Reference
Seasonal OHV trail-pass calendar by state — 50-state matrix
Last updated: 2026-05-29
State DNR OHV trail-pass programs fall into four structural shapes — year-round, spring-to-fall (frost-out / freeze-up), winter-shared with snowmobile, and closure-default with permit windows — plus a fifth bucket of states that do not run a DNR pass program at all. The matrix below classifies every state by its season structure, summarises the typical riding window, flags whether a nonresident permit is required, and links each state’s DNR / DMV pass page where the current calendar and price live.
This is a structural reference, not a current-year calendar
Pass prices, season open / close dates, and product line-ups are set by the state DNR (or state-parks agency) as administrative rules and change every year. The matrix gives the structural pattern so you know what to look for; the linked DNR page is the canonical source for this year’s exact dates and price. The companion seasonal trail-pass explainer covers the four structures in narrative form plus annual-pass framing (calendar-year vs fiscal-year vs floating).
Five buckets at a glance
Each state is sorted into one of five buckets. The four pass-bearing buckets correspond to the structural patterns described in the explainer; the fifth covers states with no DNR-managed OHV pass at all.
Year-round
15 states
Single annual pass valid every day; trail-system closures handled per-system.
Spring → fall
9 states
Pass gated to frost-out (spring) and freeze-up (autumn); dates updated yearly.
Winter-shared
0 states
Primary OHV pass is a winter snowmobile pass shared with track-converted ATVs.
Closure-default
3 states
Default state of the network is closed; specific permit windows open it.
No state program
23 states
State has no DNR-managed OHV trail-pass program; riding is private + federal land.
50-state OHV trail-pass matrix
50 of 50 states classified · filter by name or abbreviation
Each row maps the state’s DNR / DMV pass page. Open the page to confirm this year’s exact open / close dates and pass price; check the state’s trail-status page separately before driving to a trailhead, since a valid pass does not guarantee an open trail.
50 of 50 states
| State | Season structure | Typical riding window & pass notes | Nonresident | Pass page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails No DNR trail-pass program; voluntary ALEA registration available, with riding concentrated on private land and on Talladega / Conecuh National Forest motorised areas. | Not required | DNR / DMV |
| Alaska(AK) | Year-round | All year (per-trail closures may apply for snow, fire, or wildlife windows) DMV handles OHV registration; no statewide DNR trail-pass program. State and federal land riding is year-round, with per-trail freeze and breakup closures. | — | DNR / DMV |
| Arizona(AZ) | Year-round | All year (per-trail closures may apply for snow, fire, or wildlife windows) AZGFD OHV decal: $25 annual, valid Jan 1 – Dec 31 for residents and nonresidents on Arizona public OHV lands. | Required $25/yr typical | DNR / DMV |
| Arkansas(AR) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails AGFC manages WMAs that allow OHV operation on designated roads without a separate pass; no statewide DNR OHV trail permit. | — | DNR / DMV |
| California(CA) | Year-round | All year (per-trail closures may apply for snow, fire, or wildlife windows) CA Green Sticker (year-round access) or Red Sticker (emissions-restricted seasons). Out-of-state riders need a CA nonresident OHV registration; SVRA day-use fees supplement. | Required Fee on DNR page | DNR / DMV |
| Colorado(CO) | Year-round | All year (per-trail closures may apply for snow, fire, or wildlife windows) CPW OHV permit — annual registration / use sticker required for residents and nonresidents on Colorado OHV trails; high-altitude routes close seasonally for snow. | Required Fee on DNR page | DNR / DMV |
| Connecticut(CT) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails DMV handles OHV registration; no DNR trail-pass program and no DEEP-managed statewide OHV trail system. | — | DNR / DMV |
| Delaware(DE) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails DMV ORV registration only; no DNR trail-pass program and limited public OHV access. | — | DNR / DMV |
| Florida(FL) | Year-round | All year (per-trail closures may apply for snow, fire, or wildlife windows) FLHSMV OHV title; state forests with OHV areas (Croom, Citrus, Big Shoals) issue per-day or per-year use permits and operate year-round. | Not required | DNR / DMV |
| Georgia(GA) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails DOR multipurpose-highway-vehicle registration only; no statewide DNR OHV trail-pass program. Public OHV riding is concentrated on Chattahoochee NF motorised areas. | Not required | DNR / DMV |
