Permits for an Organized Trail Ride
An organized trail ride can look like one group activity, but Michigan’s permit rules still apply to individual riders. The key distinction is whether the ride needs a separate event permit and whether each participant has the credentials required for the route. Here’s how to plan a group ride without confusing event authorization with personal ORV licenses and trail permits.
Does an organized trail ride need its own permit?
Michigan law draws an important line between an organized group recreational ride and the permits individual riders need. According to the Michigan Legislature, the department cannot require a permit merely because people are riding together for organized recreational ORV use on department lands. That does not automatically waive participants’ regular ORV license or trail permit requirements.
In practical terms, a club ride on department land is not, by itself, a reason to assume every participant needs a special group permit. But that rule is not a blanket authorization for every organized event. A ride that uses a reserved facility, includes a competition, involves commercial guiding, needs special access or services, or takes place on land managed by someone other than the department may have separate requirements. Check with the land manager before advertising the ride or collecting fees.
This is especially important when the route combines different types of land or riding areas. A trail may be on department land while a staging area, campground, private connector, or event venue is managed separately. Permission or facility rules for one part of the route do not necessarily cover the rest.
If your event includes activities beyond a recreational group ride, check the details of Michigan Special Use Permits for ORV Events. Clubs arranging recurring rides may also find ORV Permits for Clubs and Group Rides useful, but do not assume that a club’s arrangements replace the requirements that apply to each machine.
The participant’s permit is separate from the group’s event status
The group-level question is whether the ride itself needs special authorization. The individual-level question is whether each rider has the required credentials for the place they plan to ride.
According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, a Michigan ORV license costs $26.25, and riding on state-designated ORV trails requires an additional $10.00 trail permit. Together, those permits cost $36.25. The DNR says annual licenses and trail permits expire on March 31 of the following year, regardless of the purchase date. These figures are as of October 2026; check the DNR for current amounts and rules before the ride.
Do not treat a group registration form, club membership, event wristband, or ride waiver as a substitute for an individual ORV license or trail permit. A useful planning resource is Do You Need Both a License and a Trail Permit in Michigan?, which focuses on how the two credentials differ.
| What you are checking | What it answers | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Group or event authorization | Whether the organized activity itself needs separate approval | Ask the land manager, especially if the ride includes a reserved facility, competition, commercial activity, or special access |
| ORV license | Whether the individual machine has the required state license | Confirm the license is valid for the ride date |
| Trail permit | Whether the rider has the extra permit required for state-designated ORV trails | Check that the planned route includes the trail type covered by the permit |
| Land access | Whether the group may use the route and staging area | Confirm access with the manager of each area, including any private or separately managed property |
The table is a planning aid, not a ruling on every kind of event. When the answer depends on where the group will stage, camp, ride, or gather, ask the relevant land manager rather than relying on the general group-riding rule alone.
What each participant should bring and verify
Before setting a meeting point, give riders a clear list of what they must confirm for themselves. This reduces last-minute problems and helps the organizer avoid making a permit promise that may not apply to every machine or route.
Confirm the route before checking the permit
Start with the exact riding area and route, not just a town or trailhead name. Michigan has motorcycle-only trails maintained at a 24-inch width, trails maintained at a 50-inch width, and ORV routes maintained at a minimum 72-inch width, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Those categories matter when participants bring machines of different widths. A route that works for one rider’s machine may not be open to another.
Before the event, identify which portions are state-designated trails, routes, or roads, and verify that the planned machines are allowed on them. Michigan ORV Trail Widths Explained can help organizers think through width restrictions, while Michigan ORV Trail Maps and What the Signs Mean is useful for interpreting route information. Do not rely on an old map or an informal description from a previous ride; check current route information and posted restrictions.
State forest roads are generally open year-round to ORV use unless otherwise posted or seasonally closed, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. That does not mean every road, trail, or facility is open whenever the group arrives. The DNR can close state trails and facilities because of weather-related events and wet conditions. Check for closures close to the ride date and have a backup plan if the route is unavailable. For more on timing and closures, see Michigan ORV Trail Closures and Seasonal Dates.
Have riders check their individual credentials
Ask each participant to confirm that their ORV license and, when required for the route, trail permit are valid. A quick check before departure is more useful than trying to sort out permit questions at a trail entrance. Riders can review Where to Buy a Michigan ORV License if they still need to obtain a license, and Michigan ORV Permit Checks by Conservation Officers for what a field check may involve.
If the group includes young riders, plan around the age and supervision rules rather than treating them as an exception to the group’s normal checklist. According to the Department of Natural Resources, anyone under 16 needs a valid ORV safety certificate and direct visual supervision by an adult to operate an ATV on public lands; children under 10 cannot operate four-wheel ATVs on public lands. The DNR also requires youth under 16 to complete an approved ORV safety course and carry the certificate while operating an ORV on public lands.
