Another commenter said the same thing. I'm curious about the association because I spend a lot of time in my local state/national parks with recreational rules. I think I've run into a dirtbike once and never seen an ATV (although I see their tracks).

I'm sure it's geo-dependent, but I wonder if there's a wider media narrative driving the association.

I think it really has to do with what's near you and what you're used to.

Nobody really cares about the four wheelers flying around on BLM land in the middle of the desert, but if the only "wilderness" near you is mostly ATV trails, it's not a fun place to hike. Those are often called "recreation areas" to distinguish them from places where no vehicles are allowed.

Yeah, it's inconsistent. I live near a national recreation area where mechanized travel is prohibited. Recreation includes camping, hiking, hunting, and fishing.

Consider that without allowing some of that kind of use, there might not be enough political willpower for more “hardcore” things like wilderness areas. It’s a delicate balance between preservation and access and you (politically) cannot have one without the other.