Polaris And The Foundation For America's Public Lands Fund Seven OHV Projects Across Four States

Industry News  |  June 2026

Good news for anyone who rides on public land. A new partnership between Polaris and the Foundation for America's Public Lands (the charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management) is putting real money into the trails and riding areas we use. The first round of grants is funding seven projects spread across Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Montana, with the goal of improving access, safety, and the overall riding experience on BLM ground.

Over $700,000 Going Into The Dirt

The partnership is set to deliver more than $700,000 of impact on BLM lands. It starts with a $350,000 donation from Polaris, which the Foundation then matches dollar for dollar. That money is earmarked for the stuff that actually keeps riding areas open and usable: new and additional signage, trail maintenance, and repairs that support safety and continued access.

For context, the BLM manages some of the most recognizable motorized recreation areas in the country, with over 200 designated OHV sites and millions of acres open to responsible riding. These are the spots where families, friends, and whole riding communities gather, and they take real upkeep to stay open.

Polaris CEO Mike Speetzen tied the effort back to the people who use these areas, saying the company plans to invest alongside local partners to improve trails and support responsible riding. I Ling Thompson, CEO of the Foundation, framed public lands as economic drivers that give people a way to get outside, and pointed to the funding as a way to back local communities.

Where It Kicked Off: Moon Rocks, Nevada

The partnership officially launched at the North Reno Recreation Area's "Moon Rocks," 19,000 acres of public land that includes a BLM OHV area. Hundreds of volunteers turned out for the Friends of Moon Rock's annual clean-up. The grant there is funding new portal signs to help connect visitors with the site, plus barriers to direct traffic toward the main trail head. Kim Dow, Associate State Director of BLM Nevada, credited the local community's dedication for keeping the area what it is today.

The Other Six Projects

• Cricket Mountains OHV Trail System (Utah): A full signage overhaul with new directional markers, trail maps, and wayfinding signs, done in partnership with the BLM Fillmore Field Office. Clearer guidance across the whole system.
• Greater Three Peaks OHV Riding Area (Utah): About 4,800 feet of fencing around "the crater" to cut down safety hazards from dense informal routes and rough terrain in one of the area's busiest zones.
• Tusher Tunnel, Uranium Arch and Bartlett Alcove (Utah): Updated signage, parking improvements, and site maintenance across three BLM Moab locations to keep these high-traffic spots in shape.
• Fivemile Pass Recreation Area (Utah): Restroom repairs and new kiosks at seven staging areas at one of Utah's most-used OHV destinations.
• Black Canyon Corridor (Arizona): 1,400 new waypoints and interpretive markers to make the corridor easier to navigate, with installation led by youth in alignment with the EXPLORE Act.
• Glendive Short Pines OHV Area (Montana): A shade structure and an ADA concrete trail to finish a long-awaited facility, opening the area to riders of all skill levels and giving Eastern Montana a new recreation destination.

Why It Matters For Riders

Trail closures and access fights are a constant story in the OHV world, so funding that goes straight into signage, fencing, restrooms, and maintenance is the kind of thing that keeps gates open down the road. The priorities behind the partnership line up with what most riders care about: supporting OHV recreation, promoting safe and responsible riding, improving the experience at the busiest areas, and working with the local communities that know these places best.

Keep it tested and trusted out there. Pack out what you pack in, stay on marked routes, and these riding areas stay open for the next crew rolling through.