Wyoming Rules for Riding a Designated Route
A route that looks like a public two-track is not automatically open to ATVs or UTVs in Wyoming. The key is whether the land manager has designated it for your type of machine and whether it is open on the day you ride. Here’s how to check route access, understand closures, and avoid treating a permit as permission to ride anywhere.
What “designated route” means in Wyoming
A designated route is a road or trail that the responsible land manager has identified as open to motorized use under specified conditions. It may be open to some vehicles but not others, or open only during certain seasons. The designation, not how well-used or obvious the track looks, is what matters.
In Wyoming, riding opportunities can cross different kinds of land, including federal, state and private property. Each can have its own access rules. A route that is open on one parcel may end at a boundary or connect to another route with different restrictions. Check the rules for the land you will actually be riding, rather than relying on a general map of the area.
The Wyoming ORV permit is a separate requirement from route access. A permit does not make a closed route legal, grant access across private land, or replace a land manager’s rules. It helps meet the state permit requirement where that requirement applies; it does not answer the question of where you may ride. For a broader overview, see Wyoming Rules for Riding a Designated Route—but because that is this topic, use Wyoming’s Enrolled Roads and Trails for more context on how Wyoming’s route system works.
Before heading out, confirm these details:
- Which routes are open to motorized use? Do not assume every road shown on a map is open to recreational riding.
- Which machines are allowed? A route may have a width restriction or another vehicle limitation.
- When is it open? Seasonal, temporary, wildlife, fire-related or weather-related closures can change access.
- Where does the designation start and end? A legal route may stop before the track appears to end.
- Which land manager controls it? Rules can change at a land boundary or where management responsibility changes.
A route’s appearance is not proof of public access. A worn track could be closed, unauthorized, private, or intended for a different use. Likewise, a route that appears faint or rarely traveled may still be designated. Verify access using the responsible land manager’s current information and signs on the ground.
| What you see or hear | What it tells you | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A route appears on a current motorized-use map | The map may identify it as open for a particular use or vehicle type | Check the map legend, restrictions, dates and land boundary |
| A track is visible in the terrain | It is physically passable, but that does not establish legal access | Do not ride it without confirming its designation |
| A sign says closed or restricts vehicle access | There may be a current closure or machine limitation | Follow the sign and verify the route’s status if needed |
| Another rider says the route is open | The rider may be relying on old or incomplete information | Check current official maps and notices yourself |
| Your permit decal is valid | You may have met the permit requirement | Still confirm that this route is open to your machine |
For more on where to look before riding, see Carrying a Travel Management Map in Wyoming and Wyoming Rules for Riding a National Forest. Routes on BLM-managed land have their own access details as well; Wyoming Rules for Riding BLM Land can help you understand why the land manager and its current route information matter.
How to confirm a route is open to your machine
Start with current information from the agency or land manager responsible for the route. Depending on the area, that may mean checking a travel management map, motor vehicle use map, official route map, closure notice, or information posted at a trailhead. A general recreational map can be useful for planning, but it may not show the restrictions that determine whether a particular machine is allowed.
Read the map legend and notes, not just the colored line. A route may be shown as open for a specific class of vehicle, season or width. If your ATV or UTV does not fit the stated conditions, do not assume the route is suitable simply because the line appears on the map. For trail-width questions, see Wyoming’s 50-Inch Trail Limit and Wyoming Trails for a Wide Side-by-Side.
Check the route at more than one point where possible. An access point or trailhead may have signs that clarify a restriction, and an official notice may explain a temporary closure. If you find conflicting information, avoid riding the disputed segment until you can verify its current status with the responsible land manager. A map can be outdated, a sign can apply only to a nearby segment, and a closure can be temporary. The safest response to uncertainty is to stop and check, not to choose whichever source seems more convenient.
A practical pre-ride check looks like this:
- Identify the land and route. Find the route name, number or location and determine who manages it.
- Open the official current map or notice. Confirm that it is intended to show motorized access, not just roads or recreation features.
- Read the restrictions. Look for vehicle type, width, seasonal dates, direction limits and other conditions.
- Check for recent closures. Look at current agency notices and posted information at the trailhead or route entrance.
- Compare the map with your machine. Check any stated width or vehicle category against the machine you plan to ride.
- Confirm the route’s limits. Know where the open segment starts and ends, including any connection to another route.
- Carry the information with you. Have a usable map or navigation reference available if cell service is unavailable.
A GPS line, downloaded track, or route shared by a friend can help with navigation, but it does not establish that riding is allowed. Even if a device shows a road, the road may be closed to your vehicle or may cross land where public access is not permitted. Use navigation as a way to follow a route you have already confirmed, not as the source of permission.
