Which Ground a Visitor Permit Opens to You

A North Dakota visitor permit can be easy to misread: it covers access to public trails and lands, but it does not make every public parcel or road open to riding. The practical question is where your machine may legally go after you buy the permit. Here’s how to understand the permit’s scope, check a destination, and avoid confusing access paperwork with permission to ride anywhere.

What the visitor permit does and does not cover

North Dakota requires owners of out-of-state registered OHVs to buy a non-resident public trails and lands access permit, according to the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. The permit is for the machine’s access to eligible public riding areas; it is not a pass that opens every piece of public ground to motorized use.

The distinction matters because land ownership and riding access are not the same thing. A place can be publicly owned without allowing OHVs across all of it. Riding is limited to routes or areas where motorized use is allowed, and conditions can change because of closures, land-management rules, or local restrictions. Treat the permit as one requirement for riding, not as a replacement for checking whether your chosen route is open.

According to the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department, the non-resident permit costs $10 per year as of November 2026 and is valid from January 1 through December 31. That calendar-year period is separate from North Dakota resident registration, which is handled through the North Dakota Department of Transportation. North Dakota Parks and Recreation says residents operating OHVs on public lands and trails need registration, and that a resident OHV registration costs $20 and covers a two-year period paid and expiring on even-numbered years.

If you are visiting with an out-of-state-registered ATV, UTV, or dirt bike, the relevant requirement is the non-resident permit. Don’t assume that a home-state registration sticker alone substitutes for it. For details about the application and what information a resident needs to register a machine, see North Dakota’s Non-Resident OHV Permit, North Dakota Has No Reciprocity With Any State, and North Dakota Permit for a Visiting Machine.

Question	What the visitor permit means
Does it allow access to public OHV trails and lands?	It is the required access permit for an out-of-state-registered OHV, but you still need to use an area or route open to motorized riding.
Does it open every public parcel?	No. Public ownership alone does not establish that riding is allowed there.
Does it grant access to private land?	No. The permit is for public trails and lands, not private-property permission.
Does it make every road legal for OHV use?	No. Road and right-of-way rules still apply, and a permit does not make a closed roadway or roadside area legal to ride.
When is the permit valid?	North Dakota Parks and Recreation says non-resident permits run from January 1 through December 31.

A useful way to plan is to name the actual riding area, trail, or road route you intend to use, then verify that OHVs are allowed there. “Public land nearby” is too broad to be a reliable access plan. The permit does not decide whether an individual route is open, nor does it override operating rules that apply to the machine or rider.

Where a visitor can use the permit

The permit is relevant at North Dakota public riding destinations where OHV use is allowed, but individual sites differ in layout and permitted use. A named trail system is a more useful starting point than a general map pin. North Dakota Parks and Recreation provides trail information through the OuterSpatial App, and recommends checking the specific destination rather than treating the permit as universal entry to all public land.

Examples of public riding areas include Pembina Gorge, Roughrider OHV Trail, Turtle Mountain State Recreation Area, and Kimball Bottoms Recreation Area, also known as The Desert. Their routes and riding environments are not interchangeable:

• Pembina Gorge has over 16 miles of trails designed for both non-motorized and motorized traffic, according to the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. Check the area’s current route information before assuming a particular segment is open to your machine.
• The Roughrider OHV Trail is 22 miles long, according to the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. A trail’s length does not mean every adjoining road or parcel is part of the riding route.
• Turtle Mountain State Recreation Area has a 10-mile trail, according to the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. The wider Turtle Mountain area includes more than one trail experience, so identify the specific trailhead and route you plan to use.
• Kimball Bottoms Recreation Area, called The Desert, is a 400-acre motorized recreation area managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, according to the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. Its status as a designated recreation area is different from an assumption that any nearby Corps-managed ground is open to riding.
• The grassland managed by the U.S. Forest Service has over 1,000 miles of country roads to explore, according to the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. These are roads, not an invitation to ride cross-country wherever the landscape looks passable.

Use the permit alongside site-specific rules. A riding area may have a mapped trail network, access points, designated parking, or restrictions on which kinds of machines can use a route. A UTV’s width, for example, can matter even when the operator has the required permit. Before setting out, confirm that the route suits your machine, and check the relevant pages on North Dakota OHV Trails: All Four Riding Areas and North Dakota Trails That Allow Side-by-Sides.

A permit also does not replace checking current trail conditions. North Dakota Parks and Recreation evaluates trail closures at Pembina Gorge State Park, Roughrider OHV Trail, and Turtle Mountain State Recreation Area every 24 hours. That evaluation matters after weather or other changing conditions; an area that was open on an earlier visit may not be open when you arrive. Check the latest status before loading up, especially if rain has affected the route. North Dakota Trail Closures After Rain offers a useful related overview.

How to check a destination before you ride

A reliable check combines the permit requirement with the route’s current access rules. Before traveling, work through these steps:

1. Identify the machine and its registration status. Confirm that it is registered in another state and that you are dealing with an OHV covered by North Dakota’s visitor-permit requirement. North Dakota Parks and Recreation says all riders must be properly registered or permitted to ride legally.
2. Buy the correct permit for the visit. The non-resident public trails and lands access permit applies to out-of-state-registered OHVs. North Dakota Parks and Recreation says it is valid from January 1 through December 31, so check that the permit covers your intended riding dates.
3. Choose a named riding area or route. Look for a designated trail, public recreation area, or specific road route, not just a broad label such as “public land.” The OuterSpatial App carries North Dakota state park and recreation area trail information, according to the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department.
4. Check the route’s current status and machine restrictions. Look for closures, trail conditions, width restrictions, and local operating instructions. A permit does not lift a closure or change a route’s permitted vehicle class.
5. Confirm that the route is actually public and open to OHVs. If the land is private, public access permission is not supplied by a visitor permit. If the route crosses land managed by another entity, check that manager’s rules too.
6. Review rider and operating requirements. The permit does not waive age, safety, equipment, insurance, or roadway rules. Make sure the operator and passengers meet the requirements that apply to them.

