Rose Winn

Rose Winn is a leading public-lands access advocate and Natural Resources Consultant for both the California Four Wheel Drive Association (Cal4Wheel) and the Utah Public Lands Alliance (UPLA). Her work focuses on protecting public access, defending citizen rights, and advancing balanced, science-based stewardship of public lands across the Western United States. Though she didn’t start in the off-road world, her journey into advocacy began as a passionate outdoor enthusiast determined to understand why beloved trails were suddenly closing.

Before entering land-use advocacy, Rose built a successful career in academia, career coaching, and employer partnership development. Her professional background in research, policy analysis, and strategic communication now fuels her effectiveness in navigating complex environmental regulations and public-lands decision-making.

Rose has played a key role in hundreds of projects safeguarding OHV routes, including helping reverse illegal forest-wide closures across all 18 of California’s national forests in 2021 and helping halt the proposed 1.3-million-acre “Range of Light” national monument in 2024. In recognition of her leadership, she received the prestigious Bob Ham Land Use Award from the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2025.

Her advocacy philosophy is rooted in the belief that access and conservation are not opposites — they are partners. She is known for her practical approach, policy fluency, and ability to translate complicated land-use issues into clear, actionable strategies for communities.

Rose lives in the Sierra Nevada foothills with her two daughters and a lively pack of beagles. A lifelong outdoor enthusiast, she draws inspiration from hiking, backpacking, fishing, and exploring the wild places she works to protect for future generations.

“What I loved about this conversation with Rose is how she took a topic that many people see as complicated or “unsexy” and made it deeply personal and empowering. She reminds everyone that land use isn’t just policy…it’s about protecting our freedom to explore, connect, and pass these experiences on to future generations. Hearing her journey from frustrated hiker to national advocate was incredibly inspiring, and it reinforced how powerful everyday voices can be when we choose to step up. At the end she closes with 4 action items every offroad enthusiast should execute.” Charlene

“Public lands aren’t owned by the government. They belong to us.”
“Land use isn’t unsexy...it represents freedom.”
“If you want trails to stay open, you have to get involved.”
“Access and conservation are not opposites...they’re partners.”
“Every human you meet is an asset.”
“Motorized recreation is the lowest hanging fruit for closures.”
“Never lose sight of your mountaintop.”
“Adopted trails are the backbone of access.”
“Truth doesn’t always win quickly. But it wins.”
“Our public lands are a spiritual endowment.”