Riders from around the country filled campgrounds and restaurants in tiny Marysvale for the Paiute UTV Jamboree a few weekends ago. Vendors set up shop at the park near the edge of town. As the day's ride ended, folks parked their vehicles there and mingled.

Similar events in Richfield and Fillmore take advantage of the 270-mile trail, which has attracted all sorts of rental shops, ATV dealerships and tourism.

I took one of my first ATV rides on that trail years ago when the U.S. Forest Service was developing it. The ATV riding craze was in its infancy, but forest planners felt as though connecting and marking back roads into an organized system would be good for the environment and perhaps help struggling local economies.

What seemed like a good idea then turned into something special that has spawned similar trail systems not only in Utah but throughout the country.

As I stared at a big banner at Lizzie and Charlie's campground in Marysvale promoting this year's ironically named "Take Back Utah" rally, I could only shake my head at how some of Utah's most powerful politicians have duped thousands of well-meaning riders.

The idea seems to be that if state or local governments were able to take over management or ownership of federal lands, there would be even more places for ATV enthusiasts to enjoy their sport. The reality is that the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management already provide thousands of miles of trails open to motorized recreation in nearly every part of Utah. The federal government refunds about $750,000 a year in motor fuel taxes back to Utah for OHV trail development. Utah spends about $300,000 in new facilities in a good year.

"There is no question we have the OHV trail opportunities we have because the state is able to work with the federal government to develop these opportunities," said Utah State Parks assistant director Fred Hayes.

So that brings up an obvious question: From whom do these riders want to "Take Back Utah"? This is public land that they, like all U.S. citizens, own. How can you take back something you already own?

I've been listening to the heated rhetoric of the sagebrush rebels who would have done away with federal ownership of public land well over 30 years ago, though I can't recall any successes politicians have had with regards to getting more state management of federal public land. I am more than a little suspicious of their motives.

It's true that ATV riders can't use every road and every single acre of land for their riding pleasure. Most riders I know would be way too responsible to do that. Most, I hope, realize the need to share the forest and the desert with hikers, ranchers, oil and gas developers, wilderness lovers, campers, mountain bikers, fish and wildlife.

Do ATV enthusiasts really believe the state of Utah will give them a better deal if it manages Utah's public lands? Where is the evidence that cash-strapped Utah State Parks or county governments — already struggling with the bad economy — could do a better job in providing trails, maintenance and trailheads? That said, the feds, state and local leaders combined with private interests have done a nice job working together to get things done for OHV enthusiasts.

My fear is that ATV riders are being duped by politicians with hidden agendas. Do our political leaders really want state ownership so they can preserve and expand motorized recreation opportunities? Or is this about developing oil and gas resources with fewer or no environmental restrictions? Is the ultimate goal to privatize most of these lands, selling them off to the highest bidder?

If that's the case, then ATV riders complaining about being locked out of some public lands now will have to pay big bucks to ride on private land — if they're allowed to visit at all.

Seriously, when was the last time a Utah politician did anything helpful for outdoor recreation? ATV riders should be very, very afraid if politicians are somehow able to really "Take Back Utah."

Tom Wharton is an outdoors and travel columnist. Reach him at wharton@sltrib.com or 801-257-8909.