Some routes have width restrictions. Measure the machine as the land manager specifies, and do not assume a machine’s advertised width matches the method used for a route rule. Add-ons such as tires, mirrors or other equipment may affect the actual width. When the restriction or measurement method is unclear, ask the land manager before riding. A route being open to a narrow ATV does not necessarily mean it is open to a wide side-by-side.
Route status can also depend on timing. Spring conditions, snow, wildlife protections, fire danger or maintenance may close a route or delay its opening. A route that was open on a previous trip may not be open now. Check again close to your departure, especially if you are traveling a long distance or planning around a narrow seasonal window.
Staying on the route and respecting closures
Once you reach an open route, stay on the designated surface. Do not create a bypass around mud, snow, a gate, a fallen tree, a washout or another obstacle. A short detour can turn a permitted ride into off-route travel and can damage vegetation, soil or wildlife habitat. If the route is blocked, turn around or use another route that you have confirmed is open.
Avoid widening the track by riding beside it, cutting corners, or making a new line through vegetation. Stay on the established route and follow any signs or markers. If a route divides, do not assume both branches are open. Check the map and signs before continuing, particularly where one branch leads toward private property, a restricted area, or a route intended for a different type of vehicle.
Treat a closed sign as a stop point. Do not ride past it because there are existing tire tracks or because another person has gone through. If a map seems to show the route as open but a sign says it is closed, do not proceed until you have confirmed which information applies to that segment. When a Map and a Sign Disagree covers this common planning problem. Closures can be temporary, and a sign may reflect a change made after a map was produced.
Gates require care. A gate on an otherwise open route may be there to manage livestock or control access. Follow the posted instructions and any applicable land rules. If you open a gate, close it behind you unless a sign or other direction says otherwise. Do not treat a gate as an invitation to explore the surrounding pasture or to leave the designated road.
A route can also pass near or across land where public riding is not allowed. A road’s appearance on a map does not automatically give you permission to cross private ground. Get permission where required and respect property boundaries. State trust land may have separate access requirements, too; see Wyoming Trust Land and Its Own Permit before assuming a public route can be used to explore it.
If you are unsure where the route ends, turn around rather than continuing along a visible track. A route may connect to a closed road, an unmarked private driveway or a trail with a different restriction. Knowing the end of the legal segment is as important as knowing where it begins.
Ride at a speed and distance that let you respond to other users. Designated routes may be shared with hikers, horseback riders, cyclists, ranchers or other vehicles. Slow down near people and livestock, yield as required by signs or local rules, and avoid kicking up dust when passing. Keep noise reasonable and leave room for others to pass safely.
Permit, road access and other rules are separate
A Wyoming ORV permit and a designated-route opening answer different questions. The permit concerns the machine’s permit status where required; the route designation concerns where that machine may travel. A permit does not make an unmarked two-track public, override a seasonal closure, or authorize cross-country riding.
Wyoming also has rules for motorized travel on roads that may be different from those for off-road routes. A road open to an ATV or UTV under one program is not automatically open to the same machine for ordinary road travel. Likewise, a route designated for off-road use does not make the machine street legal. For that distinction, read Why an ORV Permit Is Not a Road License and Wyoming’s MPV Path to the Road.
Out-of-state registration or stickers do not remove the need to check Wyoming’s permit requirements. Visitors should confirm what permit applies to their machine and where it must be displayed. The state permit is not a substitute for checking the route itself. Wyoming ORV Reciprocity Rules explains why a permit or registration from another state should not be assumed to satisfy Wyoming’s requirements.
Before a ride, keep the basic requirements separate:
| Question | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Is the machine covered by the required Wyoming permit? | Check the current permit rules for your machine and situation |
| Is this route designated for motorized use? | Check the current map and information from the responsible land manager |
| Is my ATV or UTV allowed on this segment? | Review width, vehicle-type and seasonal restrictions |
| Is the route open today? | Check current closure notices and signs |
| Does the route cross private or trust land? | Confirm access and any separate permission or permit requirements |
| Am I riding on a road rather than an off-road route? | Check the rules for that road and whether the machine qualifies for its use |
Keep your permit decal visible and attached as required, and carry whatever proof or information is appropriate for your ride. A phone can be useful, but reception and battery life are not guaranteed in remote areas. Download maps in advance or carry a paper map when it makes sense. If an officer or land manager asks about your route, being able to identify the route and show the map information you relied on can make the conversation clearer.
The most reliable habit is simple: verify the route, machine limits and current closure status before unloading. Then follow the route exactly as designated. That approach is more dependable than relying on a familiar track, a past trip, or another rider’s recollection.
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.
