Can You Ride Mini Bikes on Public Land?

When I got my first mini bike, I couldn’t wait to ride it. After a few days of riding around the empty lot behind my house, I was ready for something more. The problem was I didn’t know where else I was allowed to go. So I started looking into the rules about public land.

Public lands offer numerous opportunities to ride mini bikes and other off-highway vehicles (OHV). However, each land managing entity has it’s own specific requirements and rules that determine where you are allowed to ride. Let’s dive into these rules and requirements.

Can you ride mini bikes on BLM Land?

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) offers miles of trails and open areas to ride mini bikes. BLM classifies mini bikes as an off-highway vehicle (OHV) and has designated areas where riding is allowed. Check out this Top BLM Motorized Recreational Opportunities Interactive Map to find specific areas to go.

All OHVs on BLM land must also follow State regulations and restrictions. So make sure you check your State’s laws before heading out. This includes registering your mini bike with the appropriate State agency when required. Also, all vehicles must have an approved spark arrester and muffler.

BLM manages roughly 248 million acres to meet particular management objectives, to protect resources and to provide safety. So please observe posted signs and respect areas that are closed to vehicle use.

Can you ride mini bikes in the National Forest?

The National Forests have over 60,000 miles of trails designated for motorized use and OHV areas where riding mini bikes is permitted. Each National Forest has it’s own specific opportunities for riding mini bikes. So it is important that you look up the rules for the particular National Forest you plan to visit.

To find a National Forest, use the “Find a Forest” search function on the National Forest homepage at fs.usda.gov . This search function allows you to choose the state and then the specific National Forest you want within that state. After you make your selections, you will be taken to the website of the National Forest you chose. This website will provide you with the rules and regulations you need to know.

Once you find the National Forest webpage you want, look for information on motor vehicle use and OHV riding & camping. Each National Forest has Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) available to view and download that outline OHV areas and trails available to the public. This information is normally found in the recreation section.

In general the US Forest Service prohibits traveling off-trail and requires all vehicles to be equipped with approved spark arresters. Just like on BLM land, all motorized users need to meet State requirements including registration with the appropriate State agency.

Can you ride mini bikes in a National Park?

The vast majority of National Parks do not allow mini bikes or other OHV use within the park. However, there are a small number of designated areas within National Parks that are open to mini bikes and other OHVs.

In order to locate the few National Parks with designated OHV areas, you can use the Find a Park search feature on the National Park Service website. This allows you to narrow your search by picking a specific state or search by activity or topic. However, I didn’t find searching by the “Auto and ATV” topic to be especially helpful.

Can you ride mini bikes in US Fish and Wildlife areas?

The use of mini bikes and other OHVs are generally prohibited at national wildlife refuges managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. There are a few sites that you can ride mini bikes and other OHVs with proper permits, or in conjunction with other activities like hunting. Visit fws.gov/activity/road-vehicles for a list of areas you can ride.

The few sites that mini bikes are allowed restrict riding to dirt roads and open routes. These roads and open routes are subject to be closed based on weather, road conditions and for resource/habitat protection.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Unfortunately, motorized off-highway vehicles such as mini bikes disturb the wildlife, plants and their habitats. So it is understandable that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has minimal riding opportunities.

Can you ride mini bikes on State and Local lands?

State and local land offer lot’s of opportunities to ride mini bikes and other off-highway vehicles. However, the laws and regulations surrounding these public lands are highly individualized. So, you need to do your homework to determine which specific areas you are allowed to ride in.

State and local lands are sometimes overlooked, but these public lands consist of roughly 199 million acres or 8.7% of all U.S. land. This is a huge amount of land and tens of thousands of acres of it are designated specifically for OHV trail riding. Some of the best trails I have ever encountered were in my local State Forests.

Be Respectful and Follow the Rules

We are very lucky to have access to millions of acres of beautiful raw land that gives us the opportunity to explore and enjoy nature as we ride our mini bikes. Visiting these magnificent parts of the U.S. is a privilege that we don’t want to loose. So please be respectful, follow the rules and stick to the designated riding areas to help preserve these wonderful lands that provide so many people with so many amazing experiences.