CORALLY

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

Last reviewed: November 9, 2026

In Galicia the rule works the other way round from other regions: a forest track, whether public, private or in a community forest, is kept for managing the forest, and you may only ride it if it is for public use or its owner has opened it with a permit and a sign (Galicia Forests Act 7/2012, article 98). Never on singletrack, firebreaks or off-track, and at very high or extreme wildfire risk, not on the ways in high-risk zones either.

Allowed

  • On roads and public-use ways (Act 7/2012, art. 98.2).
  • On a track its owner, including a community forest association, has opened to motor traffic with a forestry permit and a sign (art. 98.3).
  • An organised motor route or event, with a forestry permit requested two months ahead and the forest owner's consent (art. 88.2.a).

Not allowed

  • On forest tracks that are not for public use or opened: they are for rights of way, management and surveillance (Act 7/2012, art. 98.2).
  • Off-track, on singletrack, firebreaks or logging tracks (art. 98.2).
  • An organised motor activity without a permit (art. 88.2.a).
  • At very high or extreme wildfire risk, in high-risk zones and on the forest and rural ways crossing them, at any time of year (Act 3/2007, art. 31).
  • On drove roads, except with an exceptional permit (Act 3/1995, art. 16.1).
  • Whatever a protected area's plan bans (Act 5/2019, art. 121.c).

Forest tracks are for the forest by default

Galicia's Forests Act 7/2012 calls any wheeled way, public or private, off the road network a forest track (art. 98.1). And motor traffic on forest tracks that are not for public use is limited to rights of way, forest management and surveillance (art. 98.2). On rights of way, no sporty riding.

The track's owner, including a community forest association, can open it to motor traffic with a permit from the forestry authority and signs (art. 98.3). The act does not define «public use» and there is no inventory of open tracks: the sign is what tells you.

On top of that, there is never any riding off-track, on singletrack, firebreaks or logging tracks (art. 98.2). The act sets no speed; its definition of a main track (over 5 metres) does not open any track by itself.

Community forests: private too

Much of Galicia's forest is held in common by local communities (montes vecinales en mano común): private property of the residents' community. The act gives them no separate rule: their tracks follow article 98 like any other. If the community has not opened a track with a permit and a sign, it is not for public use.

Organised routes and events

Any organised motor activity in a forest needs, «in all cases», a permit from the forestry authority, requested two months ahead, and the owner's consent (art. 88.2.a, as worded by Act 10/2023). The 50-person limit without a permit applies only to non-motor groups.

Wildfires: the daily index rules all year

When the daily wildfire risk index (IRDI) is very high or extreme, you may not «enter, travel or stay» in high-risk zones or on the forest and rural ways crossing them (Act 3/2007, art. 31.2.a), and this also applies outside the high-danger season (art. 31.3). In 2026, the high-danger season ran from 1 July to 30 September.

Before you set off, check your municipality's IRDI on the regional government's website.

Drove roads and protected areas

Galicia 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).

Galicia's Natural Heritage Act 5/2019 has no general rule for motorcycles: each area's plan decides, and riding where that plan bans it is an offence (arts. 121.c and 122.j).

What is not clear

There is no list of public-use tracks or of tracks opened by their owners, and the act does not define «public use». The fine for riding a track requires it to be «duly signposted» (art. 128.p). We have not been able to read Galicia's Natura 2000 master plan, the natural parks' plans or the full text of the 2026 danger-season order either.

Until it is clear: roads, clearly public ways and tracks signposted as open, never at very high or extreme IRDI and, if in doubt, ask the community forest association or the forest rangers.

What if you get fined

Riding a signposted forest track against article 98, or on singletrack and firebreaks, is an offence under Galicia's Forests Act (art. 128.p); with no damage, minor, €100 to €1,000 (art. 131, which refers to Act 43/2003), and the means used can be confiscated (art. 136). Riding where it is banned at very high or extreme IRDI is serious, €1,001 to €100,000 (Act 3/2007, art. 51.2.h). In a protected area, minor offences run from €100 to €3,000 (Act 5/2019, art. 124).

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 are for public use or opened by their owner, the day's IRDI, 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 Galicia

Frequently asked questions

Can you ride forest tracks in Galicia?
Only public-use tracks or tracks their owner has opened with a permit and a sign. The rest, including those in community forests, are kept for managing the forest (Act 7/2012, art. 98).
What about tracks in a community forest?
The same as any other: a community forest is private, and its track is only open if the community has opened it with a permit and a sign (art. 98.3).
When are ways closed for wildfires?
At very high or extreme IRDI you may not ride in high-risk zones or on their forest and rural ways, at any time of year (Act 3/2007, art. 31).
Is there a speed or group limit?
The act sets no speed. An organised motor activity always needs a forestry permit, requested two months ahead (Act 7/2012, art. 88.2.a).
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).
What is the fine?
On a signposted track or on singletrack, with no damage, €100 to €1,000 (Act 7/2012, arts. 128 and 131). At very high or extreme IRDI, serious, from €1,001 (Act 3/2007, art. 51).

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.