San Juan National Forest

The Ins and Outs of ATV Use on the San Juan Public Lands,
or How to Read the San Juan National Forest Visitor Map

The San Juan Public Lands Center in Durango manages both the San Juan National Forest and Bureau of Land Management land in southwest Colorado. On much National Forest and BLM land, no off-road or off-trail travel is allowed. Consult a San Juan NF or BLM map to determine where, when, and how motorized vehicles can be used on public land. Maps are available at our offices in Durango, Bayfield, Dolores, and Pagosa Springs, and some retail outlets. Hunters and others who use motorized vehicles on public land should keep in mind that U.S. Forest Service and BLM officers can write tickets for illegal motorized activity.

The most recent version of the San Juan National Forest Visitor Map is from 2005 and has a purple cover. When you open the map, you will see many letters and numbers – these represent the travel management direction and correspond to two tables on the map that will help you understand where motorized use is allowed. One is a Road and Trail Table. Trails and roads on the map that are marked with a number 1-5 may have travel restrictions: either seasonal closures or restricting use by certain types of vehicles.

The other table is an Area Table, which shows areas that have restrictions by vehicle type. Areas open to off-road and trail travel are labeled with a C, D, E, or F, though travel in C areas may be restricted by the season and not all vehicle types are allowed off road.

In A and B areas, trails that are open to motorized use are highlighted in an orange dashed line. In areas C, D, E, and F, trails are open to motorized use unless marked as closed to this use at the trailhead. The caution here is that in most cases, motorized use means only dirt bikes. Most trails on the Forest are not wide enough to allow ATV use. ATV users should check with local Ranger District offices for trails that will accommodate their vehicles.

Although this map details where motorized vehicles can operate legally, keep these general guidelines in mind:

• All OHVs must be registered in Colorado whether you are a resident or non-resident. OHV registrations are $25.25.
  
  
• Those who operate motorized vehicles on closed roads, trails, or areas risk fines up to $5,000, six months in jail, and having their vehicle confiscated.
  
  
• Causing environmental damage, even in areas where it is legal to drive off-trail, can result in violations. This includes leaving ruts in wet areas or on slopes, denuding vegetation, and leaving tire tracks.
  
  
• If traveling on gravel roads, ATV drivers should use caution, because full-sized vehicles traveling at higher rates of speed may not expect to encounter ATVs. ATV use is safer on unimproved and 4WD roads, where vehicle travel is, by necessity, slower.
  
  
• Motorized use, bicycles, and game carts are prohibited in all designated Wilderness areas. In the San Juan National Forest those are the Weminuche, Lizard Head, and South San Juan. The Piedra Area has the same characteristics as wilderness and OHV use is not permitted there either.
  
  
• Trails that allow motorized use are marked at trailheads. However, many of these are only wide enough to accommodate motorcycles. ATV users should check with local Ranger District offices for trails that will accommodate their vehicles.
  
  
• Only vehicles less than 50 inches wide are allowed on trails that are open to motorized travel.
  
  
• Some roads or trails are blocked by dirt "berms," constructed to close roads or trails to motorized vehicle use. Proceeding beyond a berm is a violation, even if the “Closed to Motorized Travel" is missing.
  
  
• There is no game-retrieval policy on National Forest and BLM land managed by the San Juan Public Lands Center. Therefore, hunters are not allowed to drive off roads or trails to retrieve animals shot in areas closed to off-road motorized travel.
  
  
• Driving OHVs off-road is especially disturbing to wildlife. Officers of the Colorado Division of Wildlife can write citations for "wildlife harassment." An offense can result in a fine and 10-point wildlife violation. Offenders with 20 or more wildlife violation points in three years can have their Colorado hunting license suspended. Hunters also risk losing hunting privileges in other states that work with Colorado to punish wildlife violation offenders.
  
  
• Hunters also are reminded that, driving an ATV, their weapon must be unloaded, and it must be in a closed case. It is illegal to transport a loaded weapon in or on any motor vehicle. It is also illegal to shoot while sitting on or leaning against an ATV.
  

One of the largest attractions of the Rocky Mountains is the millions of acres of public land that are available for our use. There is plenty for everyone to enjoy, as long as we are considerate of others and abide by the regulations.

Being considerate of other hunters is not just good hunting etiquette. It's also the law.

For more information, contact the San Juan Public Lands Center at (970) 247-4874 or Colorado Division of Wildlife Durango Area Office at (970) 247-0855.

USDA Forest Service, San Juan National Forest
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Last modified October 08, 2008