Non-resident youth have a related requirement: according to the Michigan Legislature, non-resident operators aged 12 to 15 must present a Michigan ORV safety certificate or a comparable certificate issued under another state’s or a Canadian province’s authority. Organizers should ask visiting families to check their documents before the trip. Michigan ORV Safety Certificate Requirements and Safety Certificate Reciprocity for Michigan Riders cover those questions in more detail.
Check machine and passenger suitability
A group ride can include different machine types, but each rider needs a machine appropriate for both the route and the passengers. Under Michigan law, an ORV may not carry a passenger unless its manufacturing standards or design provide for transporting passengers, according to the Michigan Legislature. Do not assume that a passenger can ride simply because there is room on the seat or cargo area.
The group should also confirm that required safety equipment is present and usable. In general, Michigan requires ORV operators and passengers to wear a Department of Transportation-approved crash helmet and protective eyewear. Exceptions apply in certain circumstances, including riding in a UTV with an approved roof and properly fastened safety belts, according to the Michigan Legislature. The DNR also says seat belts are required for UTV occupants who want to use that helmet exception; some state-managed areas, including the Silver Lake ORV Area, require a seat belt for each occupant regardless.
If your ride includes road sections designated for ORV use, note that the rules may differ from off-road riding. The Michigan Legislature says adults do not need a driver’s license to operate an ATV on public roads designated for ORV use. For riders under 18, the rule requires either a valid driver’s license or direct supervision by a parent or guardian while the rider holds an ORV safety certificate. Confirm that your group’s route is legally open to ORVs before using any public road.
A practical organizer’s checklist
The organizer’s role is to make the plan clear and check the event’s land-use requirements. It is not to certify every participant’s compliance on their behalf. A short pre-ride process can prevent confusion about what the group permit rule does and does not cover.
- Define the ride. Write down the route, staging location, meeting point, planned activities, and the kind of machines expected. Say whether the ride is recreational or includes an organized competition, commercial service, or reserved facility.
- Ask the land manager about event requirements. Explain what the group will do and where. Ask whether the ride needs permission, a reservation, or any authorization beyond the ordinary rules for recreational group riding. If several land managers control parts of the trip, check with each one.
- Verify route access and closures. Confirm current trail status, machine-width limits, road access, and staging-area rules. Recheck before departure because wet conditions or weather can lead to closures.
- Send a participant checklist. Ask riders to verify their individual ORV license, any required trail permit, safety certificate if applicable, and machine eligibility. Explain that group participation does not substitute for these individual requirements.
- Plan for safety and changes. Share a meeting plan, route expectations, and a way to notify participants if the route changes. Identify a suitable alternative if a closure makes the intended ride unavailable.
For an event that will use a facility or include more than group recreational riding, get the land manager’s answer in writing when practical. A clear description of the activity helps avoid a misunderstanding about whether the group is simply riding together or arranging a separately regulated event.
Keep the rules in the ride briefing
A short briefing can cover the essentials without turning the event into a lecture. Remind riders to stay on the approved route, follow posted closures, use a machine suited to the trail width, and keep required documents available. Make clear that an organizer’s checklist is not a guarantee that every machine or rider meets every rule.
Equipment and operation rules matter even when the permit question is settled. Michigan law requires a United States Forest Service-approved spark arrester and a muffler in good working order and constant operation on ORVs operated on public lands, according to the Michigan Legislature. The same law limits exhaust noise to 94 dB(A) for vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1986, or 99 dB(A) for older models, when tested using the SAE J1287 stationary test procedure. These requirements are worth mentioning when participants bring modified machines.
Night riding needs advance attention too. The Michigan Legislature prohibits operating an ORV without a lighted headlight and taillight from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise. If the group might ride after dark, confirm that the route allows it and that machines have working lights.
Finally, keep alcohol out of the ride plan. Michigan’s legal blood alcohol concentration limit for operating an ATV classified as an ORV is 0.08 grams or more per 100 milliliters of blood, per 210 liters of breath, or per 67 milliliters of urine, according to the Michigan Legislature. The simplest way to avoid a risky judgment call is to make clear that anyone operating a machine must be sober.
Sources
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources — ORV FAQs – State of Michigan (checked October 28, 2026)
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources — Purchase permit, learn requirements – State of Michigan (checked October 28, 2026)
- Michigan Legislature — MCL – Section 324.81131 (checked October 28, 2026)
- Michigan Legislature — MCL Section 324.81133 (checked October 28, 2026)
- Michigan Legislature — MCL Section 324.81134 (checked October 28, 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.
