How BCHA Advocates for Keeping Public Land Trails Open

Back Country Horsemen of America (BCHA) advocates for open public-land trails by combining direct volunteer trail work with representation at the local, state, and national levels. The organization describes itself as "the only national equestrian trails service organization" and says it partners with organizations and agencies to keep trails open for all. Its advocacy is grounded in a specific mission: to perpetuate commonsense use and enjoyment of horses in America's back country and wilderness, and to work to ensure public lands remain open to recreational stock use.

What BCHA's Advocacy Actually Involves

BCHA's advocacy is not limited to lobbying or public statements. The organization pairs policy-level representation with hands-on maintenance, which gives it credibility and practical knowledge when it speaks to land managers.

Representation at three levels

According to BCHA, it "advocate[s] at the local, state and national level for the protection of trails and the riding experience on our nation's public lands." This means the organization works through its national structure and its state and chapter network to raise trail-access concerns wherever decisions about public lands are made.

Partnership with agencies and organizations

BCHA states that it partners with organizations and agencies to keep trails open for all. Its mission also commits it to "assist the various government and private agencies in their maintenance and management of said resource." In practice, this positions BCHA as a collaborator with land-managing agencies rather than only an outside commentator.

Volunteer trail work as an advocacy tool

The organization's volunteer base is central to how it advocates. BCHA reports that its members:

• Spend 300,000 hours each year maintaining trails on public lands
• Contribute trail work valued at $11.2 million annually to local and federal land managing agencies
• Have contributed a value equal to $126.47 million in volunteer hours since 1995
• Travel over 1.1 million miles to volunteer work locations
• Volunteer their time and stock to clear and maintain trails

This work is carried out by grassroots members across the United States and Canada, working closely with trail partners and local land management agencies. The scale of this contribution is a concrete argument BCHA can bring to land-management discussions: the organization is not just asking for access, it is helping maintain the resource.

Why the Mission Matters for Trail Access

BCHA's mission statement lays out the logic behind its advocacy. The organization aims to:

• Perpetuate commonsense use and enjoyment of horses in back country and wilderness
• Ensure public lands remain open to recreational stock use
• Assist government and private agencies in maintaining and managing those resources
• Educate and encourage wise use of back country resources by horsemen and the general public
• Foster the formation of new state Back Country Horsemen organizations

The fourth point is notable: BCHA frames education as part of advocacy. Encouraging responsible use among riders and the public supports the case for continued access.

How to See This Advocacy in Your Area

If you want to understand how BCHA advocacy works locally, the organization provides a chapter locator on its site. You enter a zip code, choose a search radius (from 10 to 1,500 miles), and select a results limit, then search for nearby chapters. Local chapters are where much of the on-the-ground partnership with land managers and trail maintenance happens.

BCHA also points visitors to its Public Lands section and a "Public Lands Need Your Help" page for ways to get involved. The site lists additional areas including Grants, Sawyer Resources, Volunteering, and Youth programs, which reflect the practical side of its mission.

What This Means If You Care About Trail Access

BCHA's model suggests that keeping public land trails open depends on both voice and labor. If you ride on public lands or want stock access preserved, the organization's structure offers two entry points: join or contact a local chapter through the chapter locator, or support the organization's work directly. The site includes a donate option, and BCHA identifies itself as a 501(C)3 non-profit organization. For anyone evaluating whether to get involved, the most concrete evidence of BCHA's role is its reported volunteer hours and the dollar value of trail work donated to land agencies each year.