Riding a Closed Two-Track
A two-track can look like an obvious route, especially when tire marks lead past a sign or continue beyond a junction. But a visible track is not proof that riding there is allowed. In Wyoming, the key question is whether the responsible land manager has designated the route open to motorized travel. A permit or street-legal machine does not override a closure.
Why a two-track can be closed
“Two-track” describes the marks left by vehicle tires; it does not tell you whether a route is open, enrolled in Wyoming’s ORV program, or legal for your machine. A track may be a service route, an old route that is no longer open to public motorized use, or a route closed for a particular period. Its appearance alone cannot settle the question.
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 means a Wyoming ORV permit is not permission to ride wherever a machine can fit. It is one requirement for using eligible routes, not an authorization to ignore a closure.
The distinction matters on both public and private land. On public land, the relevant manager’s route designations and current restrictions control. On private property, you need the owner’s permission. A route that appears on a map, has tracks across it, or seems to connect two open routes should not be treated as open unless the responsible authority confirms it.
Wyoming’s ORV program covers designated roads, routes, and trails, but not every visible road or track. Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails says all ORV travel must remain on enrolled roads and travel routes, and that riders must stay on enrolled trails when using trails designated for ORV travel. For a wider overview of how designated routes work, see Wyoming’s Enrolled Roads and Trails.
A closure can also apply even when the route is physically passable. A gate, barricade, closure sign, or current land-management notice is a reason to stop and check, not to test whether the route is still rideable. Closures may protect wildlife, sensitive ground, or other land-management interests; the reason does not change the practical rule: do not ride a route unless it is open to your kind of motorized travel.
A permit and a route designation do different jobs
It helps to separate two questions:
- Is your machine properly permitted or otherwise eligible?
- Is this specific route open to your machine today?
You need a satisfactory answer to both. Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails requires a Wyoming ORV permit on enrolled roads, routes, and trails of 50 inches or less designated for ORV use. The same agency says there is no reciprocity for out-of-state ORV or OHV registrations, so a visitor’s home-state registration does not, by itself, authorize riding in Wyoming.
But a valid permit does not make a closed two-track legal. Nor does a license plate turn a closed road into an open one. Route access and vehicle credentials are separate checks. For the permit side of the question, see Wyoming ORV Permits Explained and Wyoming ORV Reciprocity Rules.
| What you have or see | What it tells you | What it does not tell you |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh tire tracks | Someone has driven the route | That public motorized use is currently allowed |
| A Wyoming ORV permit | You have met a permit requirement for routes where it applies | That a closed route is open |
| An out-of-state permit or registration | Your machine may be registered in another state | That Wyoming accepts it as a substitute for its permit |
| A route shown on a map | The route may be identified in that map’s information | That it is open now or open to every vehicle type |
| A sign or barricade stating the route is closed | There is a closure that you should respect | That a permit or plate creates an exception |
How to check whether the route is open
Before unloading or turning onto an unfamiliar two-track, identify who manages the land and check that manager’s current route information. A map is useful, but it should be the right map for the area and should be read together with on-the-ground signs and current notices. Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails directs riders to follow the appropriate local land manager’s open designations.
If you are riding in the Bighorn National Forest, the Forest Service recommends obtaining a Bighorn Motorized Vehicle Use Map to identify open roads and trails. The Forest Service also says motorized vehicle travel is permitted on designated roads and trails across the forest. That does not mean every visible track is open: check the map’s route designations and any closure information before setting out. More on federal-land rules is in Wyoming Rules for Riding a National Forest and Wyoming Rules for Riding BLM Land.
Use this practical check before riding a questionable route:
- Locate the route on the appropriate motor-vehicle map. Confirm that the map covers the exact area and that the route is identified for the kind of motorized use you plan.
- Check the route’s current status. Look for manager notices about closures or seasonal restrictions. If the map and a current notice appear to disagree, do not assume the route is open.
- Read signs at the entrance and along the route. A closure sign or physical barrier is a strong reason not to proceed. If a map appears to show a route as open but a sign says closed, stop and ask the land manager to clarify before riding.
- Confirm that your machine is allowed. A route can be open to some types of motorized travel but unsuitable or restricted for others. Check any width or vehicle-type limits shown by the manager.
