In the "bundle of sticks" that comprise real property ownership, one of the most important is access. Without legal
access, use of property may be stymied and its value significantly diminished. While urban and suburban developments have clearly
defined streets and roads established by recorded plots, the legal right to access rural or mountain property not contiguous to
public highways is usually less certain. Without a legal document creating a right of access such as an easement, it becomes
necessary to establish that right. This is done under various legal theories such as easements by necessity, or prescriptive
easements. In recent years with mountain property values increasing significantly, litigants have also asserted claims that
particular routes are public roads based on historical use. This is a complicated area of the law that can require historical
research dating back more than a century, particularly if mining claims are involved.