Help Keep Cawood Road Open to the Public
in Owsley County, Kentucky
August 19th, 2026
Help Keep Cawood Road Open to the Public
YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT.
BDR AND THE AMA HAVE MADE IT
EASY TO BE HEARD.
TAKE ACTION BEFORE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
Fill out a simple form that will go directly to the Knox County commissioners.
Send your own custom email. Here’s a template to start.
What We Know
Cawood Road is on the popular Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway route in Eastern Kentucky. This popular Owsley County ADV/dual sport road is facing potential closure at the request of a private landowner.
BDR has plans for a BDR-X in this area, and proposed closures like this are a direct threat and, if successful, set a bad precedent.
BDR is partnering with the AMA in opposing this and any efforts that impede access to public roads. We urge riders to take immediate action against this proposal.
Why We Oppose the Cawood Road Closure
Cawood Road is a public-access roadway.
Located in Owsley County, it serves as an important corridor for responsible motorized recreation. The proposal would remove approximately four miles from public access and place it under private control. The road should remain open to lawful users, including street-legal motorcycles.
Public roads support adventure tourism.
Adventure riders visiting Eastern Kentucky and nearby routes such as the Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway spend money on fuel, food and lodging. Backcountry Discovery Routes is also planning a BDR-X route for this region, creating an opportunity to bring more riders and tourism revenue to Owsley County. That opportunity depends on preserving connected public roads.
Closure would set a troubling precedent.
Closing a public road at the request of a private landowner could encourage similar efforts elsewhere, gradually reducing public access across Kentucky.
Private interests should not override the public interest.
BDR has seen no evidence that permanently closing Cawood Road is necessary to address a documented safety or maintenance problem. Kentucky law requires a formal public process before a county road may be discontinued, and private parties cannot unilaterally restrict its lawful use.
BDR URGES THE OWSLEY COUNTY FISCAL COURT TO PRESERVE CAWOOD ROAD AS A PUBLIC ASSET AND PROTECT ACCESS FOR RESIDENTS, VISITORS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
How You Can Help
- Fill out the AMA form.
- Send an email to the county commissioners (template below)
- Share this issue with fellow riders, clubs, and local community members to ensure county officials hear from those who value public access.
Please send an email to the Owsley County Fiscal Court prior to the September 14th meeting.
Owsley County Fiscal Court
Judge/Executive Zeke Little Jr
[email protected]
You can use the following letter as a guideline
Subject: Please Keep Cawood Road Open to Public Use
Dear Owsley County Fiscal Court,
I am writing to urge you to oppose any action that would close Cawood Road or remove it from public access.
Cawood Road has long served as a corridor for responsible outdoor recreation. Adventure motorcyclists traveling routes such as the Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway contribute meaningful tourism dollars to Owsley County through spending on fuel, food and lodging. Backcountry Discovery Routes, the national nonprofit behind similar routes nationwide, also has a BDR-X route planned for this region, which will bring even more adventure riders — and their spending on fuel, food, and lodging — to Owsley County in the years ahead.
Closing this road would set a troubling precedent and could encourage similar efforts elsewhere, leading to a broader loss of public access across the county and state. There is no evidence that closure is necessary to address safety or maintenance concerns, and private parties do not have the authority to restrict lawful use of public roads.
This request appears to benefit a private individual rather than the broader public interest. As elected officials, I respectfully ask that you preserve public access to Cawood Road and protect it as a public asset.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[City / County]
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