- Confirm permit and road-use requirements separately. A permit may be required on an enrolled route, while a road outside the program may require a street-legal vehicle. Neither requirement cancels a closure.
- When the status is unclear, choose another route. Contact the responsible land manager rather than treating uncertainty as permission.
For more on using maps and handling conflicting information, see Which Travel Map You Must Carry in Wyoming, When a Sign on the Ground Says Closed, and When a Map and a Sign Disagree. If you want a specific answer about one route, ask the agency managing that land; a nearby rider’s tracks or advice may not reflect the current designation.
Open does not always mean open to every machine
A route designation is not a blanket approval for every vehicle. Width, vehicle type, road status, and permit or licensing requirements can all matter. For example, the Forest Service limits off-highway vehicles on its relevant routes to a maximum width of 50 inches at their widest point. Check the specific route information rather than assuming a wider side-by-side is allowed because another machine has used the route.
Wyoming’s requirements also distinguish between enrolled trails and roads. Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails says designated trails enrolled in the ORV program require a state ORV sticker, regardless of whether the vehicle is street legal. Enrolled roads have different conditions: vehicles must be street legal or display a state ORV sticker while meeting the ORV definition requirements. A route’s status and your machine’s eligibility both need to fit.
What to do if you reach a closed route
If you find a closure before entering, stop and turn around. Do not move a barrier, ride around a sign, or look for an unofficial bypass across nearby ground. Riding around a closure may put you off the designated route, and Wyoming’s rules require motorized travel to remain on enrolled roads and travel routes or enrolled trails, as applicable.
If you discover the closure after entering the route, avoid continuing farther into it. Turn around where it is safe to do so and return by the route you used, rather than creating a new track. If the route is blocked in a way that makes turning around unsafe, pause and contact the land manager or follow any posted instructions. Do not assume that a closure gives permission to cross an adjacent field, use a service track, or go around a gate.
When a map and a sign seem inconsistent, treat the sign as a reason to stop and verify the route’s status. Signs may reflect a current or more specific restriction that is not obvious from the map you are carrying. The careful option is to avoid riding the segment until the manager confirms that it is open for your vehicle and intended use. See Riding a Closed Two-Track for related route-compliance considerations and What to Expect at a Trailhead Warden Checkpoint for what riders may be asked to show.
Keep the other rules in view
A route being open does not eliminate other requirements. Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails says ORVs operating on public lands and other designated roads, trails, or areas must display the Wyoming ORV permit. It also says riders from other states must obtain a Wyoming permit when operating in the state; out-of-state ORV or OHV registration does not provide reciprocity.
Road use may involve additional conditions. Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails says operators using designated roadways with only an ORV sticker need a valid driver’s license or permit. For roads identified as part of Wyoming’s ORV program, the agency also requires a valid operator’s license and proof of liability insurance. A vehicle displaying only a Wyoming ORV permit may be operated only on roadways identified as part of that program. For the distinction between a route permit and road authorization, see Why an ORV Permit Is Not a Road License.
Age and vehicle rules are relevant, too. Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails says operators without a driver’s 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 says operators over 15 with a permit or driver’s license may ride on roads, routes, and trails designated for ORV travel, as well as non-designated roads if the ORV is street legal. These rules do not create an exception for a closed route.
A quick pre-ride review can prevent a wrong turn from becoming a compliance problem:
- Verify that each planned segment is open to motorized use.
- Check whether the route is enrolled and what permit or licensing requirements apply.
- Confirm that your machine meets any route-specific width or vehicle restrictions.
- Watch for current signs, gates, and closure notices at the route itself.
- If the information is uncertain, ask the land manager or choose a route with clear open status.
The practical rule is simple: tire tracks are evidence that a vehicle passed through, not evidence that you may follow. A Wyoming permit can satisfy a permit requirement, and a street-legal machine can satisfy some road requirements, but neither overrides a land manager’s closure. When a two-track is marked closed or its status cannot be confirmed, stay off it until the responsible manager says it is open.
Sources
- Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails — Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails – ORV Permits – Trails (checked November 3, 2026)
- 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 F.A.Qs (checked November 3, 2026)
- Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails — Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails – ORV Requirements – Trails (checked November 3, 2026)
- Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails — Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails – OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle) Partnership Grants (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.
