Using Courteous Trail Etiquette

• Ride only where permitted.
• Be considerate of others on the trail, and keep to the right.
• Always yield to uphill traffic. Such riders may have trouble starting after stopping.
• Announce your intention before passing.
• Slow down when someone is passing you.
• If you meet bikers, horses, and hikers coming from the opposite direction, slow down, pull over, and yield the right-of-way.
• If you stop to talk to other trail users, be courteous and remove your helmet. A helmet masks your features and can be intimidating.
• Be safe and considerate when you stop along the trail. Never stop side-by-side, in the middle of the trail, at the crest of a hill, or around a corner on the trail. Also never block an intersection. Remember to shut off your engine.
• Leave gates as you find them.
• Report downed trees and trail maintenance needs to land managers.
• Report illegal riding.
• Carry out what you carry in.

Encountering Horses on the Trail

• Approach slowly, pull over, turn off the engine, and remove your helmet.
• Avoid sudden movements.
• Wait until the horses have passed, and then ease back onto the trail.

Avoid Riding Below the OHWM

• The Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) is a stain on rocks and trees along the shoreline of a waterway, defining where the highest water level usually is.
• Areas below the OHWM, such as exposed shorelines and lake beds, are very important to ecosystems.
• Because vehicles can easily damage these vulnerable areas, you should never operate below the OHWM.

Reduce the Spread of Noxious Weeds

Weed seeds lodge in tires and caked-on mud. To prevent the spread of weeds, wash your OHV after every ride.