| Hawaii(HI) | Closure-default | Only inside published open-windows or designated permit dates DLNR Na Ala Hele OHV access is tightly limited — designated areas only and permit-conditioned. Out-of-state riders must obtain Hawaii OHV authorisation before entry. | Required Fee on DNR page | DNR / DMV |
| Idaho(ID) | Year-round | All year (per-trail closures may apply for snow, fire, or wildlife windows) IDPR OHV certificate-of-number sticker: annual, expires Dec 31 each year. Resident and nonresident operators both required to display. | Required Fee on DNR page | DNR / DMV |
| Illinois(IL) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails IDNR maintains a small designated-trails list; no statewide season-based pass. Most riding is on private land or club trails. | — | DNR / DMV |
| Indiana(IN) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails DNR enforces child-helmet and operator-age rules but does not run a statewide OHV trail-pass program. Public OHV access is private-club and federal-land based. | — | DNR / DMV |
| Iowa(IA) | Spring → fall | ~Late spring → late autumn (DNR posts annual frost-out / freeze-up dates) Iowa DNR designated ATV / OHV parks (e.g., Bluff Creek) operate a frost-out → freeze-up season; per-park day-use fees plus a state OHV registration sticker. | — | DNR / DMV |
| Kansas(KS) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks does not maintain a statewide OHV trail-pass program; OHV use is private land and limited county / city routes. | — | DNR / DMV |
| Kentucky(KY) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails State code only; major riding is on private trail systems (Cliffview, Black Mountain) and on Daniel Boone NF motorised areas, each with their own access rules. | — | DNR / DMV |
| Louisiana(LA) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails OMV handles voluntary OHV titling; no DNR trail-pass program. Riding centres on Kisatchie NF and private clubs. | — | DNR / DMV |
| Maine(ME) | Spring → fall | ~Late spring → late autumn (DNR posts annual frost-out / freeze-up dates) IFW ATV-trail season opens after spring frost-out and closes before winter freeze; nonresident ATV sticker required. Winter trail use shifts to the separate snowmobile pass program. | Required Fee on DNR page | DNR / DMV |
| Maryland(MD) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails DNR ORV registration available but state-trail system is minimal; most OHV access is via Green Ridge State Forest and federal MVUM routes. | — | DNR / DMV |
| Massachusetts(MA) | Closure-default | Only inside published open-windows or designated permit dates DCR state forests (Beartown, Pittsfield, Tolland-Granville) restrict OHV use to designated routes only; closure is the default and OHV-permitted dates are published per forest. | — | DNR / DMV |
| Michigan(MI) | Spring → fall | ~Late spring → late autumn (DNR posts annual frost-out / freeze-up dates) DNR ORV trail system typically open ~Apr 1 – Nov 30 (snowmobile-shared routes flip to winter-pass status afterward). Nonresident ORV sticker + trail permit both required. | Required Fee on DNR page | DNR / DMV |
| Minnesota(MN) | Spring → fall | ~Late spring → late autumn (DNR posts annual frost-out / freeze-up dates) DNR state ATV trails open after spring frost-out (typically April–May) and close at first sustained freeze. Nonresident state-trail sticker required on top of any home-state registration. | Required Fee on DNR page | DNR / DMV |
| Mississippi(MS) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails MDWFP allows OHV use on designated WMA routes without a statewide trail pass; broader riding is on De Soto NF / Bienville NF motorised areas and private land. | — | DNR / DMV |
| Missouri(MO) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails State code (RSMo §304.013) governs OHV operation; Missouri does not maintain a state DNR OHV trail-pass program. Public OHV riding is private-club and Mark Twain NF. | — | DNR / DMV |
| Montana(MT) | Year-round | All year (per-trail closures may apply for snow, fire, or wildlife windows) FWP OHV decal — annual registration required for residents and nonresidents on Montana public lands; high-elevation FS trails close seasonally for snow and wildlife. | Required Fee on DNR page | DNR / DMV |
| Nebraska(NE) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails DMV OHV registration only; no DNR statewide trail-pass program. Public OHV riding is mostly on private and federal land. | — | DNR / DMV |
| Nevada(NV) | Year-round | All year (per-trail closures may apply for snow, fire, or wildlife windows) NV OHV decal: annual, valid one year from purchase, required for residents and nonresidents on Nevada public OHV trails (state, BLM, USFS). | Required Fee on DNR page | DNR / DMV |
