Colorado Trails Closed to Motorized Use
A trail shown on an app or reached by a public road is not automatically open to an ATV or UTV. In Colorado, motorized access depends on the land manager, route designation, season, and any current closure order. Knowing how to check those details helps you avoid riding into a closed area, damaging sensitive ground, or assuming a permit gives permission to go anywhere.
Why Colorado trails are closed to motorized use
A closure may protect wildlife, wetlands, fragile soils, cultural resources, or a landscape intended to remain quiet and undeveloped. It can also reflect a land-use decision that separates motorized and nonmotorized recreation. A route may be open to hikers, cyclists, or horseback riders while remaining closed to ATVs, UTVs, and other motor vehicles.
Some closures are permanent or part of a long-term land-use plan. Others apply only during a season, after a fire, during restoration work, or while unsafe conditions persist. A route can also be open to one type of vehicle but closed to another because of its width, surface, or designation. Do not assume that a route suitable for a dirt bike is also open to a full-size side-by-side.
Designated wilderness is a particularly important boundary to recognize. Motorized vehicles are generally prohibited within federally designated wilderness areas, including on routes that may look like roads or trails on older maps. A route outside a wilderness boundary may still have its own restrictions, so the boundary alone does not determine whether a particular trail is open. See Colorado Wilderness Areas Closed to OHVs for more on that distinction.
A permit is not permission to ignore a closure. Colorado OHV registration or a nonresident permit can satisfy certain registration or access requirements, but it does not make a closed route legal to ride. Check the separate rules for the specific trail, road, or riding area. Colorado Permit Rules on Designated Trails explains why the permit and the route designation are separate checks.
| Closure or restriction | What it can mean for a rider | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent motorized closure | Motor vehicles are not allowed on the route or within the closed area | The land manager’s current route map and boundary information |
| Seasonal closure | Motorized access is allowed only during a defined period, or is restricted during part of the year | The current map dates and any posted seasonal order |
| Temporary closure | A route is closed for a specific safety, repair, fire, or resource concern | Current closure notices before setting out |
| Nonmotorized designation | The route may be open to other recreation but not to ATVs or UTVs | The route’s allowed-use designation |
| Vehicle-width restriction | Some machines may be allowed while wider vehicles are not | The posted width limit and the machine’s actual width |
| Area closure | Riding is prohibited beyond a boundary, even if a nearby route remains open | The closure boundary, signs, and official map |
These categories can overlap. A trail can be designated for motorized travel during part of the year and then closed temporarily by an emergency order. Likewise, a route shown as open on a general recreation map may not be open to every class of vehicle.
How to check whether a route is open
Start with the land manager responsible for the land where you plan to ride. In Colorado, a route may fall under the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, a state agency, a county, a town, or a private landowner. The nearest trailhead or town is not necessarily the agency that controls the route.
For Forest Service routes, a Motor Vehicle Use Map, or MVUM, is a key reference. It identifies roads and trails designated for motorized use and may show vehicle types, seasonal dates, or other limits. An MVUM is not a general recreation map: a line visible on a trail app or topographic map does not establish that motor vehicles are allowed there. Use Reading a Colorado Motor Vehicle Use Map to understand the symbols and restrictions, and Downloading a Motor Vehicle Use Map if you need an offline copy.
BLM routes also have land-manager maps and route designations. Check the current information for the specific area, rather than relying on a route layer from an unrelated app. Colorado OHV Rules on BLM Roads covers the difference between access rules and the permit requirement.
Before leaving, check both the route map and current notices. A seasonal map can show ordinary access rules, while a temporary closure order can change what is allowed that day. For a practical check, look for the following:
- Identify the land manager. Confirm which agency or owner controls the trail and surrounding area. If a route crosses more than one jurisdiction, check each one.
- Find the official motorized-use map. Confirm that the route itself is designated for your vehicle type. Do not infer access from a visible track, a route name, or a line in a general map.
- Read dates and conditions. Check whether the route has seasonal dates, a width restriction, a one-way rule, or another condition that applies to your machine.
