When a Map Marks a Route Open
A route shown as open on a map can look like a clear invitation to ride, but Wyoming access depends on more than a line and an “open” label. You also need to know whether the map is current, whether the route is designated for motorized travel, and whether your machine and permit meet the rules. Here’s how to check before you leave the trailhead.
What “open” means on a Wyoming route map
An open designation means the land manager has identified that route or area as available for the type of motorized travel covered by the map. It does not mean every vehicle can use it, that it is open in every season, or that riding beyond the mapped route is allowed.
Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails says ORVs may be operated only on roads, trails, or areas designated as open by the appropriate local land manager, such as the Forest Service or BLM. That distinction matters: a road visible on a map is not automatically an open ORV route. Look for the map’s motorized-use designation and legend, not just the road line.
On Forest Service land, the map to check is the Motor Vehicle Use Map, often called an MVUM. The Forest Service advises visitors to obtain a Bighorn Motorized Vehicle Use Map to identify open roads and trails in the Bighorn National Forest. Other forests and land units have their own travel-management maps and designations. For a broader overview of map types and how to read them, see Wyoming Trail Maps and MVUMs.
Use the map for the land manager’s decision, not as a general-purpose navigation map. A general road map, phone map, or GPS track may show a route without telling you whether motorized travel is allowed. And an open route does not grant permission to turn off it: Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails says ORV travel must remain on enrolled roads, routes, or trails.
| What you see | What it tells you | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
| A route line on a general map | A road or trail may exist | Find the land manager’s motorized-use map and its legend |
| An open designation on an official travel map | The manager identifies the route as open for the mapped use | Check for closures, seasonal limits, vehicle restrictions, and signs |
| A closed symbol or notice | The mapped route is not open for the indicated use | Do not ride it unless the manager confirms a change |
| An open route near a trail or spur | The mapped segment may be open | Confirm that your planned route stays on designated segments |
The map may also define access by vehicle type or route width. The Forest Service limits off-highway vehicles on its trails to a maximum width of 50 inches at their widest point. That is not a blanket width rule for every road: read the map and any route-specific restrictions, and don’t assume that a route open to a narrow ATV is also open to a wider side-by-side.
A route’s open status is separate from your permit. Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails requires a Wyoming ORV permit for enrolled roads, routes, and trails of 50 inches or less designated for ORV use. The requirement applies to visitors as well as residents; the state has no reciprocity for out-of-state ORV or OHV registrations. See Wyoming ORV Permit for Nonresidents if you are bringing a machine from another state.
Check the map, route, and machine before you ride
Before heading out, confirm the route on the map issued for the land unit where you plan to ride. A map for one forest or district may not cover roads managed by a neighboring agency. If your trip crosses between jurisdictions, check each manager’s map and rules rather than assuming the same designation continues across a boundary.
Use this practical check:
- Identify who manages the route. Confirm whether the road or trail is on Forest Service land, BLM land, or another managed area. A boundary on the map can mark a change in who sets access rules.
- Read the legend and route designation. Make sure the symbol indicates open motorized use for your kind of vehicle, rather than a road that is open only to other traffic or uses.
- Check the map’s date and closure information. A map can show the planned designation while a temporary closure, fire restriction, or other current notice changes access. Check the manager’s current information before riding.
- Trace the whole ride. Confirm each connecting segment. An open section does not make an adjoining road, trail, spur, or shortcut open.
- Compare the route limits with your machine. Check width restrictions and whether the route is designated for the type of ORV you intend to ride.
- Confirm your permit and equipment. An open route does not waive Wyoming’s permit, display, or operating requirements.
Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails says a current state ORV permit is required on enrolled designated trails whether or not the machine is street legal. On enrolled roads, vehicles must either be street legal or display a state ORV sticker while meeting the applicable ORV requirements. The distinction between an enrolled road and an enrolled trail can change what you need, so don’t rely on a single assumption for an entire trip. Wyoming Rules for Riding a Designated Route explains the route-use rules in more detail.
A decal from another state does not replace Wyoming’s permit. Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails says there is no reciprocity for out-of-state ORV or OHV registrations, and all ORVs operating on public lands and other designated roads, trails, or areas must display the Wyoming permit. The state permit is valid for a calendar year and applies equally to residents and nonresidents. For where to get one, see Where to Buy a Wyoming ORV Permit.
