CORALLY

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

Last reviewed: November 9, 2026

Yes, but only on tracks, never off-track or on singletrack, and off each island council's official network in groups of three motorcycles at most (Act 4/2017, article 80.3). In natural areas, 30 km/h and nothing in the most protected zones (Decree 124/1995). Each island decides its tracks: in Tenerife, only the signposted «VM» network at 20 km/h; in Teide, no tracks at all, and on wildfire alert the island councils close tracks.

Allowed

  • In natural areas, on roads and tracks outside the most protected zones, at 30 km/h at most (Decree 124/1995, arts. 2.2 and 3).
  • In a group of up to three motorcycles without a permit (Act 4/2017, art. 80.3); four to six, with an island council permit requested 15 days ahead (Decree 124/1995, arts. 6 and 9).
  • Tenerife: on dual-sport tyres with tread of 10 mm or less, on the «VM» track network and the signposted accesses to recreation areas, by day (Tenerife track regulation, arts. 7, 8 and 11).
  • Tenerife: on enduro or trials tyres, also on the VM network, but with a prior permit (art. 7.2).

Not allowed

  • Off-track, or stopping and parking off the track, in a natural area (Act 4/2017, art. 392.2; Decree 124/1995, art. 2.2).
  • In integral nature reserves and in the exclusion and restricted-use zones of any natural area (Decree 124/1995, art. 2.1).
  • In a convoy of more than three vehicles off each island's official network (Act 4/2017, art. 80.3).
  • Motor competitions inside a natural area (Act 4/2017, art. 80.2).
  • Teide: on any track; the TF-21, TF-24 and TF-38 roads are open (management plan, Decree 182/2025, section 6.3.1).
  • Tenerife: over 20 km/h, or 15 on bends and descents; off the VM network for leisure in Corona Forestal, Chinyero, Las Palomas and Las Lagunetas; on singletrack; on knobblies of 15 mm or more (Tenerife regulation, arts. 7 and 11).
  • On a track the island council has closed for a wildfire alert (Decree 180/2025, arts. 4 and 6).

The general rule: tracks only and groups of three

The Canary Islands have no forests act of their own; the state one applies, which penalises crossing forest land off roads, ways and tracks (Act 43/2003, art. 67.k). The Canarian rule is in Act 4/2017 on Land and Protected Natural Areas:

  • Each island council approves its island's official track network for motor vehicles, and «off the official network, more than three vehicles riding as a convoy is banned» (art. 80.3).
  • Motor sports events may only use forest tracks and stay outside protected natural areas, with a permit (art. 80.2).

Natural areas: 30 km/h and nothing in the most protected zones

Decree 124/1995 on the use of tracks in the Canary Islands' natural areas is still in force where it does not clash with the 2017 act. It bans motor vehicles in integral nature reserves and in the exclusion and restricted-use zones of any area (art. 2.1); elsewhere, only on roads and tracks (art. 2.2), at 30 km/h at most (art. 3). A group of four to six vehicles needs a permit, and never more than six (arts. 6 and 9).

In Teide National Park, the 2025 management plan states that «vehicle traffic on the tracks is banned»: roads only. In Timanfaya, nothing off roads and tracks open to the public. In Caldera de Taburiente and Garajonay, whatever their plan says.

Tenerife: the VM network

Tenerife is the only island with its own track regulation (BOP of 27-06-2018). For leisure riding:

  • Only on the signposted «VM» network of tracks for motor vehicles and the accesses to recreation areas, from an hour before sunrise to an hour after sunset (arts. 7, 8 and 11.4).
  • At 20 km/h at most, and 15 on bends and descents (art. 11.1).
  • An adventure bike on dual-sport tyres with tread of 10 mm or less rides without a permit; on enduro or trials tyres it needs a permit, and on knobblies of 15 mm or more, never (art. 7).
  • On the VM network, never in a convoy of more than six (art. 7.3).

Wildfires: each island council decides the closures

The high-danger season runs from 1 June to 30 September, and each island council can extend it (Decree 180/2025, art. 3). When an alert phase is declared, the island council limits vehicle and pedestrian traffic in the zones it sets (arts. 4 and 6).

In Tenerife closures go by grades and are announced on the island council's website; in La Palma, on alert, tracks in high-risk zones and public-utility forests close. Before riding in summer, check your island council's website or 1-1-2.

Drove roads

The Canary Islands have no drove roads: we found neither an act nor an inventory.

What is not clear

Outside Tenerife we found no official track network approved by any island council, nor an island regulation. We have not read the Caldera de Taburiente and Garajonay plans or Tenerife's grades instruction either, and we read Tenerife's regulation in the island council's copy, without checking changes since 2018.

Until it is clear: tracks only, groups of three at most, 30 km/h in natural areas and, if in doubt, ask the island council.

What if you get fined

Leaving the track or parking off it in a natural area is minor under Act 4/2017: €600 to €6,000 (art. 392.2), and if it damages the area it can be very serious. A motor event without a permit is serious, €6,001 to €150,000 (arts. 372 and 373). In a forest or on Tenerife's regulated tracks, minor offences run from €100 to €1,000 (Act 43/2003, art. 74). Act 4/2017 cuts the fine by 20 % if you admit the offence and another 20 % if you pay before the decision (art. 400).

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 tracks belong to Tenerife's VM network or each island's network, each area's exclusion zones and wildfire-alert closures. The data is public and collaborative and may differ from the ground: the signs rule.

Plan a dirt-track route in the Canary Islands

Frequently asked questions

Can you ride dirt tracks in the Canary Islands?
Yes, on tracks only and, off each island council's official network, in groups of three motorcycles at most (Act 4/2017, art. 80.3). Not in the most protected zones of natural areas (Decree 124/1995, art. 2.1).
Is there a speed limit?
30 km/h on tracks in natural areas (Decree 124/1995, art. 3). In Tenerife, 20 km/h and 15 on bends and descents (track regulation, art. 11.1).
Can I ride the tracks in Teide?
No: its management plan bans vehicle traffic on the tracks. The TF-21, TF-24 and TF-38 roads are open (Decree 182/2025, section 6.3.1).
What tyres do I need in Tenerife?
On dual-sport tyres with tread of 10 mm or less you ride the VM network without a permit; enduro or trials tyres need a permit, and knobblies of 15 mm or more are not allowed (track regulation, art. 7).
Are tracks closed in summer?
On a wildfire alert, each island council limits traffic in the zones it sets (Decree 180/2025, arts. 4 and 6). Check your island council's website before you go.
What is the fine?
Leaving the track in a natural area: €600 to €6,000 (Act 4/2017, art. 392.2). In a forest or on Tenerife's tracks, €100 to €1,000 (Act 43/2003, art. 74).

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.