NEWS RELEASE: Uintah County takes next step to protect long-term access to County-owned public land
UINTAH COUNTY, Utah, August 31, 2026– The Uintah County Commission will consider a resolution authorizing the County to take the next legal steps necessary to secure permanent access along the existing Ashley Gorge Road, continuing years-long efforts to protect the public interest in the Ashley Springs Property, now known as Ashley Gorge Property.
“This is not a new issue, and it is not one this Commission takes lightly,” Commission Chair John Laursen said. “We remain committed to working toward a voluntary resolution, but we also have an obligation to protect Ashley Springs, respect private property rights and preserve appropriate public access to land entrusted to the County for the public’s benefit. We have to look beyond the immediate disagreement and protect those interests for the long term.”
The action is part of a process that began in 2019 when President Trump signed into law the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. The Act directed the transfer of 790 acres in Ashley Gorge to Uintah County. As part of the conveyance, Congress required the County to protect the watershed, underground karst system, and aquifer; prohibit mineral development; and allow public access for non-motorized recreation on the conveyed land. The Bureau of Land Management completed the conveyance in 2020, entrusting Uintah County with the Ashley Gorge property and its long-term stewardship.
Access is necessary for the County to manage the property and fulfill the purposes of the federal conveyance. Ashley Gorge Road is an existing, passable roadway providing access to the Ashley Gorge Property. Uintah County has long identified it as a Class D county road and continues to maintain that the County and public have existing rights in the road. The resolution does not waive or abandon those claims.
The County has also pursued other paths toward certainty by seeking easement rights from the two adjoining property owners. Those efforts, which began under the previous County Commission and continue under the current Commission, have included multiple proposals exchanged between the parties, required notices, an independent appraisal, offers based on the appraised amounts, negotiations and an offer to engage in mediation and further negotiations through the Utah Property Rights Ombudsman. To date, the parties have not reached an agreement.
The resolution allows the County to take the next legal step toward securing permanent access while specifically directing County staff and legal counsel to continue negotiations and pursue a voluntary agreement or other acceptable access. The proposed easement follows the existing Ashley Gorge Road and requires no new road construction or relocation of existing facilities. The easement would not restrict surrounding property owners or other easement holders from utilizing the road.
A hearing on the proposed action will be held September 15, 2026, at 3 p.m. in the Uintah County Commission Chambers, 147 East Main Street, Vernal, Utah 84078.
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Located in northeastern Utah, Uintah County spans more than 4,400 square miles and is dedicated to fostering sustainable growth, strengthening community well-being, and preserving its unique landscapes for generations to come.
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