Outdoors · OHV & Off-Road
Colorado has mountain roads, sand dunes, forest trails, and places built for ATVs, dirt bikes, side-by-sides, and four-wheel-drive vehicles. The tricky part is knowing which map controls the route and whether your machine fits the rule. Start here, then check the current map and local office before you ride.
Last checked against CPW, current Colorado statutes, COTREX, Forest Service and BLM maps, and local OHV sources: July 2026. Fees, road access, trail openings, and seasonal closures change. Check CPW, COTREX, the current MVUM or BLM map, and the specific town or county before you ride.
Start here
Most people land here with one specific worry. Pick the closest and jump straight to it.
Brand new
Start with registration, then where you can ride. "Stay on designated routes" is the rule that matters most.
Jump there →From out of state
Colorado has no OHV-registration reciprocity. Check CPW for the permit your machine needs before you ride.
Jump there →Licensed Jeep or truck
A street-legal rig still needs a Colorado OHV Permit on designated OHV trails and open areas.
Jump there →On a road or in town
Start with the town or county rule. A state-highway segment also needs state approval.
Jump there →With kids
Road rules for young riders can cover supervision, helmets, eye protection, and who may drive.
Jump there →Looking for trails
From the Alpine Loop to the sand dunes. Check COTREX and the controlling map for what is open today.
Jump there →On this page
Your first ride
OHV means Off-Highway Vehicle, a machine built to ride off paved roads. In Colorado that includes:
Here's the twist that catches people: a plated, street-legal full-size 4x4 (a licensed Jeep or truck) or a plated motorcycle is treated like an OHV when it's on a designated OHV trail or open area on public land, and it needs a Colorado OHV Permit there. (On ordinary numbered forest and county roads, a street-legal rig doesn't need it. The OHV trails and open areas are what trigger the permit.) Snowmobiles run on their own rules (see below).
CPW requires a current Colorado registration or permit for OHVs used on public land and designated trails. Which one you need depends on where you live and what you drive. CPW posts the current fee and dates.
| If you're… | You need… |
|---|---|
| A Colorado resident with an OHV | Register with CPW and display the current decals |
| A visitor with an OHV | A Colorado Non-Resident OHV Permit; Colorado has no OHV-registration reciprocity |
| Anyone on a plated 4x4 or motorcycle, on OHV trails | A Colorado OHV Permit for designated OHV trails and open areas |
Under current CPW rules, an OHV used on public land needs working brakes, a muffler, a U.S. Forest Service-approved spark arrestor, and lights from sunset to sunrise. Safety rules for the riders depend on the vehicle and where it is being used.
CPW's current road rule says a person under 10 may not operate an OHV on an opened public road. An operator age 10 or older needs a valid driver's license or immediate, in-sight supervision from a licensed driver.
A town or county may require the operator to hold a driver's license on roads it opens to OHVs. That local rule can be stricter than CPW's baseline. Before a young rider drives on any road, check the exact town or county ordinance.
Where you can ride
It's unlawful to drive any vehicle (except a snowmobile over snow, where allowed) off the designated streets, roads, highways, or trails. No cutting cross-country, no shortcuts across a meadow. Going off-route damages the land and is the fastest way to get trails closed for everyone.
Use the current MVUM
Each forest's free Motor Vehicle Use Map shows the roads, trails, vehicle classes, and seasons open to motor travel. A route that is not shown is not open to public motor vehicles. Get the map for the exact forest before you ride.
Big open country, West Slope & desert
Large areas and trail systems. Confirm routes against the BLM map, the field office, the travel-management plan, and posted signs.
Check each property
Some properties have OHV roads or areas, while others do not. State Wildlife Areas can also have their own entry and access rules. Check the current property page before riding, staging, or crossing.
Motorized recreation is closed
Federal Wilderness areas are generally closed to public motorized and mechanized recreation. Boundaries may not be fenced, so check the map before you ride nearby.
Permission required
Get the owner's permission before leaving a public route. Historic mining roads can pass through private parcels, and public access may cover the road but not the land beside it. Respect gates and current closure signs.
Ask the tribal government
Tribal governments set access and permit rules on reservation lands. Do not assume a Colorado sticker gives you permission. Check the tribe's official visitor guidance before crossing a reservation boundary.
COTREX (the state's official trail map) is the best tool for planning and live closures. On National Forest land, confirm against the current MVUM; on BLM land, the BLM map and field office. If COTREX, the MVUM, a closure order, or an on-site sign disagree, follow the most restrictive and most current one.
CPW says Colorado's motorized trail markers use brown signs with white symbols. A red slash means the route is closed to that vehicle type. CPW also warns that signs can be missing, so carry the current map. Follow any posted closure and check current alerts for weather, fire, mud, and wildlife restrictions.
The Motor Vehicle Use Map looks like a plain black-and-white map, but it packs in the rules. A solid line is a road; a dashed line is a trail. Each route has columns of symbols for which vehicle classes are allowed: highway-legal vehicles, all vehicles, machines 50 inches wide or less, or motorcycles. Many also show a seasonal date range. The Forest Service says a route not shown on the current MVUM is not open to public motor vehicles.
