Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV)

The USDA Forest Service works diligently to improve and balance the public's enjoyment of Off Highway Vehicles while ensuring the best possible care of the land. At the national level, the Forest Service has revised its Travel Management policy governing the use of wheeled motor vehicles to develop a system of roads, trails and areas designated for motor vehicle use.

For Travel Management information for the Eldorado National Forest, Read More.

OHV RELATED RULES

The Forest Service works with the State of California Off-Highway Vehicle Fund to create and maintain trails and facilities for OHV users. These areas are for everyone to enjoy. Please follow the rules to keep them safe.

Helmets Required: All motorcycle riders on public lands in the State of California, including Forest Service roads open to OHV vehicles, must wear a safety helmet meeting the standards adopted by the US Department of Transportation.
Vehicle Registration: All OHVs must have a current Green Sticker or highway license plate. Highway licensed vehicles must meet all standards for operating on a public highway and be operated in accordance with California state law.
Spark Arresters: Your vehicle must be equipped with a properly installed Forest Service approved spark arrester in good working condition.
Safety: Off-Highway Vehicles must never be operated in a manner likely to endanger any person or property, including excessive speeds, careless and reckless driving, racing, and “wheelies.”
Stay on Trails: Going off trail can result in citation. Notify Forest Service staff of any trail hazards and their locations.
No Drugs or Alcohol: It’s illegal to operate any vehicle under the influence.
Sound Limits: Motorcycles and ATVs must meet the state sound requirement of 96 dba or lower.
Supervision: Unlicensed juveniles operating motorcycles and ATVs must be under the supervision of a licensed adult.

MOTOR-VEHICLE USE MAPS

Off Highway Vehicle recreation is a popular activity for locals and visitors to the forest. It is a sport that includes 4-wheel drives, motorcycles, and all terrain vehicles. Visit the Motor Vehicle Use Map finder for maps of legal travel routes. Off Highway Vehicle use is an activity that the Forest Service manages to ensure conflicts are minimized and that sensitive soils and other resources are protected.

Help us keep your public lands open, please ride responsibly by respecting gates and posted closures, avoiding wildlife, being courteous to other users and staying on designated routes!

OHV Road Riding

To ensure you are operating on a route legally designated for your vehicle type, you will need to refer to the Eldorado National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). See Maps and Guides.

A Vertical Route Marker is placed on roughly graded roads that are recommended for high-clearance vehicles, 4WD and pick-ups. The “mixed-use” of street legal and non-street legal motor vehicles (OHV) is allowed on these roads unless otherwise designated.

When traveling mixed use roads, you can expect to encounter a variety of street legal passenger vehicles and four-wheel drives, as well as non-street legal vehicles like dirt bikes, ATVs, dune buggies, and other types of specialized or modified vehicles. When traveling these roads, please keep your speed down to 15 mph, stay to the right and observe all rules of the road.
Be courteous to hikers, campers, and other visitors.

OHV Trail Riding

Many roads on this Forest lead to private land and have limited easements with private landowners. Where boundaries are posted, turn around and don’t trespass. Many roads and trails are not posted. You are responsible for knowing where you can legally ride. Please contact your local ranger station and see your Eldorado National Forest MVUM for legal designations.

OHV access is designated for use on "unimproved" roads. In most cases you will have to trailer your OHV across the "improved" roads to get to where you want to ride.

Improved Roads: Improved roads are smooth, graded roads. Sometimes they may be called a Forest Highway or a County Road. Your vehicle must be currently registered, street legal (equipped with lights, mirrors, signals, horn, etc.) to use these roads. To recognize this type of road please look for the following:

A horizontal number designation or a primary route marker identifying the road.
If it's a county road, look for the mile markers, a vertical paddle sign at one-mile intervals with the initials of the road, the county, and the mile.
No water bars.
Traffic hazard signs.

Unimproved Roads: Unimproved roads are roughly graded and generally designed for lower speeds.

You can recognize this type of road by a brown fiberglass post with no sign. The numbers are printed vertically (one on top of the other) directly on the post. Sometimes other information is displayed on the post along with the numbers.
These roads usually have water bars across the roadbed.
These roads are legal for Green Stickered vehicles.
Most of these roads are dead ends on - you must come out the same way you go in.
Watch out for other traffic on these roads.

Off-Highway Vehicle Routes: These are designated OHV trails. The markers have signs and decals designating type of use recommended, level of difficulty, and system numbers which corresponds to the Mendocino National Forest Off-Highway Vehicle Guide available at any Forest Office. Markers or signs with a red slash mean the route is closed to that type of use.

OHV Camping

All camping sites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Campgrounds provide campers with a table, a fire ring or camp stove, vault toilets, and OHV trail access. Not all locations have drinking water. There are no hook-ups or showers. Be prepared to pack out your trash, not all campgrounds offer trash collection. Avoid high speeds and high rpm near camps and picnic areas. Speed limit is 5 mph around campgrounds and staging areas.

Rock Creek OHV Trail System - Georgetown Ranger District
Elkins Flat OHV Trail System - Placerville Ranger District (closed due to Caldor Fire Damage)
Gold Note OHV Trail System - Amador Ranger District