| New Hampshire(NH) | Spring → fall | ~Late spring → late autumn (DNR posts annual frost-out / freeze-up dates) Fish & Game OHRV summer-season passes for ATV use on Bureau of Trails routes; the same network shifts to a winter-only snowmobile pass program after freeze-up. | Required Fee on DNR page | DNR / DMV |
| New Jersey(NJ) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails MVC titling and registration only; no DNR statewide OHV trail-pass program. Public OHV access is extremely limited. | — | DNR / DMV |
| New Mexico(NM) | Year-round | All year (per-trail closures may apply for snow, fire, or wildlife windows) NM Game & Fish OHV permit — annual, required for residents and nonresidents on New Mexico public OHV trails. | Required Fee on DNR page | DNR / DMV |
| New York(NY) | Spring → fall | ~Late spring → late autumn (DNR posts annual frost-out / freeze-up dates) DMV ATV registration for road-crossing use; DEC-administered ATV-permitted Forest Preserve areas (Tug Hill region etc.) follow frost-out / freeze-up windows. | — | DNR / DMV |
| North Carolina(NC) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails NCDMV handles OHV registration; no statewide DNR trail-pass program. Public OHV riding is on Pisgah / Nantahala NF motorised routes and private clubs. | — | DNR / DMV |
| North Dakota(ND) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails State code only; no DNR statewide OHV trail-pass program. Riding concentrates on private land plus Theodore Roosevelt NF / Sheyenne NG motorised routes. | — | DNR / DMV |
| Ohio(OH) | Closure-default | Only inside published open-windows or designated permit dates ODNR APV areas (Perry State Forest, Pike State Forest, Richland Furnace) open on designated permit windows; no statewide season-long pass. | — | DNR / DMV |
| Oklahoma(OK) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails State code only; no DNR statewide OHV trail-pass program. Public riding concentrates on Ouachita NF motorised areas and private trail systems. | — | DNR / DMV |
| Oregon(OR) | Year-round | All year (per-trail closures may apply for snow, fire, or wildlife windows) OPRD ATV operating permit valid two years; required for residents and nonresidents on Oregon public OHV lands (state parks, BLM, USFS). | Required Fee on DNR page | DNR / DMV |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | Spring → fall | ~Late spring → late autumn (DNR posts annual frost-out / freeze-up dates) DCNR ATV trail season ~late April through late November; the bulk of state-forest ATV trails close before winter freeze. Nonresident trail permit required separately from registration. | Required Fee on DNR page | DNR / DMV |
| Rhode Island(RI) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails State code only; no DEM OHV trail-pass program. Public OHV access is effectively absent — riding is private-land and club-based. | — | DNR / DMV |
| South Carolina(SC) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails State code only; SC DNR does not run a statewide OHV trail-pass program. Riding concentrates on Sumter NF motorised areas and private clubs. | — | DNR / DMV |
| South Dakota(SD) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails State code only; no DNR statewide OHV trail-pass program. Public riding is on Black Hills NF motorised routes and on private / club trails. | — | DNR / DMV |
| Tennessee(TN) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails State code only; no statewide TWRA OHV trail-pass program. Public riding is on Cherokee NF, Royal Blue / Sundquist WMAs (with their own access rules), and private trail systems. | — | DNR / DMV |
| Texas(TX) | Year-round | All year (per-trail closures may apply for snow, fire, or wildlife windows) TPWD OHV Decal: $16 annual, required to operate an OHV on Texas state-park OHV trails. Resident and nonresident operators both required. | Required $16/yr typical | DNR / DMV |
| Utah(UT) | Year-round | All year (per-trail closures may apply for snow, fire, or wildlife windows) Utah State Parks OHV permit annual; resident registration and nonresident permit both required on Utah OHV trail systems. | Required Fee on DNR page | DNR / DMV |
| Vermont(VT) | Spring → fall | ~Late spring → late autumn (DNR posts annual frost-out / freeze-up dates) VASA-administered ATV-trail season opens after spring melt and closes before winter freeze; nonresident TMA pass required. Winter use shifts to the separate VAST snowmobile network. | Required Fee on DNR page | DNR / DMV |