That width column is easy to miss. A route marked for vehicles 50 inches wide or less does not authorize a wider side-by-side or full-size Jeep. Check the machine at its widest point, then match its vehicle class to the current MVUM before you ride.
Here's what visitors get wrong most often: Colorado does not make four-wheeled OHVs street-legal statewide. The state and CDOT don't plate four-wheeled OHVs, and they don't recognize out-of-state "street-legal" OHV plates. So as a rule, you can't just ride an OHV on public roads.
The local exception: many towns and counties have opened some city streets and county roads to OHVs by local ordinance. Some mountain communities are very OHV-friendly and let you ride from a campsite into town. The exact route and safety rules are local, and they can change at a city limit.
State highways are different. A local government generally cannot open a state-highway segment to OHVs on its own. That segment also needs state authorization. Check the current local route map and CDOT information before using any part of a state highway.
On a road opened to OHVs, the local ordinance may require:
The ordinance controls the exact list. Follow posted speed limits and slow down near homes, people, and traffic.
How local it gets
Lake City and Hinsdale County publish local OHV rules and route maps, including any approved state-highway connection. Check both official sources before riding into town.
County roads, City of Ouray streets, and nearby trail routes can have different rules. Check city and county sources separately before leaving a staging area.
Town and county rules do not always match, and local access can change. Check the Town of Silverton and San Juan County before crossing into town limits.
Always confirm the current rule with the town or county. Stay the Trail Colorado keeps a running list of cities and counties that allow OHVs on roads. It is a useful starting point before you check the local source directly.
Under current Colorado law and CPW rules, an OHV used on public land generally needs:
Noise carries a long way. A working muffler and a light throttle near homes, camps, and other trail users help protect access.
If an OHV or snowmobile accident causes at least $1,500 in property damage, hospitalization, or death, Colorado law says to notify local law enforcement right away. Separately, report any OHV or snowmobile accident to CPW within 48 hours. Use CPW's current accident form and instructions, since the threshold or process can change.
Colorado's high country runs on snow time:
Always check current openings and closures on COTREX before you go. A trail that was open last week may be gated today.
Snowmobiles have their own registration and a few different rules:
Winter riding can enter avalanche terrain. A rider can trigger a slide on or below a steep slope. Before leaving a groomed route, check the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) forecast for your zone and get avalanche training. Carry a beacon, shovel, and probe, and know how to use them.
Where to go
Colorado has routes for many skill levels. These are a few well-known examples, but always check COTREX or the MVUM for current status, difficulty, and which machines are allowed, because conditions and rules change. Many famous routes are shelf roads: a narrow ledge cut into a cliff, often one vehicle wide, with a long drop. They demand experience and a clear understanding of your machine's size.
A connected network through historic mining country between Lake City, Silverton, and Ouray. Check the current pass status, vehicle class, and direction before choosing your route.
A high pass between the Silverton and Telluride areas. Snow, rock, and traffic can change the trip, so check current conditions before crossing.
A scenic route near Ouray with waterfalls, wildflowers, and changing road conditions. Match the current route report to your vehicle and experience.
The Telluride side has tight shelf switchbacks and a one-way section. Check the current direction, closure, and vehicle rules before entering.
A high, rocky route between Ouray and Telluride with narrow and exposed sections. Check conditions and turn back if the route exceeds your comfort or vehicle.
A difficult San Juan route with ledges and rough rock. Read the current route report and do not treat a map line as a promise that your machine can pass.
Near Gunnison and Crested Butte, Taylor Park has a broad network of ATV, UTV, and dirt-bike routes.
Near Colorado Springs and Sedalia, Rampart Range has an established network of motorcycle and OHV routes.
Near Walden in North Park, this is Colorado's only open sand-dune area for OHV riding, according to BLM. The area has a seasonal motor closure from December 15 to April 15. Stay off fenced, vegetated, and signed restoration areas.
Colorado quirks
These are the small details that are easy to miss before a first ride.
Public-road access starts with the local town or county ordinance. A state-highway segment also needs state approval. Check the exact route before you unload.
CPW says Colorado has no OHV-registration reciprocity. A visitor riding designated OHV trails or open areas needs the current Colorado nonresident permit.
CPW currently requires a Colorado OHV Permit for a plated 4x4 or motorcycle on designated OHV trails and open areas. Check the current CPW page for where the permit rule applies.
On National Forest land, a route not shown on the current MVUM is not open to public motor vehicles. Snowmobile travel uses a different winter map. A missing sign does not open a route.
Federal Wilderness areas are generally closed to public motorized and mechanized recreation. The boundary may not be fenced, so find it on the map before riding nearby.
Do not assume an e-bike may use every trail open to a regular bicycle or every route open to an OHV. Access can depend on the e-bike class and land manager. Check the exact trail before riding.
BLM identifies North Sand Hills near Walden as Colorado's only open sand-dune area for OHV recreation. Its current page lists a seasonal motor closure from December 15 through April 15.
Colorado law generally requires a working, U.S. Forest Service-approved spark arrestor for OHVs used on public land. The statute has limited agency and organized-event exceptions.
