An official website of the
United States government
Here's
how you know
Official websites use .gov A .gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the
United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock
(
) or https:// means you've safely
connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only
on official, secure websites.
Whether you are looking to take the family on a leisurely jeep ride in the backcountry and do some camping, ready to try your dirt bike on some single-track trails or take the All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) to the end of an old logging road and camp out, one of the 17 national forests and seven national grasslands within the Rocky Mountain Region will have an Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) riding & camping experience that is just right for you.
For the purpose of defining the term Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) in the context of using a vehicle to travel into the backcountry, the following list of vehicles will be considered to be Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs):
All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)
Dirt Bikes
Four Wheeling
Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles (ROVs)
Sand Duning
Side-by-Sides
Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs)
Follow these general guidelines to help ensure that your Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Riding & Camping experience in your national forest or grassland will be a safe and memorable one:
Make a realistic plan and stick to it. Always tell someone of your recreation plans.
Please respect private landowners and don't trespass on private property
Check the weather forecast for your destination area so you can plan clothing, equipment and supplies accordingly
Carry a compass or a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit and know how to use it
Obtain a map of the area you will be riding in to determine which areas are open to your type of travel and recreation
It is not appropriate to drive Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs) wider than 50 inches on most designated All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) trails
In order to determine whether you are using the correct designated roads and trails, all riders need to review the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) that covers the area they are interested in riding in. MVUMs are available for FREE from any local Ranger District office within the Rocky Mountain Region. They can also be viewed online by visiting our Travel Management webpage.
When using an overnight camping area in the backcountry, the general rule is to be a minimum of at least 100-200 feet away from any road, trail or water source
Campers using OHVs are only allowed to stay a maximum of 14 days in any 30-day period. After 14 days, you must move your campsite to a new location, usually at least 3 miles away from your original campsite, and you can stay for another 14 days in a new 30-day period. After the second 14 day period is up, you must leave your second campsite and the national forest or grassland. This means that you can camp within one national forest or grassland for a total of 28 days within any 60-day period. Check with the local Ranger District office for further information.
In the backcountry, be mindful of damaging fragile vegetation and soils along roads and trails
Avoid sensitive areas such as meadows, lakeshores, wetlands and streams. Stay on designated roads, trails, and other areas open to OHV use.
All campers using OHVs should follow the ideals ofLeave No Trace and practice the concept of Pack It In - Pack It Out.
For more detailed guidelines regarding responsible Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Riding & Camping on US Forest Service lands, please check out the information below:
The mission ofStay The Trail Coloradois to encourage the responsible use of the roads and trails that are open to motorized recreation in Colorado. While this website is concerned with Colorado OHV riding, there are plenty of great recommendations to help make your OHV riding & camping trip safe anywhere you happen to be riding.
Regional Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Riding & Camping Information Map
The Rocky Mountain Region map below can be used as a starting place to find information regarding Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) riding & camping opportunities on US Forest Service lands located throughout our five-state region. When you move the cursor over the state you want to go Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) riding & camping in, a filled-in map outline and tool tip will appear. Click on the map outline to view that state's Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) riding & camping information map in a new window. Repeat the same process with the state map as with this map and you will be able to select the individual national forest or grassland that you would like Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) riding & camping information about.
Whether you are looking to take the family on a leisurely jeep ride in the backcountry and do some camping, ready to try your dirt bike on some single-track trails or take the All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) to the end of an old logging road and camp out, one of the 17 national forests and seven national grasslands within the Rocky Mountain Region will have an Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) riding & camping experience that is just right for you.
The Rocky Mountain Region map below can be used as a starting place to find information regarding Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) riding & camping opportunities on US Forest Service lands located throughout our five-state region. When you move the cursor over the state you want to go Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) riding & camping in, a filled-in map outline and tool tip will appear. Click on the map outline to view that state's Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) riding & camping information map in a new window. Repeat the same process with the state map as with this map and you will be able to select the individual national forest or grassland that you would like Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) riding & camping information about.
