Access Easement

Collectors usually discover access easements when a mapped public area is “landlocked” by private parcels. A trail, two-track, or old road may look like public access, but the legal right-of-way may be narrower, seasonal, or limited to certain users. In the field, the easement question is rarely academic—your whole plan can hinge on whether you can cross a corner, pass a gate, or use an existing route. If you are relying on an access easement, treat it like any other constraint you need to document. Confirm the route, note the start and end points, and pay attention to where the easement actually runs; it may not match the visible track. Keep your activity within the allowed corridor, and do not assume you can stop to dig or collect along the easement unless that is explicitly permitted. A collector mistake is to confuse “public right-of-way” with “public collecting.” Even when you can legally pass through, the easement may only cover travel. Plan to do your collecting on the destination parcel, and keep your specimens and notes tied to where you were actually allowed to be. One more collector tip: treat easement boundaries as “no-stopping zones” unless you have clear written permission to linger. If you need to check a map or sort specimens, do it at a legal pull-off or on the destination parcel. That simple habit prevents accidental violations and keeps your notes defensible if you ever need to explain how you accessed a site.