Adventure app launches new map displaying potentially sellable public lands

SALT LAKE CITY — onX, an app known for providing navigation services to backcountry and off-road travelers, recently launched a map that identifies public lands that could potentially be sold by the Bureau of Land Management in the future. 

According to an email sent to KSL NewsRadio, the map is the “first publicly available, easy-to-use tool.” It was designed to help policymakers and members of the public locate parcels that the government could sell. 

“The outdoor community cherishes these places, and has recently fought fiercely to keep them public,” said onX CEO Laura Orvidas. “Yet the land disposal process has historically been opaque—often buried in hundreds of pages of government documents.”

Public lands have been a hot topic as of late

Land sales have recently been a hot topic. In 2025 alone, two Utah lawmakers have proposed selling significant amounts of public lands. 

In May, Utah Rep. Celeste Maloy proposed selling over 10,000 acres of land in Utah. Then, in June, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, proposed a sale of 3.3 million acres of land across 11 states.

Both proposals were met with heavy criticism from environmental and recreational groups, and, ultimately, they were axed. 

“Public lands, like those managed by the BLM, support 178.5 million outdoor recreation participants who rely on these landscapes to hunt, hike, fish, off-road, ski, climb and bike,” Orvidas said. 

In the wake of Lee’s proposal, recreationists and outdoor industry professionals voiced concern that a large disposition of land could lead to decreased access for beloved activities. 

When designing this map, the company teamed up with the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP), an organization that works to ensure access to hunting and fishing. 

“For the first time, the public and policymakers can engage with one map that spans most BLM planning areas, and see public land parcels eligible for sale in the context of other landmarks, like towns, roads and adjoining public lands,” said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “TRCP is proud to partner with onX to share this valuable tool that shows specific locations of land that could be considered for sale like never before.”

onX utilizes publicly available data to paint a picture

onX developers used geographic information system data, which is publicly available on 160 BLM Resource Management Plans. The information revealed that 6,086,900 acres could potentially be sold. 

“We created this map with TRCP to bring transparency to the land disposal process, to inform outdoor enthusiasts of nearby parcels, and to encourage lawmakers to uphold existing policies that safeguard the public interest when considering any land sales,” Orvidas said. 

The areas highlighted on the map are currently not guaranteed to be sold. Rather, onX noted that they have been identified as eligible for sale by the BLM. 

“It means those parcels may be considered for sale if and when a proposal is advanced,” wrote onX in a press release. 

Utilizing data to create helpful maps isn’t new to the company. Earlier this summer, onX launched two new features: one helps people locate dispersed camping sites, and the other helps them avoid active wildfires.

Wildfire information comes from the National Interagency Fire Center, for example. Andy Zielinski, the senior product marketing manager for onX Offroad, previously told KSL NewsRadio that accuracy is important in making the features work. 

What could trigger a sale? 

Sometimes, agencies like the BLM decide that a land parcel is eligible for sale. That does not immediately trigger what the federal government refers to as disposition, though. 

If a proposal for sales advances, that’s when the lengthy multi-step process begins. Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), any sale must succeed through several steps, which include public review and comment periods. 

NEPA applies to any federal actions that could have a significant impact on the environment. Other examples include construction projects, mining operations and recreational activity permitting.