Photograph by Richard S. Durrance

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In the story on Texas’ Big Bend National Park in the current TRAVELER, writer Kenneth Brower reveals something embarrassing. Wilderness-lovers like him—he is, after all, son of David Brower, founder of Friends of the Earth—often oppose the use of motorized vehicles in the backcountry. But in Big Bend, Ken Brower admits discovering that he liked four-wheeling it along the designated tracks of the national park. (Later, though, he did relish hearing only the sound of the river while kayaking on the Rio Grande.)

Today, in places all over North America, people debate whether ORVs, 4WDs, snowmobiles, Jet Skis, helicopters, and the like belong in wild places. In Hells Canyon, along the Idaho-Oregon border, rafters contend with jet-boaters. Minnesotans disagree about snowmobiles in the North Woods. Sight-seeing helicopters buzz over Maui’s coasts and craters.

In short, motor-powered vehicles are great fun to be riding in or on, yet total annoyances if you’re trying to relax to the sounds of nature.

This month, the Tourism Forum asks: When and where—if ever—are motorized vehicles appropriate in the wilds? What do you think policymakers should do?

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