| Virginia(VA) | No state program | No statewide DNR pass — riding is on private land + federal / local trails DMV OHV registration only; no statewide DNR OHV trail-pass program. Public OHV riding is on George Washington / Jefferson NF and private trail systems. | — | DNR / DMV |
| Washington(WA) | Year-round | All year (per-trail closures may apply for snow, fire, or wildlife windows) Discover Pass + ORV permit (annual). Required for residents and nonresidents on WA DNR and state-park OHV areas; high-elevation FS trails close seasonally for snow. | Required Fee on DNR page | DNR / DMV |
| West Virginia(WV) | Year-round | All year (per-trail closures may apply for snow, fire, or wildlife windows) Hatfield–McCoy Regional Recreation Authority sells year-round trail permits (annual + per-day); per-trail seasonal closures for snow / mud. No separate state DNR pass. | — | DNR / DMV |
| Wisconsin(WI) | Spring → fall | ~Late spring → late autumn (DNR posts annual frost-out / freeze-up dates) DNR state ATV trail-pass season typically mid-May through early November (varies by county); nonresident trail pass required separately from registration. | Required Fee on DNR page | DNR / DMV |
| Wyoming(WY) | Year-round | All year (per-trail closures may apply for snow, fire, or wildlife windows) Wyoming State Parks ORV decal: $15 nonresident / $25 resident annual; required on Wyoming public OHV trails. High-elevation trails close seasonally for snow. | Required $15/yr typical | DNR / DMV |
Season-structure key: Year-round — single annual pass valid every day. Spring → fall — pass gated to frost-out (spring) and freeze-up (autumn) dates that the DNR republishes each year. Winter-shared — primary OHV pass is a winter snowmobile pass shared with track-converted OHVs. Closure-default — the system is closed unless inside a published open-window or permit date. No state program — no DNR pass; riding is private + federal land.
Common questions
OHV trail passes — frequently asked
Short answers to the questions out-of-state riders ask before buying a pass. Each state’s exact program is in the matrix above; the linked DNR / DMV page carries the current-year detail.
Is there a national OHV trail pass?
No. OHV trail passes are issued by individual state DNR (or state-parks) agencies, with separate federal-land permits issued by USFS and BLM for trails on their land. A pass valid in one state does not extend to another; nonresident permits are a separate product class in most pass states. The 50-state matrix above shows which states run a pass program at all and which structure each program uses.When can I buy next year's OHV trail pass?
Pass-cycle framing varies by state. Calendar-year states sell next year's pass starting in late autumn (typical: mid-November / December). Fiscal-year states (July–June cycle) sell the next year's pass starting in late spring (typical: May / June). Floating-365-day pass states sell on demand and the pass is valid one year from purchase date. The state DNR pass page is the canonical source for which framing applies.Does my home-state OHV registration cover a nonresident trail in another state?
Sometimes, but not in pass states. Pass-program states (the ones tagged Year-round, Spring → fall, Winter-shared, or Closure-default in the matrix) typically sell a separate nonresident permit on top of any home-state registration. A handful of states accept a current home-state OHV registration without a nonresident permit; the reciprocity explainer documents which states honour out-of-state registration and which require their own pass.Why do some states show 'No state program'?
Those states do not run a DNR-managed OHV trail-pass program at all. Public OHV riding in those states is concentrated on federal land (USFS / BLM Motor Vehicle Use Maps), on private trail-club land, or on a few city / county designated routes. The state code may still require helmet, age, or operator-licence compliance, but no statewide trail pass is sold or required.Does the pass calendar tell me whether the trail is open?
No — a valid pass does not guarantee an open trail. Spring mud-out closures, wildfire closures, frost-heave repair closures, and post-storm closures override pass validity for the duration. The DNR publishes a separate trail-status / trail-conditions page that updates more frequently than the pass calendar. Check both before driving to the trailhead.How do federal-land trails fit into this?
USFS and BLM units that allow OHV operation publish their own Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs) and may require a separate fee, day-use permit, or special-use authorisation. State trail passes do not satisfy federal-land OHV requirements, and federal closures follow their own seasonal rhythm (snow, raptor nesting, big-game winter range). See the federal-and-tribal-lands explainer.