The vehicle itself also matters. A street-legal machine may have different options on roads that are not enrolled in Wyoming’s ORV program, but that does not turn a closed or undesignated route into a legal route. Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails says a street-legal ORV still needs a state permit when it operates on an enrolled trail of 50 inches or less. Machines with a Multipurpose Vehicle license plate may use Wyoming roadways other than interstates without a Wyoming ORV permit, but trail designations and other applicable requirements still matter.
For riders without a driver’s license or permit, the map check is especially important. Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails says operators without a license or permit, typically those 15 years old and under, may operate only on enrolled trails, designated riding areas, and private property with permission. The agency also says there is no driver’s license requirement on an enrolled designated trail when the ORV displays a current Wyoming ORV permit. Do not treat that as permission to ride an undesignated road or to ignore other age, supervision, or safety rules.
A route map is a planning tool, not a substitute for the permit decal on the machine. Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails requires the permit to be displayed while operating on public lands and designated routes. If you need help with decal placement, see Wyoming ORV Decal Placement.
When a sign and the map do not match
It is possible to arrive at a route that appears open on your map but has a closure sign or barrier at the entrance. Treat that as a reason to stop and verify, not as a puzzle to solve by choosing whichever information you prefer. A map may not reflect a newer temporary closure, while a sign may refer to a particular segment, vehicle type, or seasonal restriction.
Do not ride past a closed sign, around a gate, or along a nearby track to get around the notice. Stay off the route until you can confirm its status with the responsible land manager. If you can’t confirm that it is open, choose a route whose status is clear. For the practical steps to take when signs and map information conflict, see When a Sign on the Ground Says Closed and When a Map and a Sign Disagree.
The same caution applies in reverse. If the map indicates a route is closed or does not designate it for motorized use, the lack of a closure sign does not make it open. Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails says ORVs may be operated only where the appropriate land manager has designated roads, trails, or areas as open. A missing sign is not a substitute for that designation.
When asking about a discrepancy, give the land manager useful details: the map name, the route or segment, the nearest junction or trailhead, and what the sign says. A clear question about a specific segment is more helpful than asking whether an entire area is open. If the map and the sign cover different segments, follow the status that applies to the stretch you would actually ride.
Seasonal access is another reason a map and trailhead conditions can differ. Wyoming’s typical ORV season runs from April 1 through mid-December, according to Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails. That general season does not guarantee every route is open throughout that period; local managers may set restrictions or closures. Check the current status for your route instead of treating the statewide season as an opening calendar.
The agency also describes a typical snowmobile season from mid-December through April 1. That schedule concerns snowmobile use, not permission to ride an ATV or UTV on a route that is otherwise closed to it. Confirm that the route is designated for your machine and the current use, not just that some form of motorized recreation is taking place nearby.
If you carry a printed map, a clear waterproof map sleeve from a retailer such as Amazon can help keep it readable in dust or weather. It is a simple backup, not a replacement for checking current closure information or carrying the right official map. Keep your map accessible enough to check at junctions rather than relying on memory or an unexplained line on a device.
A final pre-ride check for mapped-open routes
A good plan has more than one check point. Before leaving, verify the official map and any current closure notices. At the trailhead, read posted signs and confirm that you are entering the segment you intended to use. Along the ride, stop at junctions to check that the next segment is also designated open. If the route is blocked, marked closed, or unclear, turn back and contact the manager instead of improvising a detour.
In the Bighorn National Forest, the Forest Service says motorized vehicle travel is permitted on designated roads and trails, and recommends that visitors use the Bighorn Motorized Vehicle Use Map to identify open routes. It also says vehicles in Forest Service campgrounds and recreation sites may be used only for entering or leaving. A route appearing near a campground is not permission to ride around the site.
Keep your ride within the mapped route even when the terrain makes a shortcut look convenient. Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails says motorized users must remain on enrolled roads and travel routes, and on enrolled trails. If you are unsure whether a connecting segment is included, stop and check rather than assuming that a nearby track is part of the route.
One final distinction helps avoid common mistakes: “open” answers where travel is allowed; it does not automatically answer whether your machine can use the route, whether you have the correct Wyoming permit, or whether a temporary closure applies today. Check all of those before setting out. For broader Forest Service access rules, see Wyoming Rules for Riding a National Forest. For current closures to check before a trip, see Wyoming Trail Closures to Check First.
Sources
- Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails — Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails – ORV Rules & Regulations – Trails (checked November 3, 2026)
- Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails — Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails – ORV Requirements – Trails (checked November 3, 2026)
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.