This last step is especially important if any rider is under 18. North Dakota Parks and Recreation says riders and passengers under 18 must wear a DOT-approved helmet on any OHV, including dirt bikes, ATVs, and side-by-sides.

For youth ages 12 through 15 who do not have a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit, North Dakota Parks and Recreation requires safety certification to operate an OHV on allowed public lands. Certification is also required on land other than a parent’s, including designated trails and ditches. A visitor permit does not replace that training requirement. See North Dakota Safety Course Minimum Age and North Dakota Riders Under 16 Without a License for related details.

The state offers a hands-on safety course for free, according to the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. Participants must be at least 12 years old; a child who is 11 and turns 12 within six months of the class date may take the hands-on course but receives the certification card after turning 12. The course requires students to complete an introductory online e-course beforehand and bring their certificate number. North Dakota Parks and Recreation also says participants need over-the-toe shoes, long pants, a long-sleeve shirt, and their own eye protection. Sessions are held from May through August, and each in-person class is limited to eight participants.

If a rider uses the online course to complete the entire certification, North Dakota Parks and Recreation lists the fee as $34.95 as of November 2026. Check the department’s current course instructions before enrolling, since the in-person and online options have different steps.

Common access mistakes to avoid

Treating a permit as landowner permission

The permit concerns public trails and lands access. It does not authorize riding on private property, even when private land is next to a public trail or road. Do not cross a field, use an unmarked track, or cut through a parcel because it appears to connect two public routes. Confirm that your entire intended route is open and that you have permission wherever the route leaves public access.

Assuming all public ground allows motorized use

Public land can have areas set aside for other uses, closed routes, or access limited to designated trails and roads. The Desert is a named motorized recreation area, while the grassland example is described as country roads. Those distinctions are a reminder to follow the specific route information rather than interpreting “public” as “open to OHVs.” For more context on managed land, see North Dakota Riding on Corps of Engineers Land and Roads, Not Trails, on the Dakota Prairie Grasslands.

Confusing a trail permit with permission to ride on a road

A public trails and lands permit does not make roadway use automatically legal. North Dakota Parks and Recreation says roadway operation requires a motor with a minimum of 350 cubic centimeters. The department also says a licensed driver over 16 may operate a registered Class III OHV on a paved highway designated and posted at a speed not exceeding 65 miles per hour, provided the vehicle can attain at least 30 miles per hour. Those conditions are not a general authorization for every OHV to use every road.

The same department says OHV operation on the shoulder or inside slope of a highway right-of-way is illegal. For roadside riding, ditch access, and other route-specific rules, use North Dakota ATV Road Rules by Surface Type rather than relying on the visitor permit as a road-use rule.

Riding through a closure because the permit is current

A valid permit does not guarantee a trail is open on a particular day. North Dakota Parks and Recreation evaluates closures at Pembina Gorge State Park, Roughrider OHV Trail, and Turtle Mountain State Recreation Area every 24 hours. Check the latest information before departure and again if conditions change during your trip. If the route is closed, do not use a side track as a workaround unless the official route information specifically permits it.

Forgetting that paperwork is only one part of preparation

Before a ride, make sure you can show that the machine is properly registered or permitted, and confirm that operators meet safety requirements. Operators must be able to provide proof of liability insurance coverage, according to the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. Riders under 18 need the required DOT-approved helmet, and youth certification rules apply even when a visitor permit is in order.

If you need to buy or replace protective equipment, focus on fit and the required safety marking rather than choosing by appearance. For example, a rider shopping for eye protection may compare local powersports options with listings on Amazon, but should verify that the equipment fits securely and is suitable for riding.

The practical rule is simple: carry the required visitor permit, but plan around the destination’s actual open routes. Check the land manager’s information, current closure status, machine restrictions, and rider requirements before you unload. That approach makes clear what the permit provides—and where you still need separate authorization or a different route.

Sources

• North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department — OHV Permits & Registration | ND Parks and Recreation – Business and Grants (checked November 3, 2026)
• North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department — OHV Safety | ND Parks and Recreation – Business and Grants (checked November 3, 2026)
• North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department — Motorized Safety | North Dakota Parks and Recreation (checked November 3, 2026)
• North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department — Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV) | ND Parks and Recreation – Business and Grants (checked November 3, 2026)
• North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department — OHV Trails | ND Parks and Recreation – Business and Grants (checked November 3, 2026)
• North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department — Snowmobile Permits & Registration | ND Parks and Recreation – Business and Grants (checked November 3, 2026)
• North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department — Snowmobile Safety | ND Parks and Recreation – Business and Grants (checked November 3, 2026)
• North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department — Snowmobile Trails | ND Parks and Recreation – Business and Grants (checked November 3, 2026)
• North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department — 04-2022%20OHV%20Brochure%20WEB.pdf (checked November 3, 2026)
• North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department — OHV%20Summary%20Document.pdf (checked November 3, 2026)

Disclaimer

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.