05:56 PM PST on Friday, November 11, 2005

By JANE McCARTHY / KING 5 News

GRANITE FALLS, Wash. – It's the final weekend of fun at a popular off-road vehicle spot in the Pilchuck Forest.

KING

Off-road areas are becoming more dangerous because the number of people going off-roading has been growing rapidly.

Come Tuesday, the Department of Natural Resources will close its land near Granite Falls because of safety concerns.

This year, there were five serious injury accidents, including one death and one paralysis.

"People ride too fast and they get hurt and it's a shame that people who don't ride too fast and can be responsible get punished for the bad activities of others," said Tod Petersen.

"If they'd open up a few more places and let us ride, I think there'd be a lot fewer accidents just because of the overcrowding," said Troy Haugstad.

The Department of Natural Resources says one of its other concerns is that off-road vehicles are too close to the Pilchuck River causing possible bank erosion and pollution.

Some off-road riders believe any potential damage is overstated and they say that it's public land after all, even though it doesn't feel that way.

"When I was a kid we used to just be able to go ride or do whatever anywhere we wanted, pretty much," said Troy. "Now everything's so regulated that what's going to be left for our kids?"

Whatcom County riders are facing a similar closure. Starting Dec. 1, DNR-managed land in the North Fork Nooksack River area will be restricted to street-legal vehicles on roads only.