Backcountry Discovery Routes

Backcountry Discovery Routes
Name	Backcountry Discovery Routes
Formation	2009
Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	Moab, Utah
Region served	United States

Backcountry Discovery Routes is a nonprofit organization that develops off-highway motorcycle routes across the western United States, providing mapping, guidebooks, and route advocacy. The organization produces long-distance backcountry corridors in partnership with state agencies and recreation groups, supporting riders, land managers, and concessions in regions of Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Montana, Idaho and Oregon. It combines route planning, digital navigation, and trail stewardship to connect remote corridors near Grand Canyon National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and the Bureau of Land Management landscape.

Overview

Backcountry Discovery Routes creates published corridors designed for dual-sport and adventure motorcycles, offering downloadable tracks, printed guidebooks, and curated maps for travel through public lands such as National Park Service units and U.S. Forest Service districts. The organization maintains partnerships with regional tourism entities like Utah Office of Tourism, state departments such as the Colorado Department of Transportation, and conservation groups including The Nature Conservancy and local chapters of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. Backcountry Discovery Routes emphasizes responsible access that coordinates with law enforcement such as the National Park Service Rangers and resource managers at the Bureau of Land Management.

History and Development

Founded in 2009 by riders and advocates with roots in the adventure motorcycle community around Moab, Utah, the group emerged as part of a broader movement alongside organizations like the American Motorcyclist Association and off-road clubs that sought formalized routes across public lands. Early collaborations involved mapping corridors adjacent to landmarks like the San Juan Mountains and the Colorado River, and the program expanded during the 2010s with input from influencers in the motorcycle world such as community leaders and authors who contributed route narratives. Over time the nonprofit refined publishing methods, moving from paper maps to integrated GPS tracks compatible with vendors like Garmin and apps used by riders on corridors near Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument and Bears Ears National Monument.

Route Network and Notable Routes

The route network comprises multi-day corridors including long runs through terrain such as the Great Basin National Park environs, alpine passages in the Rocky Mountains, and desert sections near the Mojave Desert. Notable published corridors traverse regions adjacent to Zion National Park and skirt areas of Canyonlands National Park, while other routes link towns like Moab, Salmon, and Bend. Many routes incorporate legally sanctioned trails and two-track roads administered by agencies such as the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, with highlights referencing geological features like the Wasatch Range and cultural sites near Mesa Verde National Park.

Navigation, Access, and Safety

Navigation information includes downloadable GPS tracks compatible with devices from vendors such as Garmin, mapping formats used by apps popularized by communities around Adventure Rider forums, and guidance for use of satellite communications systems like those provided by Iridium Communications. Access notes reference permit regimes for parks and national monuments, coordination with visitor centers at Grand Canyon National Park and staging areas in towns served by Amtrak stations, and safety protocols that mirror advisories from National Weather Service and search-and-rescue teams including local County Sheriff's Office units. Riders are advised on mechanical preparedness with parts available through retailers tied to brands such as BMW Motorrad, KTM, and Honda Motor Company dealerships in region hubs.

Environmental and Cultural Impact

The organization engages in stewardship programs that coordinate with conservation nonprofits like The Wilderness Society and regional offices of the National Park Service to minimize habitat disturbance in sagebrush steppe, alpine meadows, and riparian corridors. Routes are planned to avoid sensitive archaeological and cultural sites associated with tribes represented by organizations such as the Navajo Nation and the Ute Indian Tribe, and the group consults with tribal governments and heritage offices near locations like Mesa Verde National Park and Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Environmental mitigation strategies reference best practices promoted by entities including the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.

Events, Community, and Organizations

Community engagement includes organized rides, trail maintenance days, and fundraisers in collaboration with groups such as the American Motorcyclist Association, rider clubs based in western towns, and adventure travel media outlets that profile long-distance riding. The nonprofit works with emergency responders, outdoor education providers, and publications housed in cities like Salt Lake City and Portland, Oregon to promote safe, informed exploration, and it participates in conferences where transportation planning and recreation management intersect with agencies including the Federal Highway Administration and state parks systems. Volunteers and regional coordinators help sustain the network alongside partner organizations, dealers, and civic tourism bureaus.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States Category:Motorcycle organizations