CORALLY

Can you ride forest tracks by motorcycle in Castilla-La Mancha? What the law says

Last reviewed: November 9, 2026

On public ways, yes, at 30 km/h at most. Forest tracks that are not public ways are kept for managing the forest, unless you have a permit (Forests Act 3/2008, article 44). And in public forests, protected areas and game reserves, no singletrack or ways 2 metres wide or less, and no groups of more than 3 vehicles without a permit (Decree 63/2006, art. 8.2).

Allowed

  • On public ways and other authorised ways (Decree 63/2006, art. 8.1).
  • On a forest track opened to traffic by the regional ministry at its owner's request, with signposted access (Act 3/2008, art. 44.3).
  • In a group of 4 to 15 vehicles in public forests and protected areas, with a permit requested 30 days ahead (Decree 63/2006, art. 11).
  • An organised trip, with a registered organiser and prior authorisation (Decree 63/2006, art. 10).

Not allowed

  • Off the ways or off-track, anywhere in the countryside and all year round (Decree 63/2006, art. 8.1; Order 76/2026, art. 14.2.b).
  • On forest tracks that are not public ways without a permit: they are for managing the forest (Act 3/2008, art. 44.3).
  • Above 30 km/h on forest tracks and dirt ways (Act 3/2008, art. 44.5; Decree 63/2006, art. 8.2.c).
  • In public forests and protected areas: on singletrack or unpaved ways 2 m wide or less, firebreaks, logging tracks or riverbeds (Decree 63/2006, art. 8.2.a).
  • On that same land, in a group of more than 3 vehicles without a permit, and never more than 15 per route and day (arts. 8.2.h and 11.2).
  • On a trials or enduro bike off the ways authorised for them, on that land (art. 8.2.l).
  • On drove roads that cross public forests or protected areas (art. 8.2.k); elsewhere, only with an exceptional permit (Act 3/1995, art. 16.1).
  • A competition in a protected area or a game reserve (art. 14).

Public ways and forest tracks

Castilla-La Mancha's Forests Act 3/2008 tells two things apart. Public ways (municipal ones, for example) can be used. Forest tracks, «ways located in forests to serve them», cannot: motor traffic on forest tracks off the road and public-way network is limited to rights of way, farm and forest management, and wildfire surveillance and fighting (art. 44.3).

Exceptionally, the regional ministry can open a track to traffic if its owner asks, the way is suitable, access is signposted and the owner takes on maintenance (art. 44.3). And on any forest way or track, 30 km/h at most (art. 44.5).

Corally does not know which way is public and which is a forest service track: the sign and the town's register of ways say so. If there is a chain, a barrier or a no-entry sign, it is not for you.

Public forests, protected areas and game reserves: extra rules

Decree 63/2006, on recreational use and motor traffic in the countryside, bans riding off public or otherwise authorised ways anywhere in the countryside (art. 8.1). And in protected areas, public-utility forests, forests run by or under agreement with the regional government, protective forests, game reserves and imperial eagle areas it adds (art. 8.2):

  • No off-track riding, singletrack or unpaved ways 2 metres wide or less, firebreaks, logging tracks, riverbeds or lagoons.
  • No ways closed with a sign or a barrier.
  • 30 km/h at most on dirt ways, unless signposted otherwise.
  • Groups of 3 vehicles at most without a permit; with one, never more than 15 per route and day (arts. 8.2.h and 11). The permit is requested 30 days ahead, with a deposit or insurance and the way owners' consent.
  • Trials and enduro bikes only on the ways the provincial office has authorised for them, with their owner's consent.
  • No drove roads, no noise above the legal limit and no exhausts without a silencer.

Drove roads

Cañadas, cordeles, veredas and coladas are not ways for motorcycles. In Castilla-La Mancha's Drove Roads Act 9/2003, motorcycles are neither a common nor a complementary use (arts. 31 and 32), and the act refers to the state law: only with an exceptional permit for a specific use, never with livestock on the way (Act 3/1995, art. 16.1). On top of that, motor traffic is banned on those that cross public forests or protected areas (Decree 63/2006, art. 8.2.k).

Protected areas

The Nature Conservation Act 9/1999 does not ban motorcycles in general: each area's plan (PORN or PRUG) decides and, where it is silent, Decree 63/2006 applies with its extra rules (first additional provision). No competitions are authorised in protected areas (art. 14). Before entering the Alto Tajo or the Serranía de Cuenca, check its plan.

Wildfires: seasons and closures

Order 76/2026 sets the danger seasons: extreme from 1 July to 31 August, high in June and September, and medium in May, October and Easter week (art. 5). All year round it bans motor traffic off forest tracks (art. 14.2.b).

At a very high or extreme danger index, the order bans fire and machinery but does not close tracks by itself: closures come by resolution of the provincial office, published and signposted (art. 7.d). Example: in August 2026, 31 tracks in Guadalajara were closed from the 11th to the 13th for the eclipse (BOP de Guadalajara no. 149). The daily index is on the INFOCAM website.

What is not clear

We could not find out whether Decree 63/2006 has been amended since 2006 (regulatory plans in 2017 and 2018 announced it), although the 2026 wildfire order still cites it. There is no public list of which tracks are open to traffic or which ways are public, and we have not read each protected area's plan.

Until it is clear: ways that are clearly public and open, groups of 3 in public forests, 30 km/h, the sign rules and, if in doubt, ask the provincial office or the environmental rangers.

What if you get fined

Under the Forests Act, riding where there is an express ban or against the rules is minor with no damage, €100 to €1,000 (Act 3/2008, arts. 80, 81 and 87), and the vehicle can be immobilised (art. 82). Breaking the rules of Decree 63/2006 is a minor offence under Act 9/1999, €500 to €25,000, and up to double in a protected area (arts. 111.14 and 113). On a drove road, minor, €60.10 to €601.01 (Act 9/2003, art. 46).

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 track is a public way and which a forest track, closures by resolution, new chains and signs, and each area's plan. The data is public and collaborative and may differ from the ground: the signs rule.

Plan a dirt-track route in Castilla-La Mancha

Frequently asked questions

Can you ride dirt tracks in Castilla-La Mancha?
On public ways, yes, at 30 km/h at most. Forest service tracks only with a permit: the act keeps them for management (Act 3/2008, art. 44.3).
How many bikes can ride together?
In public forests, protected areas and game reserves, 3 at most without a permit; with a permit requested 30 days ahead, up to 15 per route and day (Decree 63/2006, arts. 8.2.h and 11).
Can I ride a road-registered enduro bike?
On public ways, yes. In public forests, protected areas and game reserves, trials and enduro bikes may only use the ways authorised for them (Decree 63/2006, art. 8.2.l).
What about narrow singletrack?
In public forests and protected areas, no: singletrack and unpaved ways 2 m wide or less are banned (Decree 63/2006, art. 8.2.a).
Are tracks closed in summer?
The extreme-danger season (1 July to 31 August) does not close them by itself, but the provincial office can close tracks by resolution, signposted at the entrance (Order 76/2026, art. 7.d).
What is the fine?
Under the Forests Act, €100 to €1,000 with no damage (Act 3/2008, art. 87); for breaking Decree 63/2006, €500 to €25,000 for a minor offence (Act 9/1999, art. 113).

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.