CORALLY

Can you ride a motorcycle on forest tracks in Aragon? What the law says

Last reviewed: October 30, 2026

Yes, with conditions: on forest tracks on public forest land that are open to general traffic, in groups of up to 5 vehicles and at no more than 30 km/h, with no permit. On tracks that are not open, with authorisation; off ways and tracks, never. It is set by the consolidated Aragon Forestry Act (Legislative Decree 1/2017, articles 91 and 92).

Allowed

  • On forest tracks open to general traffic on public forest land, without authorisation: it is general common use (art. 92.2).
  • In a group of up to 5 vehicles in convoy (art. 92.2).
  • At 30 km/h at most, and slower if the track calls for it (art. 92.2).
  • On tracks that are not open, if you have authorisation from the regional department or the local authority that owns the forest, or from the owner on private land (art. 92.3).

Not allowed

  • Off existing ways and forest tracks, on forest land of any owner (art. 91.2).
  • On tracks closed by a chain, barrier or sign, or on tracks not open without authorisation (arts. 91.1 and 92.3).
  • An event, a competition or an organised tourist route without a special-use authorisation (art. 92.5).
  • Sport or competitive riding on drove roads (Act 10/2005, art. 39.c); for other uses, only with an exceptional permit (art. 35.2).
  • In protected areas, on forest ways, footpaths or singletrack that are not authorised (Legislative Decree 1/2015, art. 43.j).
  • When access to the forest is restricted for wildfire risk (art. 91.1).

The general rule: tracks are for managing the forest

Article 92.1 starts from one idea: forest tracks exist to manage the forest and for rights of way. Riding them for pleasure is an exception the law regulates, not a general right.

And article 91.2 closes the rest: on forest land of any ownership, public or private, riding a motor vehicle off existing ways or forest tracks is banned, except for management or with express authorisation.

Tracks open to general traffic: yes, no permit

On public forest land, riding tracks open to general traffic is general common use: you need no authorisation (art. 92.2). With three conditions:

  • Groups of up to 5 vehicles in convoy. If there are more of you, split the group with plenty of distance between them.
  • 30 km/h at most.
  • The rider takes full civil liability for whatever happens: damage to the track, to others or to themselves.

Tracks not open and private forest land

A track that is not open to general traffic needs authorisation from the competent regional department, if the forest belongs to the region, or from the local authority that owns it (art. 92.3). On private land, from the owner.

Corally does not know whether a given track is open to general traffic or who owns the forest: signs, chains and barriers tell you. If there is a no-entry sign or a chain, the track is not open to you.

Organised rides, events and competitions

The common use of article 92.2 does not cover commercial activities, competitions or events, or tourist and cultural routes. Those need a special-use authorisation: on forest land managed by the region the department grants it, only on tracks and with the owner's consent, and the organiser is liable for damage and may have to leave a deposit (art. 92.5). On other forest land, the owner or manager authorises it.

A ride among friends that charges nothing and is not a race, in groups of 5 at most, is the riding of article 92.2. If you are unsure whether yours counts as a «tourist route», ask the department before setting off.

Drove roads and protected areas

Drove roads (cañadas, cordeles, veredas, coladas) are not tracks. Aragon's Drove Roads Act 10/2005 bans riding them for sport or competition (art. 39.c). For other journeys, only with an exceptional permit from the department, never with livestock on the move or on drove roads of ecological or cultural interest, and always giving way to livestock (art. 35). Riding without a permit is a minor offence, 60 to 600 € (arts. 51.c and 52.1.a).

In protected natural areas, riding a motor vehicle off-track and on forest ways, footpaths or singletrack that are not authorised is banned (Legislative Decree 1/2015, art. 43.j). On top of that, each park has its own plan, which says which tracks may be used.

Wildfires: when the forest closes

Access to the forest can be restricted by resolution, on foot too, for conservation or wildfire prevention, with public notice (art. 91.1). The wildfire danger season runs from 1 April to 15 October, and tracks are closed when a red-plus alert is declared (Order AGM/681/2023, according to the 2026 annual plan).

Before a summer ride, check the Government of Aragon's wildfire risk notice and the signs at the forest entrance.

What happens if you are fined

Riding on forest land off roads, ways or tracks without authorisation, running an organised ride without a permit or going where there is an express ban are offences under the Aragon Forestry Act (art. 119, letters k, l and m). With no damage, minor: 100 to 1,000 €; with damage, serious or very serious, up to 1,000,000 € (arts. 120 and 125.1).

How Corally applies it

  • Singletrack is outside the way-type filter by default: the planner does not use it and the analyzer flags the sections of a GPX that go along it.
  • If OpenStreetMap says a way is closed to motorcycles or motor vehicles, the planner avoids it and the analyzer flags it as "Closed to motorcycles".
  • What Corally does not know: whether a track is open to general traffic, who owns the forest, new chains and signs, wildfire closures and each park's plan. The data is public and collaborative (OpenStreetMap) and may differ from the ground: signs prevail.
  • For the group: the limit of 5 vehicles in convoy comes from the law; Corally does not enforce it.

Plan a route on dirt tracks in Aragon

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to ride a forest track in Aragon?
No, if the track is open to general traffic on public forest land, you are 5 vehicles at most and you stay under 30 km/h (art. 92.2). If it is not open, or the land is private, you do need authorisation (art. 92.3).
There are 8 of us. Can we ride together?
Not as one group: the law allows groups of up to 5 vehicles in convoy (art. 92.2). Split into two groups and keep a gap between them.
Can I ride an enduro bike?
Aragon's law does not ban a type of bike: it regulates where and how you ride. On a road-registered bike, on open tracks and under the conditions of article 92.2, yes. Off the track and on singletrack, no, on any bike (art. 91.2).
What about a cañada or a vereda?
For sport, no: the Drove Roads Act 10/2005 bans it (art. 39.c). For other uses, only with an exceptional permit (art. 35.2). Without one it is a minor offence, 60 to 600 €.
Can I organise a club ride?
If it is a tourist route, an event or a competition, it needs a special-use authorisation (art. 92.5). A ride among friends that charges nothing and is not a race, in groups of 5, is normal riding under article 92.2; if in doubt, ask the department.
And inside a natural park?
Riding off-track and on forest ways, footpaths or singletrack that are not authorised is banned (Legislative Decree 1/2015, art. 43.j). Check the area's plan or the sign at the entrance before going in.
When are tracks closed for wildfires?
The danger season runs from 1 April to 15 October, but tracks do not close automatically: they close when a red-plus alert is declared. Access can also be restricted by resolution at any time (art. 91.1).
What is the fine for leaving the track?
It is an offence under the Aragon Forestry Act (art. 119.l): 100 to 1,000 € with no damage, and much more if there is (art. 125.1).

Sources (with the article)

A practical guide written by Corally from the rules cited at the end. It is not legal advice: rules change, every protected area has its own plan, and signs on the ground always prevail.