I live in Florida, I ride most trails within 5 miles of the town dump. On every trail there is at least 1 pile of trash, I'm talking old tires, sofas fridges you name it. If the trail head is on a deserted quiet road most of the trash will mark the trail. Its no wonder most land owners string miles of barbed wire and refuse entrance. We've got a local sand pit approx 600+ acres of sand surrounded by woods. The local quad people have taken it over and trashed every inch of it. I took a cruise through last weekend on the new z. Motor blocks, beer bottles, trash from campsites and at least 4 wrecked and torched cars. This area is only accessible via 4x4 trucks. The local police cant even get close so they don't bother. These guys are hauling in the trash riding all day and leaving it all behind. What a pisser! End of rant
Brian

It's the same, even here...

Within ten miles of a town or city, there's always crap to be found on the trails, here and there. But I think attitudes are slowly changing, up here at least. People are starting to realize the real value of all the beautiful wide open spaces and boreal forests we have. But there will always be a few idiots who don't get it.

Fortunately there's plenty of true back-country wilderness left here. So once you pass that ten mile mark, it's pretty clean. We are lucky enough to be able to venture hundreds of miles away from any civilization, up here.

I guess the problem is everywhere. Many people think of the desert here in AZ as a giant dump. Very disturbing. Good news is that the OHV people are hauling lots of junk out for proper disposal. Also, dumpers are leary when they see people on bikes around. We try to take more out than we bring in and try to discourage people from dumping. Junk out there is dangerous!!! Most clubs organize clean-ups which are really fun and great things to participate in.

This issue is actually a golden opportunity for those of us who want to insure that our right to public landuse on offroad vehicles is protected.

You would not believe how effectively you can shift the public perception of offroad vehicle users, by becoming involved in trail and public land cleanups.

For many years I was involved with the 4x4 clubs up here. One of the best things we ever did, was to get involved with the local East Coast Trail Association, and help them remove old car wrecks from areas where the coastal walking trails were being extended.

Our participation even made the six o'clock news. And that kind of publicity is something we could use a lot more of, if we are going to hold on to our right to use public lands on our bikes, ATVs, and 4x4 rigs.

Here's link to the trail Association webpage, showing a gallery of photos of our offroad club hauling away car wrecks...

Trail Clean Up Gallery

unclesalty said:

In the past I found if you take the effort to clean it once it sets and example to future land users. The problem is once there is garbage there, averyone thinks they can dump garbage there. My dad had a problem with people dumping garbage by his camp. We cleaned it once and it's stayed clean ever since.

Same thing happens in the desert south of Boise....Garbage, junk cars, you name it...except it is not the riders who are dumping it is the red neck idiots who think it is cool to take a fridge or stove out and shoot it to bits with their guns!!! I'm not anti gun by any means, nut trust me there are stupid people out there that should not have them....any way who ultimately looses.... we do!

This is how I got into the worst wreck in my life. I was looking for places where trucks were pulling into PMI to illeagally dump when I rode into the ravine I busted my self up on so badly. I care deply about riding areas and the kids that ride there. I don't know why someone had rather hurt or kill somebody than pay a fee and do the dumping by the law. I do know it makes my skin crawl. pdairiedawg     

it's amazing & real sad how many people just don't give a sh*t where they dump there garbage.
there's a trail near my house with washers, old carpet, etc.etc.. it's getting to where the trail is almost blocked.
i can count about 7 joy ridden wrecks left in the woods on one of my regular loops.
the worse is when some contractor decides to save some $ and dumps his crap w/nails hangin everywhere right in the middle of the trail.

I cleaned up a truck load of Yellow Pages recently that were dumped in a local riding area. And certain sections of Tonto have been trashed up by quad riders and illegal dumpers. But mostly, everything around here is pretty clean and untouched. It's great.

I see tons of trash where we ride too, in NJ.  But most of the time its just on the fringe.  Once your in the trails its pretty clean.

The guys I ride with and I always chase down 2 strokes with no mufflers and people that have a picnic and leave all their s--t laying around.    

There are really no legal places in central NJ to ride so the trash and noise always brings the cops.