small, beautiful towns with minimal facilities. We've returned many times since then and saw how conditions for enjoyment have changed. Too many people, stores, restaurants have destroyed the beauty of the area, in my opinion. Too many trying to make money off the scenic beauty that's Sedona. Some won't agree, I'm sure. We will never return but will always remember the Sedona that was.

[Nwcid]

That does not sound good. We are planning on staying in that area next week.

One of the reasons we chose that are was access to riding areas. We boondock in places we are able to ride from.......

[arcaguy]

This happens to a lot of places. I remember when Branson Missouri was a sleepy little town in the Ozarks that had good trout fishing below the dam and good bass fishing above the dam. I have no idea if the fishing is any good any more because the sleepiness is gone and I have no desire to go to Las Vegas in the Ozarks. People tend to find popular areas and love them to death.

[Old-Biscuit]

The areas were closed due to 'stealth' campers....trash, fires, and abuse

Glad they did it...was becoming a real problem

Now it is basically confined to that Fire Service Road but enforcement is limited at best

[mbridinger]

The last time I camped on FR525 was 4 years ago, it was terrible then. There has been talk of closing 525 down as well. Find another area. If I want to visit that area now, I camp near Flag and drive down for a day trip. Cottonwood and camp verde is an option as well.

[rrsutherland]

Originally Posted by TandW

Tax them at the point of purchase and explain what they must do as a part of the whole to reduce that tax. That should force the manufacturers to educate their customers about being responsible.

Mixed feeling regarding this viewpoint. I'm glad there are a few people in the world with a good enough heart to believe this approach could actually work. On the other hand I've spent my life in the West witnessing the urbanization of the free and open spaces I loved as a kid and young man. Areas near and dear to me have completely banned ATVs. Where they used to be useful for getting back and forth to bathrooms and boat docks and fishing areas others felt they were race vehicles and the roads were their private tracks. I can't help but believe that demonstration of entitlement would only be enhanced if they were assessed taxes or fees with their purchase of an ATV. I'm cynical enough to believe some people are just plain rude! I and mine ride responsibly and call out and report bad behavior when we see it

[mbridinger]

Originally Posted by TandW

Tax them at the point of purchase and explain what they must do as a part of the whole to reduce that tax. That should force the manufacturers to educate their customers about being responsible.

Your solution sounds like socialism.

[Bobby F]

Originally Posted by TandW

Tax them at the point of purchase and explain what they must do as a part of the whole to reduce that tax. That should force the manufacturers to educate their customers about being responsible.

Problem is, I doubt that tax would stop at ATVs. Biking around SE Arizona BLM in the desert, I see old couches, tires, dead popups . . . They weren't carried in on ATVs. So we (boondocking RVers) would also be a target.


But if BLM went to a yearly permit system and dedicated the money to the BLM land, I'd gladly pay.

[RichdlP]

Originally Posted by Marine359

Last week, worst boondocking experience ever. Loy Butte Rd, aka FS525 loops all the way around from a few miles north of Cottonwood to mid-town in Sedona. Many of the camping areas have been closed. So, all rvs crowd into the few that are open near the road. Lots of trash left behind and beer cans being thrown on side of road by ATVs. If you like hearing the grating noise of ATVs 20 hours a day, this is the place for you. And, although off-roading near camp areas is posted off-limits to ATVs, they race through anyway with music blaring at 150db and throwing billows of gravel and sand dust into the air near your campsite. Although, I don’t condemn ATV use on public lands, I feel off-roading and peaceful boondocking don’t mix well. Hopefully BLM will reopen some areas to boondockers only, but until then forget about camping off FS525. We left two days earlier than planned, but almost couldn’t leave, as some knucklehead pulled a burned out camper van right in front of our rig during the night, so we couldn’t get out. Had to wait for him to return then bang on his door.

Conditions off of Fr525 and Fr525c dispersed camping areas have been deteriorating every year for many years before the pandemic. Word of mouth about a good thing has sent an army of campers cramming into these areas which seems to have ruined it for the time being. Meanwhile, Sedona city council is pushing restricted use for ORVs (not supported by the USFS) and further reducing the available designated camping areas (which is supported by the USFS). Not sure what can be done to slow the rental ORVs down though. All of the off road rental businesses in Sedona send their clientele out west of Sedona to explore the connecting roads and the beauty of red rock country. We take our side-by-side out there at least once a year (just did so today) and understand the critical relationship between campers, off-roaders and the desires of the residents that live near there. I can also attest to the fact that some camper vehicles are going a buck-90 down these roads and I’m sure a few of them are surrounding area residents that also enjoy pushing the pedal to the metal too.

Respect, share and enjoy!