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Places to Ride

Oregon is comprised of more than 60% public lands with a vast diversity of lands to ride on. Some of the “designated riding areas” provide a high-level of trail maintenance, signs, maps and staging area facilities. While there are other areas open to ATV use, they may offer a lower-level of service providing opportunities for exploration and solitude.

Main Riding Areas

Oregon has over 50 designated riding areas. Visit our Online Map for more information. Most of these areas receive regular funding from fuel taxes and ATV sticker sales. Most areas have maps you can access online and sometimes save them as a PDF file that you can use on your cell phone without service.

Here are some of the main riding areas in Oregon:

  • Central Oregon has over 1,000 miles of trails that are mapped and groomed for ATV use, mostly in the Millican and East Fort Rock. This is high desert which allows for year round riding. In the summer months the East Fort Rock area is in a ponderosa forest providing more shade. In the winter the Millican can be free from snow much of the year.
  • Tillamook State Forest – In the Oregon Coast range has about 250 miles of trails and many more miles of gravel roads. The Browns Camp area is more family friendly. Other areas have Black Diamond motorcycle trails and some extreme 4wd rock crawl areas.

  • Oregon Dunes has over 7,500 acres of dunes open to ATV use from Sand Land in the Tillamook area down the coast to the Florence and Coos Bay areas. There are many ATV rental agencies all along the coast.

  • Morrow County has purchased 8,000 acres of land with ATV Grant dollars and manages the area specifically for ATV recreation. Although a bit off the freeway, it offers full hook up camping sites, day use parking and over 200 miles of trails.

​Outside of these designated areas, you will also find other individual trails and gravel roads which are open to ATV use. Make sure you follow the land managers rule in each area.

The United States Forest Service (USFS) has inventoried all their roads and trails and designed them as either open or close to ATV use. You can find Motor Vehicle Use Maps at each USFS district office.  Since there are thousands of miles of road and trails, they are not all marked on the ground and the maps are needed to know which routes are open. Routes that are open can vary from forest to forest.

In some areas a paved USFS road might be open to ATV use to make a connection between trails. While in another area a rugged dirt or gravel road might be closed due to resource concerns or reduce user conflicts.

Generally, 2 lane gravel roads are closed to ATV use unless posted open. Some of the popular areas are ODNRA, East Fort Rock, Winom-Frazier, Mt Hood, Walla-Whitman, Prospect, Santiam Pass.

​Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is in the process of their Travel Management process. There are huge areas in Eastern Oregon with hundreds of miles of land to explore. Please stay on designed routes and close gates, since there is active cattle ranching.

BLM has several popular riding areas, including Shotgun Creek, Upper Nestucca, Medford area, Virtue Flat,  Millican Valley, Cline Buttes.

Most gravel roads are open unless posted closed. Two lane gravel roads are usually closed unless posted open. There are a couple places that paved roads are open to make connections.

​Oregon Department of Forestry manages the Tillamook State Forest which is a popular ATV riding area about 1 hour west of Portland. Other State Forests include Clatsop State Forest, Santiam State Forest, Gilchrist State Forest. These area's gravel road are open unless posted closed.

Operation on Roads

In Oregon, ATVs cannot be registered as street legal unless they were manufactured for highway use. These would include dual sport motorcycles, trucks or SUVs.

Dirt bikes, ATVs and side-by-sides cannot become street legal even if you install mirrors, turn signals, a horn and brake lights.

License plates issued by other states (such as Arizona and Washington) for ATVs and side-by-side are not valid for highway use in Oregon. Those license plates are only valid in those states.

Cities can pass their own ordinance to allow ATV use roads inside their city limits expect for State Highways.There are a number of small eastern Oregon cites that allow ATV use. Some include Lakeview, Sumpter, Detroit, John Day.

Most cities require adults to have a driver license and liability insurance. Youth are not allowed to operate on paved city roads.

Most cities have a State Highway that pass through the middle of town. Even if all the city streets are open, the State Highway is still closed to ATV use.

You may cross a State Highway at locations where the intercepting county/city roads are open to ATV use. Cities vary whether they only allow side-by-sides, quads and/or motorcycles.

