Riding Your OHV On Trails

Stay on Trail

The most basic rule you can follow to help keep yourself and other riders safe, and protect the areas you ride in is: Stay on Trail. Riding off trail isn’t just illegal, it’s generally just a stupid idea. Often a trail will skirt around a serious geographic hazard (like a ravine or hill) that you can’t see through brush, so if you decide to go charging off you could be on the wrong end of a rescue mission in short order. Staying on trail also helps to maintain your favorite riding areas so they can stay open.

It’s not uncommon for ‘short-cut’ trails to pop up in a riding area, and then that same area is shut down for restoration the next year. If you want to keep riding, be kind the the areas you ride.

Be Smart and Prepared

Whenever you head out on the trail, use your head and equip yourself properly. Obviously a helmet, gloves, goggles, and sturdy boots are a must, but lots of riders will opt for short sleeves and shorts when they should favor jeans and long sleeve shirts. You should also make sure you have a small kit on hand that will help you deal with emergencies. A first aid kit, emergency repair kit, and some basic survival supplies can make a huge difference. You should also make sure you have informed someone not riding with you of where, when and how long you’ll be riding for, so if you wind up hiking back in the dark someone will at least notice you’re missing.

Take Care of Your Trails

Taking care of trails is everyone’s responsibility, but since some folks just never get the message, it’s good that responsible riders like you are willing to pick up some slack! Micro-trash piles up pretty quickly in a riding season as people discard wrappers, bottle caps, and cans, so do your part and pack your own garbage out, and scoop up some of the trash you find as well. This sets a good example for other riders (especially the younger generation) and helps to make everyone’s ride more pleasant.

Ride Friendly

When you’re sharing the trail with other riders you should always be alert, and polite. If you’re passing another group from the opposite direction and they’ve given you the right of way, signal how many riders are behind you in your group. This keeps stragglers from running headlong into the opposing group. If you find another rider who needs help, whether they’re injured, stalled, or stuck in the mud, stop to see if they need assistance, and if so do what you can to safely help them. This creates a stronger community among your fellow riders, and you might just make some friends along the way.