Getting permission to cross private land

[DaveH]

For the Trans Utah route there is really only one (seriously!) viable route to attain the Markagunt plateau that doesn't take you north of Cedar City or far south into the sands of hell.  It's a bottleneck - the serious blockades are Deep Creek drainage, private land, and Zion NP.  It seriously impacted the final route last year:  http://2-epic.com/?p=539.

So I've done some digging and I'm pretty sure I know who owns this piece of land (it's about a mile on a double track) - a big ranching family, and it looks like it's also an Agricultural Protection Area and also has oil and gas rights leased out...complicated.

Any suggestions on how to approach them for MTB access over this mile of doubletrack?  It makes for a MUCH cleaner route so is worth the effort and I don't want to botch it with a clumsy first contact.

[dave54]

Since I know what the answer would be, I don't ask the Nature Conservancy when I ride across their local lands.  But I don't recommend that method for elsewhere...

Be sympathetic and respectful of their land rights, and their concern for setting a precedent.  Stress that you are not representing an organization and do not seek permission for others, and that this is a one time crossing.  Also show concern for the operations and if there are any areas along the route to avoid, whether to leave gates open or closed, whether you should dismount and walk your bike in the vicinity of livestock, etc.

Here in California private landowners that allowed trail easements across their land later saw additional restrictions on the use of their land imposed by courts.  This has had a chilling effect on getting private landowner cooperation for new trails.  This is a pervasive fear across the country, particularly in areas of checkerboard ownership.  If the landowners say no, this may be the underlying reason, even if they do not openly say it.   

[Mike Brown]

Show them your insurance and offer them $ or labor in exchange for use. 
Get it down to brass tacks.

[Marshal]

Humm, just a thought, maybe try to explain the TU, what its all about and invite them to 'track' some of the riders across their land, ie: see if they might 'get into' the whole concept

[AZTtripper]

Do you have any plans to get official status with the State seams like you would have more luck with the owners if you could represent your self as someone who is working with the state.

The AZT crosses a big ranch north of Flag with permission as long as you stay on the road. They will never allow new trail but you get where you need to go.

Even if it is only in the works having made contact with the other state/federal land owners would show that you are working with the system.