Counties in Oregon may create ordinances which allow ATV use on paved roads which are managed by the county. This does not include State Highways.

There are 4 counties in Oregon: Lake, Baker, Grant and Union which have wide spread routes open to ATV use but still have a few roads closed to ATV use, due to high levels of car and truck traffic. Several other counties in Oregon have designated individual routes to create connections. They are Douglas County and Klamath County.

All counties require adults to have driver licenses and liability insurance. Youth are not allowed to operate on paved county roads.

Oregon has a process to look at State Highways and potentially open them to ATV use. These routes are intended to be incidental and provide connections to areas that are open to ATV use. Currently there are two sections of State Highway which have been designated as an ATV Highway Access Route, in Lakeside and Sumpter.

To find out more information about potential Highway Access Routes, contact Ian Caldwell at ian.caldwell@oprd.oregon.gov or call at 541-410-5512.

Towns where ATV use is allowed

The City of Lakeside has a business route to allow ATVs to access local businesses from the Sand Dunes. The route allows dunes riders to come into town to access groceries, restaurants and campgrounds.

Roads that are open:

Spinreel OHV Staging Area
Spinreel Road (State Highway)
Airport Way (County Road)
South 8th Street (City Road)
Park Ave - East of South 8th Street (City Road)

All other roads in Lakeside are closed to ATV use, except access from residential houses to the business route.

For City information on the route:
https://www.cityoflakeside.org/administration/page/dont-forget-get-your-atvutv-permit

It is 2.5 miles into town and paddle tires should not be used because there are no gravel shoulders in town to ride on. You will destroy your expense tires and these roads are 35-40 mile per hour and you have to go with the flow of traffic. You will also be riding through quiet neighborhoods, so please THROTTLE DOWN WHEN IN TOWN. It is a privilege on have this access, please do not jeopardize this great opportunity.

This route is a combination of City, County, State and Forest Service roads. Each road has slightly different rules. Here is what you need to know:

All ATV laws which apply in the dunes (except flags) are required on the paved roads. In addition, you must also comply with the following when going into Lakeside.

Operation on Shoulder or Pavement
On Spinreel Road you are allowed to ride either on the shoulder or the pavement. This allows neighbors with paddle tires access to the dunes. The shoulder is wide enough for ATV use, which works better for paddle tires. The City of Lakeside road shoulders are not suitable for ATV use. The ordinance specifically bans operating on the shoulder. Do not use paddle tires in town, because it is too far of a distance and you will be operating on a section of road that is 40mph.


Liability Insurance
Liability Insurance is required when operating on any roads in Lakeside. Statewide, every city and county in Oregon that allows ATV on roads requires insurance. Liability insurance is to cover injuries to another person or damages to their vehicle. If you financed your ATV the bank likely required Comprehensive Insurance to repair your vehicle in case of theft or damage. For Highway use, you are required by law to have Liability Insurance not Comprehensive Insurance.  You must carry proof of Liability Insurance.

Helmets
Helmets are also required for EVERYONE on motorcycles and ATVs. Helmets are required for everyone under the age of 18 in side-by-sides.

Eye Protection
Eye protection is required in any vehicle without a windshield.

Seatbelts
Seatbelts are required on all public roads for vehicles equipped with them (not four-wheelers and motorcycles). When defined as a Class II (jeep) or Class IV (side by side) vehicle, you are required to have a seat and seatbelt for every person in the vehicle. You cannot have extra people in the back without seatbelts.

Mirrors
All side-by-sides must be equipped with a rear facing mirror.

Youth
City and County Roads require a driver license and to be at least 16 years old. The Spinreel Road (State Highway) requires driving privileges, so a 15 year old with an instruction permit is ok when following all other rules with an instruction permit (supervision, passengers, etc).

Hours of operation
You must have a working head light, tail light and turn signals after dark.

Turn Signals

On roads you must use turn signals or hand signals during daylight hours. After dark, you must use lighted turn signals on roads.

ATV Safety Education Cards
ATV Safety Education Cards are required for all Class I (four-wheeler) and Class III (motorcycle) ATVs. ATV Cards are required for side by sides on County Roads.

