The Cardiff Fork Forbidden Land

Cardiff Fork contains a mixture of public and private lands.  In 2012, an agreement was reached between the US Forest Service and private property owners securing a right-of-way for recreationists to access Cardiff Fork (see this Salt Lake Tribune article).  Last fall, however, that agreement apparently met its demise, as reported by the Salt Lake Tribune.  

Like many, I have skied in Cardiff Fork for years.  Yesterday, however, as we ascended Cardiff Fork on a ski tour, we encountered a number of newly erected signs just before the Catchers Mitt slide path saying No Trespassing Private Road.  

This culminated in a fence blocking the road.  

Not wanting to make a bad situation worse, we elected to turn around.  After talking with a number of backcountry friends, it sounds like the signs and fence were installed on Thursday.  

I do not understand the historical or legal issues at play here, including whether this is a legal or illegal blocking of public access.  I am sharing it to make everyone aware of what is happening in Cardiff Fork so that you aren't surprised as we were.  

Addendum @ 9AM 5 Feb 2023

Some context from Salt Lake City Public Utilities Director Laura Briefer below via twitter:

Others in this thread have pretty much provided it. Landowners did not renew SUP for vehicle access over USFS land to private inholdings and can no longer take motor vehicles in Cardiff. Now they are enforcing other side of the coin blocking public access on private land.

— Laura Briefer (@LBriefer) February 5, 2023