- Look for current closure notices. Search the responsible agency’s current notices for emergency closures, repair work, fire restrictions, or other changes. Colorado Trail Closures and Where They Are Posted is a useful starting point.
- Confirm at the trailhead. Read posted signs and barriers when you arrive. If the sign conflicts with an older downloaded map or an app, stop and verify before proceeding.
- Keep the information available offline. Save maps and closure details before entering an area with limited cell service. A printed map can provide a useful backup, but it should be the current official map.
A commercial navigation app can help with route planning, but it should not be your final authority on legal access. Apps may display old tracks, user-submitted routes, or roads without showing the latest restriction. Treat the app as a navigation aid and compare the planned route with the land manager’s current designation.
The same caution applies to signs. A lack of a closure sign at one junction does not prove that the route is open. Signs can be damaged, removed, or placed at the entrance to a larger closed area. When the map, sign, or boundary is unclear, do not ride farther in while trying to resolve it. Stop at a safe place and contact the responsible land manager.
Staying on open routes and avoiding mistakes
Even when a route is open, the designation normally applies to the mapped route, not to the surrounding landscape. Riding around a locked gate, cutting a new line through vegetation, or taking a shortcut across a meadow can turn a legal ride into travel off the designated route. Muddy conditions are not a reason to create a detour; wait, turn back, or choose another open route.
Watch for signs and barriers at intersections, trailheads, and boundary crossings. A road may continue physically beyond a gate, but that does not mean motorized traffic is permitted beyond it. Do not move a barrier or use another vehicle’s tire tracks as proof of access. If an open route meets a closed route, continue only on the route identified as open.
Route designations can also depend on vehicle width. A narrow trail may be open to motorcycles or narrower machines but not to a wider side-by-side. Measure the machine as it is actually set up, including accessories that affect its width, and compare it with the stated limit. If a route’s allowed vehicle type is unclear, choose a route that clearly accommodates your machine rather than guessing.
The legal status of nearby roads can be confusing. A road that appears to connect two open trail systems may cross a closed area, private land, or a route with different motorized rules. Forest roads and BLM roads have their own designations, so do not assume that every road on public land is available to an OHV. See Colorado Rules on Forest Service Roads for more on checking road status.
A practical habit is to plan a route with an exit option. Note the open junctions where you can turn around, and avoid relying on a single narrow corridor if a closure could leave you with no legal way forward. Carry enough fuel, water, and time to retreat without taking an unauthorized shortcut. In remote areas, limited cell service makes advance planning especially important.
If you discover a closure while riding, turn around at the boundary and retrace your route on designated roads or trails. Do not continue to the next junction in the hope that it will provide another exit. If you are unsure whether you have crossed a boundary, stop, check your location against the official map, and contact the land manager when practical. Penalties for Riding Off a Colorado Trail explains why staying on the designated route matters beyond simply following signs.
Planning a ride when your trail is closed
A closure does not necessarily mean the whole area is off limits. Look for nearby routes that are expressly designated for your machine and open during your planned dates. A different trailhead, a shorter loop, or a route on another managed area may work, but verify the connection between routes rather than assuming it is legal.
If your preferred route is closed for a season or temporary condition, make a backup plan before you travel. Check whether the closure affects only one trail or an entire area, and confirm whether parking, staging, or access roads are also restricted. A trailhead can remain reachable by road even when the trail system beyond it is closed to motorized use.
For group rides, share the route plan and the official map with everyone before departure. Riders may be on different machines, and a route suitable for one vehicle may not fit another. Agree that the group will stop at uncertain junctions rather than splitting up or following a track that someone found online. If the ride includes a county or town road, check that separate local rules as well; an open trail designation does not automatically authorize road use.
If posted information appears inconsistent, contact the agency responsible for the land and ask about the exact trail or road segment, vehicle class, and planned date. Give the route name or number and nearby junctions so staff can identify the location. Until you have a clear answer, treat the route as unavailable and use a confirmed open alternative.
A permit is one part of responsible ride planning, but it cannot substitute for checking access. Before loading your machine, confirm the route, dates, vehicle limits, and current orders. That small check can prevent a wasted trip and help protect the trails that remain open to motorized use.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
