The Departments of the Interior and Agriculture are seeking public input to identify existing and potential future areas, routes, and trails that could be designated, stewarded, or developed as long-distance off-pavement biking trails. Read below for how you can submit your favorite routes and trails before next month’s deadline…

As part of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act (EXPLORE Act), the Biking on Long Distance Trails Act (BOLT Act) aims to establish a network of nationally recognized trails. Under this bipartisan legislation, both the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture are charged with identifying at least 10 existing areas and 10 potential future areas or corridors where long-distance biking trails exist or could be developed. IMBA and the BOLT Coalition have been gathering input from the mountain bike community since the fall of 2025 and can also formally submit those recommendations to the agencies, but you’re encouraged to resubmit any of your favorite trails or routes.

Requirements

This landmark bill could have broad long-term impacts on stewarding and developing the kind of riding opportunities that benefit the bikepacking community. The requirements for each existing or future trail are:

  • The trail is at least 80 miles long and publicly accessible.
  • A majority of the trail is on federally managed public land (including lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Reclamation).
  • The proposed route makes use of existing designated or otherwise officially available roads and trails.
  • The trail is primarily on dirt or natural surface (short connector routes on paved or improved roads may be acceptable).
  • The trail is open to bicycle use (not located within designated wilderness areas).
  • The trail avoids conflicts with other trail uses, specifically other bicycling, hiking, horseback riding or pack and saddle stock uses; and purposes for which a trail was established under the National Trails System Act, if applicable.
  • Ideally, nominated trails or areas have partner organizations or volunteer groups identified to assist with trail development and maintenance.

Many of our bikepacking routes meet these requirements, and many more include individual trails that could become part of this national long-distance bike trail network. Once identified, the aforementioned agencies may produce maps, signage, and promotional materials for these trails and routes, in partnership with interested stakeholders. The agencies will be required to publish a report detailing the resources required to create those materials and to develop or complete the 10 future trails.

You can read the entire press release here. It includes a link to the interactive map tool to nominate your favorite trails and bikepacking routes that fit the requirements above. There is a great tutorial on how to do this, and you can even upload GPX files for routes (which we include on every route guide).

Further Reading

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...

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