Alcohol
All alcohol laws such as DUII and open container apply to ATVs the same as passengers cars. If you get a DUII on your ATV on roads or in the dunes you will lose your driver license. Drivers with suspended or revoked licenses cannot operate any ATV.

Law Enforcement
ATV activity on these roads and in the dunes is patrolled and enforced by the Coos County Sheriff’s Office Dunes Deputies. State Parks and the Sheriff’s office have and an agreement to provide dedicated patrols using ATV Funds from ATV Permits and Fuel Taxes. Deputies patrol in trucks, ATVs and side-by-sides. Many of the violations on the roads are considered traffic offenses and would go on your driving record.

USFS Spinreel Campground Information https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/siuslaw/recarea/?recid=42653

State Highways
On December 1, 2020 the Oregon Transportation Commission approved the designation of 1.18 miles of Sumpter Highway as an ATV Highway Access Route. The route allows ATVs to use the Highway from the north end of town near Cracker Creek Road to Sawmill Gulch Road. At the city limits on the west side of town the state highway becomes a county road. This county road is open to ATV use and provides access to the National Forest. At the south end of town, Highway use is allowed to Sawmill Gulch Road, which provides access to the National Forest.

To view the State Highway, which is open to ATVs, in Google maps:
https://goo.gl/maps/hwurzwcAHnAHgtdm6

City of Sumpter Roads
The roads in the City of Sumpter are open to ATV use. Most roads are gravel and have a speed limit of 15mph.

Baker County Roads
Most of the roads in Baker County are open to ATV use, except Hughes Lane, Cedar Street, Pocahontas Road, West Campbell Loop, Wingville Lane, Chandler Lane and Anthony Lakes Highway. None of these closed roads are in the immediate area of Sumpter. Granite Hill Road heading northwest of town is open to ATV use.

State Park Trail
There is a trail, alongside the highway, between Sawmill Gulch Road and Austin Street located on State Park property which is open to ATV use. The trail between Austin and the hotel will soon be closing. To access downtown businesses use the State Highway.

All State ATV laws which apply in the forest are required on the State Highway, County Roads and City of Sumpter.

In addition to State ATV Laws, the following are specific to Sumpter area:

Liability Insurance
Liability Insurance is required when operating on any roads in Sumpter. Statewide, every city and county that allows ATV on roads requires insurance. Liability insurance is to cover injuries to another person or damages to their vehicle. Many lenders require Comprehensive Insurance to repair your vehicle in case of theft or damage. You are required by law to have Liability Insurance not Comprehensive Insurance.  

Helmets
Helmets are required for everyone under the age of 18 including side-by-sides. On the State Highway (Mill Street) helmets are also required for EVERYONE on motorcycles and ATVs. Adults 18 and over are not required to wear a helmet in a side by side, but it is strongly encouraged.

Seatbelts
Seatbelts are required on all public roads for vehicles equipped with them (not four-wheelers and motorcycles). When defined as a Class II (jeep) or Class IV (side by side) vehicle, you are required to have a seat and seatbelt for every person in the vehicle.

Youth
Youth are allowed to operate on the City of Sumpter streets when supervised by an adult. These are mostly gravel roads. County Roads require a driver license and to be at least 16 years old. The State Highway requires driving privileges, so a 15 year old with an instruction permit

Hours of operation
The City of Sumpter only allows ATV during the hours of 7am to 10pm. State Highway and County Roads have no restriction on hours, except to have a working head light and tail light.

ATV Safety Education Cards
ATV Safety Education Cards are required for all Class I (four-wheeler) and Class III (motorcycle) ATVs. ATV Cards are required for side by sides on County Roads.

Please remember, you will also be riding through quiet neighborhoods, so THROTTLE DOWN WHEN IN TOWN.

ATV activity on these roads and in the forest is patrolled and enforced by the Baker County Sheriff’s Office. State Parks and the Sheriff’s office have an agreement to provide dedicated patrols using ATV Funds from ATV Permits and Fuel Taxes. Deputies patrol in trucks, ATVs and side-by-sides. Many of the violations on the roads are considered traffic offenses and would go on your driving record.

For information and maps for the Blue Mountain Trail system west of Sumpter visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/wallowa-whitman/recreation/ohv/?cid=stelprdb5292558


Sumpter Map