The mission of Stay The Trail Colorado is to encourage the responsible use of the roads and trails that are open to motorized recreation in Colorado. Stay The Trail Colorado is a program of the Responsible Recreation Foundation.
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Copyright 2003-2013 by the Responsible Recreation Foundation. All rights reserved.
How We Roll in Colorado
Stay The Trail developed the following useful information on riding in Colorado. This information is also available in our Stay The Trail brochures and videos. Clicking on a picture or a subject will display more information on that subject. You can also move through the trail etiquette pages using the previous and next links at the top of the page.
Ride only on routes wider than your vehicle.
Different trail types are cosntructed for different widths of vehicles. In this section, learn about different trails and which trails are designed for which vehicles. Remember to only ride on trails wider than and open to your vehicle.
Ride only on routes open to your vehicle.
In Colorado, we use brown signs with white graphics and, on lands managed by the Forest Service, motor vehicle use maps (MVUMs) to designate which trails are open to which types of vehicles. A red slash across a sign indicates a trail is closed to that type of vehicle.
Ride over obstacles; not around them.
Going around obstacles widens trails, impacts vegetation, and causes erosion. Challenge yourself by staying on the trail. Use caution when going over obstacles and remember to be courteous to other trail users.
Be an ambassador to non-motorized trail users including livestock and wildlife.
Your trails are always in danger of being closed. On any day of riding you become the face of OHV recreation to other users—leave them with a good impression of your sport. Always yield the trail to non-motorized users.
Louder doesn't mean faster.
Excessive sound from dirt bikes and ATVs has become one of the biggest threats to off-highway vehicle (OHV) use. Fortunately, loud dirt bikes and ATVs can be fixed without losing any speed or power.
Slow down for your fellow riders.
Care is required when passing or meeting fellow OHV enthusiasts on narrow trails. Slow down. Let the other rider know your intentions. Stay on the trail so you do not flatten vegetation or widen the trail.
Hunting with Off-Highway Vehicles
Hunting with OHVs requires extra caution. Fines may be assessed for violations and some violations may include penalty points assessed to hunting and fishing licenses.
Additional Stay The Trail Resources
Stay The Trail produced a series of brochures and videos on responsible trail use. These materials are available in our publications section or you may use the links below to navigate directly to the brochures and videos pages.
Stay The Trail Brochures
Our brochures contain tons of information on riding responsibly. The brochures can be viewed, downloaded, and printed out from the brochures page.
Stay The Trail Videos
Our videos demonstrate responsible recreation in action on the trail. The videos cover encountering non-motorized users, passing other motorized users, using trail signs and maps, and wearing appropriate safety gear.
Other Sources of Information
The following third-party organizations have developed additional educational materials on recreating responsibly on public lands. Unlike Stay The Trail which focuses solely on recreation in Colorado, these organization have a national scope.
Leave No Trace
The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is an educational, nonprofit organization dedicated to the responsible enjoyment and active stewardship of the outdoors by all people, worldwide.
National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC)
NOHVCC, as a national body of OHV recreation enthusiasts, develops and provides a wide spectrum of programs, materials and information, or “tools”, to individuals, clubs, associations and agencies in order to further a positive future for responsible OHV recreation.
Tread Lightly!
Tread Lightly!® is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to promote responsible outdoor recreation through ethics education and stewardship.
