4-Wheeler Road Travel Rules
Known as quads, ATVs, OHVs and four-wheelers, these small vehicles designed for carrying people into the backcountry across rugged terrain make it convenient to see vistas that would otherwise take hours to hike in to. ATV use is regulated by each state, and laws vary as to who may ride, when you may ride and where you may ride. Before you jump on an ATV and head for the hills, make sure you comply with the laws of the state in which you'll be riding.
Registration and Permits
When purchasing an ATV, you will need to register it with your home state. The state will issue you a sticker and, in some states, a license plate for your vehicle. You might also need additional permits or access stickers for state or ATV club trail systems. Many states don't allow you to ride your ATV on town streets unless they are specifically designated as ATV routes. Arizona allows owners to register vehicles for use on city streets. Street-legal ATVs must have brakes, brake lights, rear reflectors, headlights, taillights and license plates. The vehicle must also be insured, and you must have a motorcycle license.
Where to Ride
You can ride your ATV on dirt forest roads in many of the U.S. National Forests. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (fs.usda.gov) OHV program offers a series of maps available online to determine where ATV use is appropriate, as some forests, such as New York's Finger Lakes National Forest only allow street-legal vehicles on their roads. State, county and city property combine with access routes across private land in some states to form networks of trails where you can ride. Wisconsin has the country's most extensive system of ATV trails, with between 6,000 and 10,000 miles of interconnecting trails throughout the state. UTVs, the somewhat-larger cousins of ATVs that can hold up to four people, will find less opportunity for riding because of the wider wheel base of your vehicle. The exception is Arizona, where only a few mountainside trails restrict access to vehicles less than 50 inches wide.
Who May Ride
Each state has its own set of rules regarding the age of the youngest riders allowed on its trails. Oregon has no minimum age restriction, but riders 16 years or younger must complete an online course and a hands-on evaluation before receiving an ATV Safety Education Card needed to operate an ATV in the state. Some states, such as California, require direct parental supervision in addition to safety education for youth under a specified age limit. Adults might be required to obtain safety cards in some states, while a valid driver's license is all that is needed to operate in others.
When to Ride
States that experience a lot of snow over the winter might have seasonal trail closures when trails are muddy during spring snow melt and the first wet snows of winter. Respect closures, because they are in place to prevent dangerous ruts from forming on the trails. Wisconsin is among the states that allow ATVs to ride on snow-packed trails in the winter. Temperatures usually have to be less than 28 degrees F with 4 to 6 inches of snow pack on the ground. Each county in Wiscosin regulates its own trails and the ATV access regarding them, so check the county's website before heading out.
Most states have rules about slowing to 5 mph or 10 mph when you are within 100 feet of horses, people or anyone not in an enclosed vehicle. Follow good trail etiquette by staying on the trail, removing all your trash and not chasing wildlife on your quad. Be courteous to other trail users, especially to people on horseback, as a spooked horse can result in serious injury to its rider. Allow the equestrian rider to move her horse off to the side and turn it to face you if she wants to prevent the horse getting spooked as you ride by. Don't gun your engine or accelerate suddenly when passing the horse.
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