About Us

Back in early 2006, several Bitterroot Valley conservationists and outdoors people — folks who like to hike, ride horseback, fish and otherwise enjoy the Outdoors — realized their local national forest had a problem. It was increasingly difficult to venture outside without encountering the noise and dust caused by off-road vehicles.

Like many places in western Montana, the Bitterroot Valley is growing. The Bitterroot Quiet Use Coalition (BQUC) formed to protect our quiet, natural places from growing crowds and noise. While participants differed on some issues, everyone agreed on the urgent need to keep our favorite trails and backwoods campsites free from machines. The result was a commitment to securing our traditional backcountry recreational opportunities.

BQUC is composed of members from groups including the Selway-Pintler Wilderness Back Country Horsemen and the Burnt Ridge Homeowners Association in Darby, as well as Friends of the Bitterroot, Montana Wilderness Association, Sierra Club and Wildlands CPR.

BQUC believes that everyone can enjoy the Bitterroot National Forest through responsible recreation, but that no one has the right to abuse it or ruin other people’s experiences. Currently, a system of poorly maintained roads and trails creates problems for people and wildlife. BQUC believes in keeping a properly maintained system of roads for motorized use and preserving traditional and historic trails for quiet uses. This will reduce conflicts, improve watersheds and fisheries, and increase opportunities to view and hunt wildlife. Roads are for motors, trails are for quiet users.

In addition to participating in Forest Service planning efforts, the Coalition monitored the condition of trails and tracked where quiet users enjoy a high-quality experience. We also noted where we are being driven off by off-road vehicles.

The Bitterroot is blessed with some of the finest Wilderness in America. Everyday folks who cannot invest time in a Wilderness trek should also be free to enjoy Montana’s outdoor traditions closer to home. The Forest is big enough for everyone. With roughly 2,600 miles of roads, there should be enough opportunities for off-road vehicle riders. Whether it is hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, skiing or simply finding solitude in Nature, once we park our vehicles and head onto the trails, Montanans expect to escape the din of motors. That is how it has always been and should always be.