15 Apr Tread Lightly! Impact Report: 3D Hill Improvement Project-Easter Jeep Safari 2024

Project: 3D Hill Improvement Project-Easter Jeep Safari 2024
Location: Moab, Utah

Description: This project was made possible thanks to The Rugged Ridge Trail Access Program by RealTruck

On March 29, 2024, 11 volunteers joined Tread Lightly! for its third project of three to improve off-road trails in Moab, Utah.

After a rainy morning briefing, volunteers set off toward Tushar Tunnel, ending up at 3D Hill to install 70 feet of buck-and-rail fencing to protect sensitive desert habitats in the area.   Volunteers also placed what is known as a “Lee” barrier at the bottom of the hill and signage that indicates the direction of travel and location of sensitive areas to avoid.

This popular area is a lot of fun and heavily used. Due to some erosion of the designated route, trail braiding has occurred here. This happens when a designated route becomes more difficult and user-created routes are used to avoid an obstacle. This can lead to the increase of over 100 ft of width of the route in some cases. By using a combination of signage, barriers, and fencing, we can restore the designated route and avoid sensitive areas.

This project was the exclamation point in a great week at the 2024 Easter Jeep Safari. Thank you to every volunteer and partner who made this work possible. Working together as an off-road community to keep access open has never been more important, especially in Moab.

Thank you to the RealTruck team for joining us to improve the trail. You can read their blog on the work here.

Thank you to the partners who made this possible:

• RealTruck
• BLM Moab Field Office
• Red Rock 4-Wheelers
• Ladies Offroad Network
• Unofficial Use Only

“Each year during the annual Easter Jeep Safari event in Moab, UT the BLM Moab Field Office works with Tread Lightly! on multiple work projects with volunteers. In 2024 one of the 4 projects was on the popular 3-D route at a location  where an increasing amount of off-route travel was occurring and illegitimate “go-arounds”at an obstacle were being created. Where the original  designated route was roughly 12-15 ft wide, the impacted area had grown to over 150 ft. Participants on this project installed wood structures and signage to direct users of the designated route and naturalized the area from signs of natural resource damage.”-Matt Porebski, BLM Moab Outdoor Recreation Planner

“Thank you to RealTruck, our volunteers and the BLM Moab Office for making this work possible. We had an excellent week of trail improvements and it wouldn’t be possible without the offroad community showing up to do their part.”-Kabe Wolf, Tread Lightly! Utah Program Manager

Want to get involved in your own Tread Lightly! project? Find upcoming activities, events and grant opportunities at treadlightly.org.