CORALLY

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

Last reviewed: November 9, 2026

Yes: in La Rioja you may ride forest tracks, at 20 km/h at most and never off-track, on firebreaks or on bridle paths (Decree 114/2003, articles 118 and 120). Restricted tracks are closed, public-utility forest tracks are closed at night, and in protected areas, Natura 2000 included, only authorised ways are open (Act 2/2023, article 55.j).

Allowed

  • On built forest tracks, on a registered motorcycle, at 20 km/h at most (Decree 114/2003, art. 118.2 and 118.4).
  • In a protected area, on the authorised forest ways (Act 2/2023, art. 55.j).
  • A sports event in a public-utility forest, only on tracks and with a report from the environment department (Decree 114/2003, art. 122).

Not allowed

  • Off-track, on firebreaks, logging tracks, bridle paths or dry riverbeds (Act 2/1995, art. 76.f; Decree 114/2003, art. 120.1).
  • On ruts or traces that are not a built track, even if they look worn in (Decree 114/2003, art. 117.1).
  • On tracks declared restricted, signposted at both ends (Decree 114/2003, art. 119).
  • On tracks in public-utility and protection forests at night: from an hour after sunset to an hour before sunrise (Decree 114/2003, art. 118.5 and 118.6).
  • On unauthorised forest ways and singletrack inside a protected area, Natura 2000 included (Act 2/2023, arts. 47.1.f and 55.j).
  • On drove roads, except with an exceptional permit (Act 3/1995, art. 16.1).

Tracks yes, at 20 km/h and by day in public forests

La Rioja's Forest Heritage Act 2/1995 bans recreational or sporting motor activities «a campo traviesa», that is off-track (art. 76.f), and its regulation, Decree 114/2003, sets out how tracks are ridden (arts. 117 to 123):

  • Only on built forest tracks, not on ruts or traces (117.1), and at 20 km/h at most (118.2).
  • No off-track, firebreaks, logging tracks or bridle paths (120.1).
  • Tracks declared restricted are closed and signposted at both ends (119).
  • In public-utility and protection forests, no riding at night (118.5 and 118.6).

Groups and events

The regulation calls more than 5 vehicles a group. In a public-utility forest, a group needs a report from the environment department when the outing already needs a permit as a recreational activity (Decree 114/2003, art. 121). A sports event in a public-utility forest may only use tracks, with that report (art. 122).

Protected areas: Natura 2000 too

La Rioja's Biodiversity and Natural Heritage Act 2/2023 bans «riding motor vehicles off-track and on unauthorised forest ways, trails or paths» in protected areas (art. 55.j). And under this act Natura 2000 is a protected area (art. 47.1.f), so the rule covers more than a third of La Rioja.

The Sierra de Cebollera Natural Park defers to its management plan, which we could not read: expect to ride only on the authorised tracks.

Wildfires: the high-risk season does not close tracks

The high-risk season runs from 1 July to 31 October (Order AGM/71/2024, art. 2.1.a), and it is not a yearly order: it stays in force until another replaces it. Not even at extreme risk does it stop traffic on tracks: it bans fire, burning and spark-producing machinery (art. 4). What it does require all year is not parking where you block fire-fighting vehicles (art. 5.1.f).

Drove roads

La Rioja has its own drove roads decree (Decree 3/1998), which we could not read. The state act makes the key point clear: motor vehicles 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 restricted tracks, and La Rioja's gazette cannot be read from outside: we read the 2003 regulation in a 2015 consolidated copy, without being able to check later changes. Nor have we read the Cebollera plan, the natural reserves' rules or the drove roads decree.

Until it is clear: built tracks, at 20 km/h, by day in public forests, check each track's sign and, if in doubt, ask the forest rangers.

What if you get fined

Under the forestry act, minor offences run from €100 to €1,000, serious ones from €1,001 to €100,000 and, inside a protected area, the fine can double (Act 2/1995, art. 89). Riding an unauthorised way in a protected area is minor under the biodiversity act: €100 to €3,000, and the vehicle can be seized (Act 2/2023, arts. 170.d and 171).

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 restricted, which lie in a public-utility forest (for the night rule) 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 La Rioja

Frequently asked questions

Can you ride dirt tracks in La Rioja?
Yes, on built forest tracks at 20 km/h at most. Never off-track, on firebreaks or bridle paths (Decree 114/2003, arts. 118 and 120).
Is there a speed limit?
Yes: 20 km/h on forest tracks (Decree 114/2003, art. 118.2).
Can I ride at night?
Not on tracks in public-utility and protection forests: from an hour after sunset to an hour before sunrise (Decree 114/2003, art. 118.5 and 118.6).
What about Natura 2000?
Only on the authorised forest ways: in La Rioja Natura 2000 is a protected area and the same ban applies (Act 2/2023, arts. 47.1.f and 55.j).
Are tracks closed in summer?
No. The high-risk season runs from 1 July to 31 October, but it does not stop traffic on tracks (Order AGM/71/2024, arts. 2 and 4).
What is the fine?
In a forest, minor €100 to €1,000, up to double in a protected area (Act 2/1995, art. 89). In a protected area, €100 to €3,000 (Act 2/2023, art. 171).

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.