How We Ride in Colorado

Ride only on routes wider than your vehicle.

Different trail types are cosntructed for different widths of vehicles. In this section, learn about different trails and which trails are designed for which vehicles. Remember to only ride on trails wider than your vehicle.

Ride only on routes open to your vehicle.

In Colorado, we use brown signs with white graphics to designate which trails are open to which vehicles. A red slash across a sign indicates a trail is closed to that type of vehicle. Signs are always present at trail heads and may be present at trail junctions.

Ride over obstacles, not around them.

Going around obstacles widens trails, impacts vegetation and causes erosion. Challenge yourself by staying on the trail. Use caution when going over obstacles and remember to be courteous to other trail users.

Be an ambassador to non-motorized trail users including livestock and wildlife.

Your trails are always in danger of being closed. On any day of riding you become the face of OHV recreation to other users—leave them with a good impression of your sport. Always yield the trail to non-motorized users.

Louder doesn't mean faster.

Excessive sound from Dirt Bikes and ATVs has become one of the biggest threats to Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use. Fortunately loud Dirt Bikes and ATVs can be fixed without losing any speed or power.

Slow down for your fellow riders.

Care is required when passing or meeting fellow OHV enthusiasts on narrow trails. Slow down. Let the other rider know your intentions. Stay on the trail so you do not flatten vegetation or widen the trail.

CHAPTER 5 – OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE REGULATIONS

ARTICLE I - Pursuant to the authority vested in the Parks and Outdoor Recreation Board by Article 14.5 of Title 33, C.R.S., the following regulations concerning required equipment, off-highway use permits, and the registration of off-highway vehicles are hereby adopted:

#500 – REGISTRATION INFORMATION REQUIRED ON THE APPLICATION:

a. Information to be furnished by the applicant:
1. Vehicle make
2. Vehicle model
3. Vehicle identification number
4. Model year
5. Cubic centimeters displacement
6. Date purchased
7. Proof of ownership or valid transfer registration certificate
8. Name and address of applicant
9. Date of birth
10. How the machine is used

b. Additional information set forth on the registration certificate:
1. Registration number
2. Expiration date of registration
3. Notice to owner of procedure to follow when owner changes address.
4. Notice to owner of procedure to follow when the machine is transferred, destroyed, abandoned or permanently removed from the state.
5. Notice to owner that the operator must carry the certificate of registration while operating the off-highway vehicle.

c. Pending registration of an off-highway vehicle, a temporary registration or possession of a dated bill of sale on the person permits the operator of the newly purchased off-highway vehicle to operate in the State of Colorado for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days from the date of purchase.

#501 – DISPLAY OF VALIDATION DECALS

a. Validation decals shall be permanently affixed in a location on the upper forward half of the off-highway vehicle to assure good visibility of the decals.

b. Dealers and manufacturers may display validation decals on a detachable plate.

c. Prior to issuing validation decals, the distinctive registration number assigned by the Division shall be permanently marked upon the validation decal.

#502 – DISPLAY OF OFF-HIGHWAY USE PERMITS

a. When owners or operators of vehicles identified in C.R.S. 33-14.5-112 are required to obtain and display off-highway use permits, such permits shall be displayed as follows:

1. Off-highway use permits shall be permanently affixed to the extreme lower right-hand corner of the windshield of the vehicle in a position where the permit may be observed and identified.

2. Any vehicle without a windshield shall be treated as a special case and the operator of such vehicle shall have on his person or in the vehicle the off-highway use permit and shall, upon demand of any peace officer authorized to enforce this law, produce the off-highway use permit for inspection.

#503 – SAFETY EQUIPMENT

a. Except as provided in section 33-14.5-109 C.R.S., no person shall operate an off-highway vehicle upon public land in this state unless the off-highway vehicle is equipped with a muffler in constant operation and properly maintained.  A muffler is a device consisting of a series of chamber or baffle plates or other mechanical design for the purpose of receiving exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine and is effective in reducing noise.

b. Except as provided in section 33-14.5-109 C.R.S., no person shall operate an off-highway vehicle upon public land in this state unless the off-highway vehicle is equipped with a spark arrestor in good working order which has been approved by the U.S. Forest Service as evidenced by the bona fide permanent marking of “qualified” or “approved” on the spark arrestor.  A spark arrestor is a device which traps or pulverizes exhaust particles as the are expelled from an internal combustion engine exhaust system and is effective in reducing exhaust sparks and protecting against exhaust spark fires.

c. No off-highway vehicle shall be operated upon public lands in this state between the hours of sunset and sunrise unless it is equipped with at least one headlamp having minimum candlepower of sufficient intensity to reveal persons or objects at a distance of at least 100 feet ahead under normal atmospheric conditions.  Such headlamp shall be aimed so that glaring rays are not projected into the eyes of operators in oncoming vehicles when operated on a straight level surface.

d. No off-highway vehicle shall be operated upon public land in this state between the hours of sunset and sunrise unless it is equipped with at least one red tail lamp having a minimum candlepower of sufficient intensity to exhibit a red light plainly visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear under normal atmospheric conditions.

e. Except as provided in section 33-14.5-109 C.R.S., no person shall operate any off-highway vehicle upon public land in this state unless the off-highway vehicle is equipped with a braking system that may be operated by hand or foot, capable of producing deceleration of 14 feet per second on level ground at a speed of 20 miles per hour.  The braking system must be adequate to control the movement of, and to stop and to hold the off-highway vehicle stationary on any grade upon which operated.

#504 – OPERATION OF OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES

a. Where the State, the United States, or any agency thereof, has designated any public street, road, or highway of this state open to off-highway vehicles or where local political subdivisions have authorized by ordinance or resolution the establishment of off-highway vehicle routes to permit the operation of off-highway vehicles on city streets or county roads pursuant to the authority granted in C.R.S. 33-14.5-108(1), or upon public land in this state, no person shall operate an off-highway vehicle while carrying any person or riding in any position that will interfere with the operation or control of an off-highway vehicle or the view of the operator.

b. Where the State, the United States, or any agency thereof, has designated any public street, road, or highway of this state open to off-highway vehicles or where local political subdivisions have authorized by ordinance or resolution the establishment of off-highway vehicle routes to permit the operation of off-highway vehicles on city streets or county roads pursuant to the authority granted in C.R.S. 33-14.5-108(1), no person under the age of ten years may operate an off-highway vehicle on such public street, road, or highway of this state or on such city street or county road.  No person ten years of age or older may operate an off-highway vehicle on such public street, road, or highway of this state or on such city street or county road unless:

1. The person has in his possession a valid driver’s license issued by the State of Colorado or another state; or

2. The person is accompanied by and under the immediate supervision of a person who has in his possession a valid driver’s license issued by the State of Colorado or another state.  The phrase “under immediate supervision” shall mean that, at a minimum, the unlicensed operator is within direct visual contact of the licensed supervisor.