Motorized recreation on public land

Find motorized trails and areas open for motorized recreation.

Find a designated trail: explore public land recreation maps and download Alberta’s Public Land Trail Guide.

• Be aware of Public land closures and advisories.
• Download directions to the trailhead and trail maps, before heading out.

Visit the Public Land Use Zones (PLUZ) pages to review the rules and vehicle restrictions, to learn where the approved trails are and to download georeferenced maps to use offline during your trip.

Northern Alberta

• Athabasca Ranch
• Brule Lake
• Coal Branch

Central Alberta

• Dormer/Sheep
• Job/Cline
• Kiska/Willson
• Upper Clearwater/Ram

Southern Alberta

• Ghost
• Livingstone
• McLean Creek Off-Highway Vehicle
• Porcupine Hills

Motorized recreation is allowed on public land outside of a PLUZ. Always follow the posted rules and signs.

Contact the disposition holder for permission to access public land held under lease and public land that is occupied. Construction or heavy equipment, fences and buildings are indicators that land is occupied.

• Check the weather.
• Check for fire advisories and bans.

Additional resources

• Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association – Safety and Education
• Know B4 U Go: ATV's and Water Don't Mix

Familiarize yourself with provincial legislation and regulations:

• Alberta Traffic Safety Act
• Off-Highway Vehicle Regulation

Rules to remember

• For motorized recreation on designated trails on public land, an OHV does not include snow vehicles or on-highway vehicles. There are different rules that apply to the use of snow vehicles and on-highway vehicles used for off-road travel.
• In Alberta, every OHV or road legal vehicles used for off-road travel must have:
  • valid insurance and registration
  • valid licence plate, affixed in a visible location
  • working head and taillights
  • a proper muffler and spark arrestor, with no modifications to the muffler system that increase vehicle noise
• Riders must wear a Canadian Standards Association (CSA) compliant helmet. For details and exemptions, visit: Off-highway vehicle helmet law.
• Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for the minimum age of riders and number of passengers for your vehicle.
• Riders under the age of 14 must be under direct supervision of an adult.
• Operating any OHV or vehicle while impaired is against the law.
• Follow all signs and posted notices.
• Stay on the trail tread of designated and provincial trails. OHVs are not allowed on highways.
• Keep wheels out of the water, and off the bed and shore of waterbodies and wetlands unless using designated water crossing such as a bridge or a signed ford.
• Keep your machine free of debris to prevent the start of a wildfire and prevent the spread of invasive species. Stop and inspect hot spots regularly to avoid build up of mud or plant material. Avoiding riding or parking your OHV in vegetated areas.
• Stay off private and leased land unless permitted, and steer clear of pipelines. Contact leaseholder prior to travel on leased land. Learn more at Recreation on agricultural public land.

• Plan your route on designated trails. Check for activity timing restrictions for the trail or area you are visiting.
• Ride responsibly, and within the skill and ability of your group.
• Ride with caution; hills and other natural hazards can be dangerous.
• Two-way traffic exists on all trails; use caution and reduce speeds when encountering other trail users and nearing intersections
• Check your tire pressure and tread depth, as high pressure or aggressive treads can increase soil compaction and damage vegetation.
• Avoid travel on wet trails. Most trail damage occurs after rainfall and snowmelt when trails are wet and soft. Be prepared to change plans and/or turn around if conditions are bad.
• Keep wheels off exposed alpine terrain and wet, sensitive or steep areas. Repeated travel in these areas creates damage that is very difficult to repair.
• Always have your headlight on; it is just as important to be seen as to see. Use caution and stay on trails when operating in reduced visibility.
• Never travel alone. Make sure someone knows where you are going and when you expect to return.
• Minimize sharp, low-radius turns – such manoeuvres tend to remove vegetation and plough topsoil.
• Reduce erosion – use low pressure, non-aggressive tires. Travel in small groups to minimize soil compaction and vegetation damage.
• Travel on trails and park in areas with the hardest, most durable surface.
• Leave all gates and fences as you find them, open or closed.
• Don't cut or mark live trees – use only well-placed nylon (rather than steel) winch straps to avoid damage to bark.
• Share the trail. Yield to non-motorized recreationists like hikers, cyclists and equestrian users. Hold up fingers to indicate how many are in your group when passing other trail users.

Whether you are new to motorized recreation on public land, or have years of experience, check out the Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association for information on:

• responsible and respectful riding
• safety and education
• environmental stewardship
• OHV and off-road advocacy