CORALLY

Can you ride forest tracks by motorcycle in Asturias? What the law says

Last reviewed: November 9, 2026

Asturias's Forests Act bans motorised activities unrelated to farming or forestry in any forest, except on expressly authorised circuits or ways (Act 3/2004, article 48.e), and there is no public list of those ways. On days of very high or extreme wildfire risk, tracks touching public or communal forests close automatically, and in the Picos de Europa National Park visitors do not ride the tracks.

Allowed

  • On roads and public ways.
  • On the circuits or ways the regional ministry has expressly authorised, or with its permission (Act 3/2004, art. 48.e).
  • On public tracks and ways inside the villages of the Picos de Europa National Park, save the exceptions in its plan (PRUG, art. 28.3).

Not allowed

  • Motorised activities in a forest off the expressly authorised ways, without a permit (Act 3/2004, art. 48.e).
  • Where there is an express ban: a chain, a barrier or a sign (Act 3/2004, arts. 90.2.m and 91.2.m).
  • Off-track, away from roads, ways and tracks (Act 43/2003, art. 67.k).
  • At very high or extreme wildfire risk (4 or 5), on tracks and ways that cross or touch public-utility, communal or other public forests (Resolution of 3-09-2024, section 4.4.1).
  • On Picos de Europa tracks outside the villages, nor motor tourist routes or competitions (PRUG, arts. 42.2, 42.11 and 59.3).
  • On drove roads, except with an exceptional permit (Act 3/1995, art. 16.1).
  • In a protected area, in zones with access restrictions (Act 5/1991, art. 43.7).

The rule: only authorised ways

Asturias's Forests and Forest Planning Act 3/2004 covers every forest, whoever owns it, and tracks are part of the forest (arts. 1 and 5). Its article 48 bans, unless the regional ministry expressly authorises it, «motorised activities unrelated to farming and forestry, except on expressly authorised circuits or ways» (art. 48.e).

On paper it is a strict rule, but we have not found any list or resolution saying which ways are authorised. What the act penalises as an offence is travelling on forest ways or areas where there is an express ban (arts. 90.2.m and 91.2.m). In practice: if there is a chain, a barrier or a sign, do not go in; and if there is none, bear in mind the act does not treat the track as open.

The act sets no speed, group size or width. A motor event or competition is a motorised activity that needs a permit (art. 48.e).

Wildfires: at risk 4 or 5, tracks close automatically

In Asturias the riskiest season is winter and spring: high from 15 January to 30 April, with March the most delicate month, and medium from 15 July to 15 October (2025-2026 annual plan). The season closes nothing by itself.

What closes tracks is the daily wildfire risk index (IRIF), from 0 to 5. At very high (4) or extreme (5) risk, with repeated fires in an area or with the emergency plan activated in the municipality, access is banned on forest tracks and ways that cross or touch public-utility, communal or other public forests, with no further notice (Resolution of 3 September 2024, section 4.4.1). The forest rangers can also temporarily close other public tracks and ways, with notice (section 4.4.2).

Before you set off, especially from January to April, check your municipality's risk for the day on the 112 Asturias website.

Picos de Europa: visitors on roads

The National Park's management plan for the Asturian side is new: Decree 21/2026 (BOPA of 30 March 2026). Outside the villages, motor access on tracks is only allowed for management, surveillance, rescue, maintenance, mountain huts, authorised forestry or grazing and owners going to their land (art. 42.2); residents ride with their permit (art. 42.6). A visiting rider may not use them.

Also: off-track riding is always banned (art. 26.5); 20 km/h at most on tracks (art. 42.10); motor events and competitions are banned on any way, paved or not (art. 42.11), as is any motor tourist or sports activity or 4x4 route (art. 59.3). Inside the villages, public tracks and ways are open to free passage, save a list of exceptions in Cabrales and Tresviso (art. 28.3).

Natural parks and drove roads

Asturias's Natural Areas Act 5/1991 has no general rule for motorcycles: each park (Somiedo, Redes, Fuentes del Narcea, Ponga, Las Ubiñas-La Mesa) sets it in its plan. What it does penalise is entering or riding in zones with restrictions (art. 43.7).

Asturias has no drove roads act of its own; the state one applies: only with an exceptional permit for a specific use, never with livestock on the way (Act 3/1995, art. 16.1).

What is not clear

There is no public list of the «expressly authorised ways» in article 48.e, so we do not know which tracks the act treats as open to motorcycles. We have not read the natural parks' plans either, nor could we confirm whether the 2023 wildfire resolution is still in force alongside the 2024 one.

Until it is clear: roads and public ways, tracks with no ban sign at a gentle pace, never on risk 4 or 5 days and, if in doubt, ask the forest rangers or the town council.

What if you get fined

Travelling on forest ways or areas where there is an express ban is serious or very serious under Asturias's Forests Act, depending on soil damage: €1,001 to €100,000 for a serious offence (arts. 91 and 94), and the means used can be confiscated (art. 95.d). Breaking a wildfire closure is always serious (art. 91.3). With no damage, the state act sets the minor offence at €100 to €1,000 (Act 43/2003, arts. 67.k and 74). In a protected area, riding in restricted zones is minor, €60 to €600, and serious, €6,001 to €60,000, if it is an organised commercial or sports activity (Act 5/1991, art. 44).

What each area is

Four designations you will meet out in the country, each with its own page: what it is, what the acronyms mean and what it means for your bike.

How Corally applies it

  • Singletrack (in Corally, «paths») is outside the default way filter: the planner does not use it and the analyser flags the sections of a GPX that run on it.
  • If OpenStreetMap says a way is closed to motorcycles or motor vehicles, the planner avoids it and the analyser flags it as «No motorcycles».
  • The «Zones with rules» layer flags the protected areas, public-utility forests and drove roads it knows on your route: it does not block it, it warns you so you can decide or ask for a permit.
  • What Corally does not know: which ways are authorised, the day's wildfire risk, new chains and signs, and each park's plan. The data is public and collaborative and may differ from the ground: the signs rule.

Plan a dirt-track route in Asturias

Frequently asked questions

Can you ride forest tracks in Asturias?
The Forests Act only allows motorcycles in forests on expressly authorised circuits or ways, or with a permit (Act 3/2004, art. 48.e). There is no public list of those ways; what is penalised is riding where there is an express ban.
When are tracks closed for wildfires?
On very high or extreme risk days (4 or 5), tracks and ways touching public or communal forests close automatically (Resolution of 3 September 2024). In Asturias the high-danger season runs from January to April.
Can you ride in the Picos de Europa?
On roads and through the villages, yes. On the National Park's tracks, visitors no: only management, services, owners and residents (2026 PRUG, art. 42.2). Motor tourist routes and competitions are banned.
Is there a speed or group limit?
Asturias's act sets neither speed nor group size. In Picos, 20 km/h on tracks (PRUG, art. 42.10). A motor activity or competition needs a permit.
What about a drove road?
Only with an exceptional permit for a specific use, never with livestock on the way (Act 3/1995, art. 16.1). For a ride, no.
What is the fine?
For riding where there is an express ban, serious or very serious depending on damage (from €1,001, Act 3/2004, art. 94). Breaking a wildfire closure is always serious (art. 91.3).

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.