Colorado's sound test and limit can depend on the machine's model year. Keep the muffler in working order and use the current CPW rule or a Stay the Trail sound check instead of guessing by ear.
CPW's road rule bars operators under 10. An operator age 10 or older needs a valid license or immediate, in-sight supervision from a licensed driver. A town or county may set a stricter rule on roads it opens to OHVs.
Snow keeps most high 4x4 passes closed until June or July, and they close again with the first fall storms. "Open in the guidebook" doesn't mean open today.
Black Bear Pass has a one-way section on the Telluride side. Check the current route direction and closures before you commit to any shelf road.
A county route can reach a town whose street rules are different. Check the current town and county sources before you ride through the boundary.
Special groups & safety
Bring a well-fitting helmet and eye protection for every rider. For local roads, check the operator-age, supervision, helmet, eye-protection, seatbelt, and passenger rules before a young rider drives. Start on an easy, wide, lower trail and skip shelf roads.
A guided tour or rental can make a first ride easier. Ask whether the machine has a current permit, what the agreement says about damage, and which route rules apply. A rental does not replace local safety rules. Download COTREX before you lose service.
Keep the group on the route and spaced out for dust. Cell service can disappear in the backcountry, so carry an offline map, water, layers, a first-aid kit, and recovery gear that fits your machine. A satellite messenger gives you another way to call for help.
Before you ride
The jargon, decoded
Off-roading has its own vocabulary. Here's what the terms in this guide mean.
Off-Highway Vehicle. This includes an ATV, dirt bike, side-by-side (UTV/SxS), dune buggy, or sand rail. A plated 4x4 also needs the OHV permit on designated OHV trails and open areas.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife. It handles OHV and snowmobile registration and the statewide OHV program.
Motor Vehicle Use Map. This free Forest Service map shows the roads, trails, vehicle classes, and seasons open to public motor travel.
If a route is not shown on the current MVUM, it is not open to public motor vehicles.
Colorado Trail Explorer, the state's official trail-planning website and app. Use it for route details and current alerts.
A road or trail officially open to your class of motor vehicle. Stay on the route shown on the current controlling map.
A screen in the exhaust that traps hot particles. Colorado law generally requires an approved one for OHVs used on public land.
The parking/trailhead lot where you unload and start riding. You need your permit here too.
A narrow trail cut into a cliff, with a wall on one side and a long drop on the other. It may be only one vehicle wide.
Black Bear and Imogene are well-known shelf roads.
Federally protected land that is generally closed to public motorized and mechanized recreation.
The Colorado sticker that visitors and licensed 4x4s need on designated OHV trails and open areas.
Temporary Authorization Number. CPW says it lets you ride for 45 days while your decal is mailed.
FAQ
Yes, for designated OHV trails and open areas. CPW says Colorado has no OHV-registration reciprocity, so a visitor buys a Colorado Non-Resident OHV Permit. Check CPW for the current fee and dates. An online buyer receives a Temporary Authorization Number that CPW says is good for 45 days while the decal is mailed.
Yes, on designated OHV trails and open areas. CPW currently requires the permit for plated 4x4s and motorcycles in those places. Ordinary roads use a different set of vehicle and local-road rules, so check how the current map classifies your route.
Start with the local ordinance. A town or county may open certain streets or roads to OHVs and set added safety rules. A state-highway segment also needs state approval. Check the exact local map and ordinance before you enter traffic.
CPW's current road rule bars operators under 10. Someone age 10 or older needs a valid driver's license or immediate, in-sight supervision from a licensed driver. A town or county may set a stricter rule on roads it opens to OHVs, so check that local ordinance first.
Use COTREX for planning and alerts. On National Forest land, also check the current MVUM for vehicle class and season. Read current closure orders and on-site signs. If the sources do not match, stop and ask the local land office before riding.
BLM identifies North Sand Hills near Walden as Colorado's only open sand-dune area for OHV recreation. BLM lists an annual motor closure from December 15 through April 15. Check the current BLM page, then stay off fenced, vegetated, or signed restoration areas.
The official signpost
Colorado Porch gives you the short path. CPW, the land agencies, your town or county, and current route maps control the exact rule. Check those sources before you ride.
Use this carefully: CPW handles registration, the Forest Service and BLM decide which routes are open on their land, towns and counties decide their own roads, and state-highway access needs state approval. Fees, road access, trail openings, and seasonal closures can change. Check CPW, COTREX, the current MVUM or BLM map, and the specific town or county before you ride.
Official sources
The fine print lives in Colorado Revised Statutes Title 33, the road and vehicle rules in Title 42, and the CPW Commission rules in 2 CCR 405-5. Phone help: 1-800-244-5613.
Next steps
Off-roading is one piece of Colorado's outdoors. Keep a couple of close cousins handy, then wander off the map.
Sister guide
Licenses, seasons, access, and the Colorado quirks for the riders who also hunt and fish.
Read hunting & fishing ->Same backcountry
Dispersed sites, fire bans, and the public-land rules that pair with a day on the trail.
Read the camping guide ->Go local
The Switzerland of America, where the Alpine Loop, Imogene, and Black Bear Pass all begin.
Explore Ouray County ->