CORALLY

Can you ride dirt tracks by motorcycle in Portugal? What the law says

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026

Yes: on the mainland there is no general ban on riding a motorcycle on lanes and dirt tracks. Public caminhos are public roads and «é livre a circulação» on them, within the limits of the Código da Estrada (arts. 1.º, 2.º and 3.º). But what a sign or barrier closes is closed, every protected area has its own plan, and on days of muito elevado or máximo wildfire risk, public forest areas and their roads close (SGIFR, art. 68.º). Madeira and the Azores have rules of their own, and in Madeira the forest area needs a permit.

Allowed

  • On roads and public caminhos, public roads with freedom of movement under the Código da Estrada (arts. 1.º c) and x), 2.º and 3.º n.º 1).
  • On wide, commonly used dirt tracks with no sign or barrier: we have found no rule closing them in general. A private track, or a State track not open to public traffic, is not a public road.
  • In the Azores, on existing roads and tracks, also inside the island natural parks (no regional rule we have read closes them to a touring motorcycle).

Not allowed

  • Anything a sign or barrier closes, and private or State tracks not open to public traffic.
  • Dirt tracks in a protected area whose plan bans them: each sets what is allowed, conditional and banned in its special programme (RJCNB, arts. 14.º n.º 3 d) and 23.º n.º 3).
  • Public or community forest areas, including their road network, in priority prevention areas on days of muito elevado or máximo wildfire risk in the concelho (SGIFR, art. 68.º n.º 1 c)).
  • Forest areas and the roads that cross them during a situação de alerta declared by the Government (Lei 27/2006; example: Despacho 8400-B/2026, n.º 2 a)).
  • In Madeira, the forest area without prior authorisation (DLR 35/2008/M, art. 4.º n.º 1 b)).
  • In Madeira, classified trilhos, veredas, levadas and caminhos reais (DLR 24/2022/M, art. 13.º n.º 1 c)).
  • At the Furnas (São Miguel), off the existing roads and tracks (POBHLF Regulation, DRR 5/2019/A, arts. 20.º to 22.º and 25.º).

Mainland: no general ban

The Código da Estrada (Decreto-Lei 114/94) defines a «caminho» as a «via pública especialmente destinada ao trânsito local em zonas rurais» (art. 1.º c)) and guarantees freedom of movement on public roads (art. 3.º n.º 1). A plated motorcycle rides a public caminho like on any other road, under the Código's rules.

What is not a public road is another matter: a private track, or a State track with no open public traffic, is not covered by that freedom. Respect signs and barriers and, if you are unsure who a track belongs to, do not go in.

Protected areas: each has its plan

The nature conservation regime (RJCNB, Decreto-Lei 142/2008) does not ban motorcycles directly: it refers to the classification act and the special programme of each area (formerly the plano de ordenamento), which sets what is allowed, conditional and banned (arts. 14.º n.º 3 d) and 23.º n.º 3).

Where the management regulation bans them, motorised tourist or sport activities are a serious offence (contraordenação grave, art. 43.º n.º 3 a)) and riding or parking is a minor offence (contraordenação leve, art. 43.º n.º 4 b)).

ICNF areas such as Peneda-Gerês or Montesinho have their own management plan with their own rules: read the area's plan at icnf.pt before you go in. We do not detail the zones or articles of any of them here.

Wildfire: muito elevado or máximo risk

Rural wildfire risk is set by the IPMA and the ICNF for each concelho, on five levels: reduzido, moderado, elevado, muito elevado and máximo (SGIFR, Decreto-Lei 82/2021, art. 43.º). At muito elevado or máximo, in priority prevention areas, «circulação ou permanência em áreas florestais públicas ou comunitárias, incluindo a rede viária abrangida» is restricted (art. 68.º n.º 1 c)). The CCON can impose these restrictions at any level (art. 43.º n.º 5).

The exceptions are for residents, people who work there or assist vulnerable people, people with no other way to their home or work, and authorised events (art. 68.º n.º 2), plus rescue and security forces (n.º 4). None of them is the rider passing through. Breaking it is a serious offence (art. 72.º n.º 1 z) and n.º 2 b)).

The SGIFR has no fixed «critical period»: Decreto-Lei 124/2006 had one and has been repealed. It depends on the day's risk.

Separately, in a situação de alerta declared by the Government (Lei 27/2006, Civil Protection Framework Law), forest areas defined in the PMDFCI close «bem como nos caminhos florestais, caminhos rurais e outras vias que os atravessem». Example: Despacho 8400-B/2026 of 2 July, for the whole mainland from 3 to 6 July 2026 (n.º 2 a)).

