Off-roading / Where you can ride
Texas is about 95% private, so there isn't much public land to ride - and most serious off-roading happens at private parks with a day fee. Here are the main public venues, the national forest trail, and the best-known private parks. The list below is a starting point, not the full list.
On the TPWD Ride Texas list. The Texas OHV decal is required at these.
Public OHV area
Gilmer · Upshur County
ATVs, motorcycles, side-by-sides, and full-size 4x4s; camping and cabins
One of the biggest public riding areas in the state (run by a non-profit).
Decal: Texas OHV decal required
More info ->Public OHV area
Bridgeport · Wise County
All OHV types; good for beginners
Decal: Texas OHV decal required
More info ->Public OHV area
Trophy Club · Denton County
ATVs and motorcycles only (no side-by-sides); beginner-friendly
Decal: Texas OHV decal required
More info ->Federal land
East Texas · Multiple counties
About 85 miles of multi-use motorized trail for ATVs and motorcycles
Ride only on roads and trails on the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). Only street-legal vehicles on the forest roads themselves. No cross-country riding.
Decal: Follow USFS rules
More info ->Federal land
Texas/Oklahoma border · Clay, Wichita & Wilbarger Counties
Federal Bureau of Land Management land along the river
Decal: Check current access
More info ->Where most people ride. They charge a day or annual fee and have their own rules and waivers. Other well-known spots include Katemcy Rocks (rock crawling near Mason) and sandy Canadian River riding in the Panhandle.
Private park
near Marble Falls · Burnet County
About 2,100 acres and hundreds of miles of trails for 4x4s, ATVs, UTVs, and dirt bikes; camping on-site
The state's best-known off-road destination.
Decal: Private park - day fees about $30 adult / $15 minor (under 6 free); decal may or may not be required, so call ahead
More info ->Most Texas state parks do NOT allow OHV recreation - you can't take your ATV or side-by-side trail riding in a typical state park. Eisenhower State Park near Denison historically had a small OHV trail area (the Ironweed Trail), but its OHV trails appear to be closed as of 2026. Always check a specific park's current rules, and call before you drive out.
National parks prohibit OHVs. Big Bend National Park, for example, does not allow ATVs, UTVs, golf carts, sand rails, or any non-street-legal vehicle, even on its backcountry roads - those require a fully street-legal, registered vehicle. The Texas OHV plate does not meet that standard.
On your own private property, you don't need the state OHV decal, a safety certificate, or the public-land safety-gear rules. (TPWD still recommends a helmet and eye protection - it's just smart.)
If you hunt
If you hunt, here's how the two rule sets fit together:
Official sources
The venue list comes from TPWD's Ride Texas; national forest trails from the U.S. Forest Service; park bans from the National Park Service and TPWD. The list changes - call ahead.
Caution: Venues open and close, and whether a private park needs the decal depends on grant funding. The official pages are the final word - call the venue before you go.
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