Off-Road Lobby Puts a Price Tag on Moab’s Closed Trails

• ORBA study estimates off-roading’s annual Moab economic impact at US$178.7 million.

• Off-road visitors and suppliers supported more than 1,100 jobs in 2025.

• Study arrives as the BLM reviews 317 miles (510 km) of closed trails.

---

The off-road industry has put a dollar figure on Moab, Utah. The Off-Road Business Association (ORBA), a subsidiary of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), released a study today estimating that off-roading generates US$178.7 million a year in total economic impact for the Moab area.

The study arrives while the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) weighs reopening trails near Moab that it closed to motorized vehicles in 2023. ORBA makes no secret of why the numbers matter.

“This study demonstrates why the off-road industry is worth protecting and a necessary stakeholder in discussion of land use and stewardship across America,” said Sean P. Holman, ORBA’s executive director.

US$178.7 Million and 1,100 Jobs: The Study’s Key Figures

Oxford Economics ran the numbers for ORBA. All figures are in U.S. dollars and cover the Moab area:

• Total annual economic impact: US$178.7 million
• Direct spending: US$140.9 million
• State and local taxes: US$13.5 million
• Wage and benefit income: US$36.5 million
• Jobs supported in 2025: more than 1,100

To put that in everyday terms, the direct spending alone averages out to about US$386,000 a day.

Here’s where that money went:

Category	Direct spending (US$)
Transportation	$54.5 million
Stores and retail	$40.0 million
Food and beverage	$20.5 million
Lodging	$13.7 million
Recreation	$12.2 million

Transportation is the biggest bucket by a wide margin, at close to 39% of direct spending and US$14.5 million ahead of retail. Lodging lands fourth, at US$13.7 million.

For those curious about the math, the study used an IMPLAN input-output model to measure the direct, indirect and induced effects of off-roading on the Grand County economy. It tracks visitor spending at restaurants, shops, hotels and recreation venues, along with supplier operations such as automotive shops, guides and outfitters.

317 Miles (510 km) of Moab Trails Still Closed During Federal Review

Here’s where things get interesting.

In 2023, the BLM’s Labyrinth Rims/Gemini Bridges travel management plan closed 317 miles (510 km) of routes northwest of Moab that had been open to motorized use. The agency pointed to protecting riparian habitat and cultural sites, plus reducing friction between user groups. ORBA filed an administrative appeal against the plan, and the State of Utah mounted its own challenge.

In September 2025, the BLM opened a reassessment of the closed and limited routes, with about 148 miles (238 km) preliminarily flagged for reopening. That’s close to half of what was shut down.

Public comments closed on October 24, 2025. Nearly a year later, the BLM has not posted an amended decision, so the 2023 closures still apply. Conservation groups that backed the original plan, including the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, oppose the review.

ORBA’s release says quantifying off-roading’s contribution reinforces the importance of keeping trails and public lands open. In Moab, that question is still sitting on a BLM desk.

Outfitters and State Officials Weigh In

Jason Curry, director of the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation, said the study “helps us better understand that economic contribution and how to best plan for the future.”

Local outfitters see that spending up close. “Those visitors stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, shop in our stores, buy fuel, and support countless local businesses,” said Jennifer Johnson, owner of Epic 4×4 Adventures.

Moab is only the first stop. ORBA describes the report as its inaugural regional study, with more planned to document how motorized recreation supports jobs, small businesses and tourism in communities across the United States.