The State of Utah and local towns have laws regulating ATV
use. These laws are intended to provide for the orderly and
safe use of ATV's while protecting people, property, and the
environment. Please follow them so the privilege of ATVing will
not be revoked by the State or the Federal agencies primarily
responsible for managing the Paiute ATV Trail.
Before you arrive you need to know that ATV's owned by residents
of Utah must be registered yearly with the Utah Division of
Parks and Recreation. Non-residents must purchase Utah's non-resident
registration permit to ride on public lands in Utah (unless
they're currently registered in a state that offers reciprocity
with Utah). A list of states that we reciprocate with are listed
on Utah State Park's website. There are a number of locations
throughout Utah (and even in a few cities just outside of Utah)
that can sell these permits. That information can be found at
their website.
You may operate your ATV on public lands or roads that are
either signed or otherwise designated as open by the managing
agency. The Fishlake National Forest publishes a travel map
which designates Forest areas that are open, restricted, or
closed to motorized travel. Copies of the most recent edition
of this map can be obtained from the Forest at the address listed
below. For private land, you must obtain the owner's permission
before leaving any right-of-way.
The State of Utah recognizes three age classes with respect
to driving ATV's. No one under eight years old may operate an
ATV on public roads, trails, or lands. Drivers ages eight through
sixteen years old must possess an OHV (Off Highway Vehicle)
education certificate issued by the Utah Division of Parks and
Recreation. Drivers 18 and under must wear a helmet and be accompanied
and supervised by an adult driving an ATV. ATV drivers
sixteen and older must possess a valid drivers license or an
OHV education certificate.
Education certificates are issued to anyone eight years or
older who completes the Utah Department of Parks and Recreation
OHV education course. The Division of Parks and Recreation can
be contacted at the locations listed below. This course is highly
recommended for anyone, regardless of age, wishing to ride an
ATV. It will show you the capabilities and limitations of your
machine and will teach the importance of "treading lightly".
Towns around the Paiute ATV Trail are unique in that they
have written ordinances permitting ATV travel on their streets
so recreationists can access needed supplies and services. These
ordinances designate which streets are open to ATV travel and
under what conditions. Streets open to ATV's are signed in the
towns, and are shown on the Paiute ATV Trail map published by
Trails Illustrated for the Fishlake Discovery Association. The
towns also allow travel on other streets when the rider is going
directly to a motel, service station, restaurant, or residence.
In towns the speed limit for ATV's is 10 miles per hour All
drivers must wear helmets. ATV's must be equipped with mufflers
to prevent sparks which might start fires and to prevent the
disturbance of others. ATV's must stop at all stop and yield
signs and must travel with headlights on. Operators must travel
on the right-hand side of the road in single file.