Check the day's risk by concelho on the IPMA page before you go, and situações de alerta in the Diário da República and with the ANEPC. The IPMA warns that a declared situação de alerta overrides the risk classes.

Madeira: permit for the forest area

The mainland rule does not apply here. Riding a vehicle of any kind in the espaço de natureza florestal needs prior authorisation (Decreto Legislativo Regional 35/2008/M, art. 4.º n.º 1 b)), except where a sign allows it (n.º 4) and on Código da Estrada roads (n.º 6).

The IFCN issues a permit to ride off-road on the forest caminhos it manages and shows on its map; it is requested at simplifica.madeira.gov.pt.

All vehicles are banned on classified percursos pedestres: trilhos, veredas, levadas and caminhos reais (DLR 24/2022/M, art. 13.º n.º 1 c)). And in the Natural Park's zonas de repouso e silêncio (Fanal, Rabaçal, Pico Ruivo and Queimadas) motor vehicles are not allowed except service vehicles (Decreto Regional 14/82/M, arts. 3.º E) and 4.º).

The Park's management plans (Maciço Montanhoso Central and Laurissilva) make traffic of any vehicle outside Código da Estrada roads subject to a binding opinion (art. 11.º n.º 1 p)).

Azores: existing tracks

No regional rule we have read closes existing tracks to a touring motorcycle, including inside the island natural parks. The SGIFR wildfire regime does not apply in the Azores.

There are rules on motocross and motorised sport. Motocross and off-road raids are banned at Ponta da Ferraria and Ponta da Bretanha (DLR 19/2008/A, arts. 13.º and 34.º), and motorised sport activities at the Ilhéu de Vila Franca and the Lagoa do Congro (arts. 15.º and 25.º). Off the public road network they need a prior opinion at Lagoa do Fogo, Tronqueira and Graminhais, and Sete Cidades (arts. 8.º, 17.º and 27.º).

In general, where the municipal plan has no rules of its own, events with more than 100 participants need an opinion from the environmental authority (DLR 15/2012/A, art. 21.º n.º 3 i)).

At the Lagoa das Furnas, riding a motor vehicle off the existing roads and tracks is banned in the restricted-use, leisure, recreation and heritage areas (POBHLF Regulation, DRR 5/2019/A, arts. 20.º, 21.º, 22.º and 25.º).

What is not clear

We could not determine which tracks count as «áreas florestais públicas ou comunitárias» within the priority prevention areas, nor read the extension of the July 2026 situação de alerta (Despacho 8548-C/2026). We have not read the plans of each protected area, nor those of the natural parks of Pico, Faial, Terceira, Graciosa and the other Azores islands.

In Madeira we do not know the conditions or duration of the IFCN permit for non-residents, or whether it covers a motorcycle: its page speaks of «veículos todo-o-terreno, buggys e motos 4» without saying motociclo. We also have not found the regional wildfire regime.

Until it is clear: public roads and caminhos, respect signs and barriers, check the IPMA risk, and if you cross a protected area, read its plan at icnf.pt.

How Corally applies it

  • Corally does not calculate routes in Portugal yet: we are getting it ready and there is no date.
  • Meanwhile, this page is only a guide to the rules.

Frequently asked questions

Can you ride dirt tracks in Portugal?
On the mainland, yes: there is no general ban on public caminhos (Código da Estrada, arts. 1.º, 2.º and 3.º n.º 1). A sign, a barrier, a protected area's plan or a wildfire warning rules.
Is there a wildfire season with tracks closed?
There is no fixed period in the SGIFR. It depends on the day's risk by concelho: at muito elevado or máximo, public or community forest areas, including their road network, are restricted in priority areas (Decreto-Lei 82/2021, art. 68.º n.º 1 c)), and a situação de alerta closes forest areas and their roads.
Where do I check wildfire risk?
On the IPMA page, by concelho: ipma.pt/pt/riscoincendio/rcm.pt. Situações de alerta are in the Diário da República and with the ANEPC.
And Peneda-Gerês or Montesinho?
Each protected area has its own management plan with its own rules (RJCNB, arts. 14.º n.º 3 d) and 23.º n.º 3). Read it at icnf.pt before you go in.
Can I ride the mountains in Madeira?
Only on roads, or on the forest caminhos on the IFCN map with its permit (DLR 35/2008/M, art. 4.º). Levadas, veredas and trilhos are banned to vehicles (DLR 24/2022/M, art. 13.º n.º 1 c)).
And in the Azores?
On existing roads and tracks, staying on them. There are specific rules for motocross and motorised sport (DLR 19/2008/A), and at the Furnas you stay on the tracks (DRR 5/2019/A).

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.