CORALLY

Can you ride a motorcycle on forest land in the Region of Murcia? What the rules say

Last reviewed: October 30, 2026

Only on ways intended for vehicles: all year round, riding off-track, on firebreaks, logging tracks, singletrack or riverbeds is banned. Murcia has no law of its own on motorised traffic; the rule comes from a 2010 wildfire-prevention order that is still in force (Order of 24 May 2010, article 7). No general rule sets a speed, a group size or exactly which tracks are open.

Allowed

  • On tracks and ways intended for vehicle traffic and open, on a road-registered bike (Order of 24 May 2010, art. 7.1).
  • On paved tracks and roads, also when forest ways are restricted in extreme heat (the 2026 resolutions leave them out).
  • A motor event or competition on forest land, if it has authorisation from the competent Directorate-General (art. 7.3).

Not allowed

  • Off-track, or off ways intended for vehicles, at any time of year (art. 7.1).
  • On firebreaks, logging tracks, singletrack or riverbeds (art. 7.1).
  • On a forest way restricted by resolution at high wildfire risk (art. 7.2).
  • On tracks closed by a chain, barrier or sign, even on public forest land.
  • On drove roads, except with an exceptional permit for a specific use (Act 3/1995, art. 16.1).
  • A motor event or competition on forest land without authorisation, not even on mountain roads (art. 7.3).

Where the rule comes from

The Region of Murcia has no law of its own on motor vehicles in the countryside. The general rule is in the Order of 24 May 2010 of the Department of Agriculture and Water on wildfire prevention. Although its title says «for 2010», it renews itself until another replaces it (fourth additional provision), and resolutions from 2023 to 2026 still cite it.

It applies to all forest land (as defined by the national Forestry Act) and a 400-metre strip around it, except urban land (art. 2), and its article 7 applies all year, not just in summer.

What is banned all year

Article 7.1 bans riding motorcycles and other vehicles:

  • Off-track.
  • On firebreaks and forest logging ways.
  • On singletrack and riverbeds.
  • In general, off the ways intended for vehicle traffic.

Wildfires: when ways are closed

In unfavourable weather, the Directorate-General can restrict by resolution, with signs, the ways crossing forest land in the Type 1 Areas of the INFOMUR plan (art. 7.2). In 2026 this happened, for example, from 21 to 27 July (BORM no. 167), with paved tracks and roads left out; each resolution's annex lists the closed ways.

Danger periods are now set by the INFOMUR plan by level. Before a ride in hot weather, check the BORM and the Region's emergency website, and the signs at the forest entrance.

Drove roads and protected areas

Murcia has no drove-roads law of its own; the national one applies. Act 3/1995 only lets non-agricultural motor vehicles use cañadas, cordeles, veredas and coladas exceptionally, for a specific use and with a permit, never with livestock on the move (art. 16.1). For a ride out, no.

In protected areas and Natura 2000, their own rules prevail; the Order applies in the alternative (art. 16). Before riding into Sierra Espuña, Sierra de la Pila or Carrascoy, check the area's plan or the sign at the entrance.

What is not clear

No general Murcian rule sets a maximum speed on tracks, a maximum group size or a minimum width, and there is no public list of which are the «ways intended for vehicle traffic». We have also not been able to read the July 2010 amendment to the Order's scope (BORM no. 172) or exactly what the INFOMUR Type 1 Areas are.

Until it is clear: only clearly open tracks and ways, at a prudent speed, in small groups, and signs prevail. If in doubt, ask the town hall or the Directorate-General for the Natural Environment.

What happens if you are fined

Murcia has no forestry law of its own; the national one applies. Riding a motor vehicle off roads, ways and tracks without authorisation, or where there is an express ban, is an offence under Act 43/2003 (art. 67.k): with no damage, minor, 100 to 1,000 € (arts. 68 and 74).

How Corally applies it

  • Singletrack is outside the way-type filter by default: the planner does not use it and the analyzer flags the sections of a GPX that go along it.
  • If OpenStreetMap says a way is closed to motorcycles or motor vehicles, the planner avoids it and the analyzer flags it as "Closed to motorcycles".
  • What Corally does not know: which ways a resolution restricts today, new chains and signs, untagged drove roads and each area's plan. The data is public and collaborative (OpenStreetMap) and may differ from the ground: signs prevail.

Plan a route on dirt tracks in the Region of Murcia

Frequently asked questions

Can you ride a motorcycle on forest land in Murcia?
On tracks and ways intended for vehicle traffic, yes. Off-track, on firebreaks, logging tracks, singletrack or riverbeds, no, at any time of year (Order of 24 May 2010, art. 7.1).
Wasn't that order only for 2010?
Its title says so, but it renews itself until another replaces it (fourth additional provision) and resolutions from 2023 to 2026 still cite it as in force.
Is there a speed limit on tracks?
We have not found a general limit in Murcia like the 30 km/h of other regions. Follow each track's sign and ride at a prudent speed.
How many motorcycles can ride together?
Murcia has no general figure. An event or competition needs authorisation (art. 7.3); for a ride among friends, small groups are best.
Are tracks closed in summer?
At high wildfire risk, the Directorate-General can restrict by resolution the forest ways in INFOMUR Type 1 Areas (art. 7.2). It is published in the BORM with the list of ways; paved tracks and roads are left out.
And a drove road?
Only with an exceptional permit for a specific use, never with livestock on the move (Act 3/1995, art. 16.1). For a ride out, no.
What is the fine?
The national Forestry Act applies: with no damage, a minor offence of 100 to 1,000 € (arts. 67.k, 68 and 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.