Per-state lookup — open the full state page
Each per-state atlas page includes its DNR / DMV link plus the registration, helmet, age, DUI, road-shoulder, and insurance context that sits alongside the trail-pass calendar.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Topic guides
Reference explainers and typologies that sit alongside the per-axis state atlases — vehicle category, where you can ride, by rider, and what to check before a trip.
Vehicle category & paperwork
ATV / UTV / OHV glossary
Terminology dictionary — every abbreviation a state DNR page or OHV statute uses (ATV / UTV / SxS / ROV / LSV / NEV / OHV / ORV / OHRV / MPOHV / WATV / Class I-III / green-sticker / T-recoded VIN and more).
State DNR / OHV agency directory
50-state lookup for the agency that handles ATV / UTV / OHV permitting — name, phone, OHV program URL, sticker / reciprocity links. Call the state, not Google.
UTV vs ATV vs side-by-side
How states classify the OHV family — and when the category swaps a helmet, age, or registration rule.
Street-legal conversion by state
Four state pathways for putting an OHV on the road — DMV-plate full conversion, DNR on-road permit, local-option designation, or no pathway. Per-state matrix.
Title requirements by state
Which states title an OHV, which only register, and which transfer on bill of sale — with issuing-agency, machine-class, and vintage-cutoff notes.
Street-legal conversion (typology)
When and where an OHV becomes legal on public roads — federal LSV vs state OHV-on-road permit.
Title from a bill of sale
Four legal paths from a bill-of-sale-only purchase to a state-recognised title certificate.
Lost title recovery
Five recovery paths sorted by who the titleholder is, whether a lien is on it, and what's missing.
Where you can ride
ATV on the road shoulder
Crossing-vs-traveling, agricultural exemptions, and the federal Interstate carveout.
Federal & tribal lands
BLM, USFS, NPS, USACE, and tribal nations — five jurisdictions and what rule each carries.
ATV / OHV trail directory by state
State DNR, USFS, BLM, private, and tribal public-access trail systems across all 50 states — with operator authority and trail-system source.
Seasonal trail-pass calendar (explainer)
Four DNR season structures and how to spot which one your state runs before buying the pass.
By rider
Kids on ATVs by state
Parental-decision atlas — minimum age, supervision rules, engine-class tiers, safety-course requirement, and private-land carveouts.
ATV safety course by state
Who needs to take a course — under-age statutory mandates, ASI ATV RiderCourse / E-Course nationwide, and state-DNR-run alternatives that don't accept ASI.
Helmet certifications — DOT vs Snell vs ECE
Three standards cover every US-market helmet. What each one tests, which combination clears a state-law inspection, and the five novelty-helmet warnings every buyer should read.
Trip planning
Multi-state trip planner (tool)
Pick the states on your route — get a per-stop compliance card for registration, helmet, age, nonresident permit, and reciprocity. Free, no signup.
Compare two states side-by-side
121 adjacent-state pair pages — registration, helmet, age, and reciprocity lined up row-by-row for trailering across the line.
Cross-state trailering checklist
Five paperwork buckets and five compliance gotchas before you trailer across a state line.
State-to-state reciprocity
Four state approaches to out-of-state OHV recognition — and what each means for nonresidents.
ATV insurance requirements
Four state approaches plus four insurance products — and where each one leaves a coverage gap.
ATV insurance cost by state
Six drivers that move the premium and four state regimes that set the floor — plus where to actually get a real quote.
DUI on an ATV
How state codes treat off-highway impaired operation — four jurisdictional patterns.
Winter storage & spring re-commissioning
Nine-step winterization checklist and five-step spring wake-up — for the eight northern states where the trail season closes for winter.
Related atlases & explainers
- ATV / OHV trail directory by state — the actual public-access trail systems (state DNR, USFS, BLM, private, tribal) the pass calendar gates access to.
- Seasonal trail-pass explainer — the four DNR season structures in narrative form, plus calendar-year vs fiscal-year vs floating pass framing.
- Registration & Title atlas — nonresident trail-pass requirement also appears in the registration matrix, alongside the registration fee and renewal cycle.
- State-to-state reciprocity — which states accept an out-of-state OHV registration without a nonresident permit, and which always require their own pass.
- Cross-state trailering checklist — pre-trip pass purchase belongs in the destination-permits bucket; this checklist sequences the other paperwork too.
- Federal & tribal lands — USFS and BLM units have their own permit calendars separate from any state DNR pass.