Off-Road Vehicles

NPS Photo

Big Thicket National Preserve's Enabling Legislation states that the preserve was established "to assure the preservation, conservation, and protection of the natural, scenic, and recreational values of a significant portion of the Big Thicket area," and that "lands shall be administered in a manner such as will assure their natural and ecological integrity in perpetuity."

In order to meet these mandates, off-road vehicle use is prohibited in Big Thicket National Preserve. Legally licensed vehicles must remain on designated roads. All vehicles are prohibited from operating in waterways within the preserve.

Off-road vehicle use creates several negative impacts, including:

• damage to vegetation,
• erosion and compaction of soils,
• degradation of scenery, and
• disturbance to other visitors and wildlife.