ATV trails can be a whole lot of fun. They are long, filled with turns and bumps, and they really get you out into mother nature.
Of course, ATVs are built for ATV trails. They’re big, durable, and fairly powerful, not to mention that they have great stability due to having four wheels.
That said, what if you are more into dirt bikes than ATVs? Yes, dirt bikes are faster and more maneuverable. However, what does this mean when it comes to ATV trails? Can you ride your dirt bike on ATV trails?
Dirt Bikes & ATV Trails
If you are worried about the legalities of riding your dirt bike on an ATV trail, as long as you are sensible, safe, and you follow the rules, then yes, this is totally doable and legal.
Dirt bikes, although they only have two wheels, are still considered all terrain or off road vehicles.
Dirt bikes are designed to be ridden off road, and in most cases are not even street legal. Although ATV trails may technically be designed for ATVs, there is no legitimate reason why you could not ride your dirt bike on those same trails.
With that said, there are some rules and restrictions that need to be followed if you plan on riding your dirt bike on an ATV trail.
However, don’t make the mistake of thinking that these rules only apply to dirt bike riders, as these same rules generally apply to ATV riders as well. Let’s take a look at some of the rules and regulations that you need to be aware of.
**Let’s keep in mind that the following rules and regulations have been generalized for all of the USA. However, different States may have different rules, so be sure to do some research in regard to the specific State you reside in**
Vehicle Registration
One of the things that you will need to consider here is vehicle registration. Yeah, cars need to be registered, but what about dirt bikes?
Well, this all depends on the exact state that you reside in. Each State has its own laws regarding this, so you absolutely need to do some research on this front.
You don’t want to get ticketed for riding an unregistered dirt bike in a State that requires you to do so.
For instance, the State of Kansas requires absolutely no registration for dirt bikes, or for ATVs for that matter, whereas states like Maine do require you to register your dirt bike for off-road use, and in fact, in this State in particular, all-terrain vehicles, in general, must be registered.
Damages to the Surrounding Land
Once again, this is going to differ from one State to another, but that said, many States do have regulations about riders damaging the surrounding land.
Many States have rules that prohibit riders, whether on a dirt bike or ATV, from riding in such a way that will damage the surrounding land.
Riders should not damage surrounding land and vegetation, they should not disturb or annoy nearby people, and they definitely should not harm or endanger animals.
Some US States, such as Delaware for example, impose very heavy fines in riders for breaking any of these rules.
Moreover, this also applies to riders who chose to litter and leave trash laying around in what should be pristine nature.
Simply put, if you are causing damage to land, to animals, or are hindering the enjoyment of personal property for others, then it is likely that you are doing something illegal.
Safety – Those Helmets
Although US States often don’t agree on much, there is one thing that every single State does agree on when it comes to riding off-road vehicles, and that is that people have to wear helmets.
Every state requires you to wear a helmet when riding an all-terrain vehicle such as a dirt bike or an ATV.
Now, some States may even take this a step further and legislate that riders wear more than just helmets. Some areas state that riders must wear long sleeve shirts, wear protective boots, gloves, and other such protective gear.
Reckless Driving
The other thing that you need to consider if you plan on riding your dirt bike on ATV trails is so called reckless driving. This is another one of those things that differs from one State to another. Some define it as riding without protective gear.
Some States, such as Illinois, define reckless driving as more or less any sort of driving that needlessly endangers yourself and those around you, such as riding at overly high speeds that make it impossible to maneuver or stop in a timely manner.
Conclusion
The most important thing that we can tell you here is that you need to look up the laws surrounding this topic for the State you live in.
That said, it is generally totally legal to ride a dirt bike on an ATV trail, given that you are safe, not being reckless, and not disturbing the land around you.