Rider Briefing
What To Know
Dirt Bike Edition.
Everything you need before you drop the gate — permits, maps, trail etiquette, and how to handle the wildlife that calls southwest Montana home.
Permits
All 2 Down off-road dirt bikes and ATVs have permanent Montana registration stickers and current Trail Pass stickers, allowing full use of off-road trails in Montana.
If the bike does not have a metal license plate, it is not street legal and not allowed on highways or streets. Forest Service roads are OK, and some cities allow off-road vehicles.
If you plan to ride into Idaho, you must purchase an
Idaho Non-Resident OHV Sticker.
getoutside.idaho.gov/permits
Seasonal Closures
Montana roads and trails are subject to seasonal dates. Most open on or before 16 June, but some near Big Sky and further back country do not open until 16 July. Watch for signs, but also use a map from a local Forest Service office, or an app.
Mapping / Where To Go
Both OnX Offroad and Avenza Maps provide good mapping on your phone, showing your current location on the map. Rever is great for tracking your ride or following a submitted ride — but it does not have trail or road restriction info.
OnX Offroad
Easy to use, with a free 7-day trial. Remember to save offline maps — there's a lot of Montana where cell service is non-existent.
Get OnX OffroadAvenza Maps
Has a number of free Forest Service maps showing trails and roads, along with richer paid maps. The maps are stored on your device and are yours so long as you have the app.
Popular Free Maps For This Area
Finding the map you want in Avenza's store can be a challenge, so here are direct links.
Moderate trails near Battle Ridge and lots of Forest Service roads.
Get the mapMost popular local riding spot, with a large number of trails for all abilities.
Get the mapLots of Forest Service roads and multi-use trails. The higher locations require more skill to reach. Little Bear, Spire Rock, and Buck Ridge are common starting points.
Get the mapSingle-track trails, 50-inch trails, and roads. North Meadow Creek or Harrison / Pony are access points.
Get the mapTrail Courtesy
Stay in control. Keep right. Close any gate you open. Pick up trash. Be nice, help when needed.
“Wheels yield to heels, and everyone yields to hooves.” As a motorized user, you must always yield to non-motorized trail users.
Encountering Horses (Highest Priority)
- Pull over & stop: Pull to the downhill side of the trail.
- Kill the engine: Shut your motor off immediately.
- Remove your helmet & speak: Take off your helmet and greet the rider in a calm voice so the horse recognizes you as a human.
- Wait for the rider's cue: Do not move until the equestrian tells you it is safe to pass.
Encountering Hikers & Mountain Bikers
- Slow down: Drop to a crawl and pull over to let them pass.
- Yield uphill: Downhill traffic always yields to anyone traveling uphill.
- Control your dust: Do not throttle out near others. Roosting rocks and kicking up dust clouds ruins their experience and threatens future trail access.
Environmental Essentials
Stay on designated trails. Never cut switchbacks or ride around mud puddles — this destroys vegetation and widens the trails.
Other Motorized Users
When encountering other dirt bikes, ATVs, or side-by-sides on the trail, the rules of the road change slightly.
- Uphill riders have the right-of-way. If you are traveling downhill, you must pull over to a safe spot and stop to let the uphill rider pass. It is much harder for a machine to lose and regain momentum or traction while climbing.
- The “finger signal” group count. When passing an oncoming rider, the lead rider of a group uses their left hand to signal how many riders are behind them. If you have 3 riders behind you, hold up 3 fingers. The next rider holds up 2, the next holds up 1. The last rider holds up a closed fist (zero), signaling the trail is clear.
- Passing from behind (overtaking). Be patient — give the slower rider ahead of you room. Do not tailgate, “buzz” them, or aggressively rev your engine. Signal your intention and wait for a wide, clear section of trail; the rider ahead should pull over and wave you by when it is safe. Pass cleanly at a reasonable speed, and do not “roost” them with a heavy throttle bump that showers them in rocks and dust.
- Slower riders and groups should find a safe place to pull over and allow those overtaking them to pass. Everyone has their speed comfort zone.
- Trail positioning & stopping. Ride right — treat the trail like a road and stay to the right side, especially around blind corners and hills. Never stop on the trail: if you need to take a break, check your phone, or wait for friends, pull your machine completely off the trail. Never park on a blind corner or just over the crest of a hill.
Wildlife
General Wildlife Rules
- Never chase or harass. Chasing livestock or wildlife on an OHV is strictly illegal in Montana.
- Keep your distance: Always view animals from afar. Give them space to flee, as most will.
- Slow down at blind spots: Drop your speed around dense brush, waterways, and blind corners where wildlife might be resting or feeding.
Specifically For Bears (Black & Grizzly)
Keep a can of bear spray on your body — chest harness or hip holster — not packed away in your machine's luggage. You need to be able to pull it in two seconds.
If you see a bear on the trail:
- Stop: Do not try to drive past it or corner it. Give it space.
- Kill the engine: Sudden mechanical roars can provoke a defensive charge.
- Assess & back off: Wait quietly to see if the bear moves off. If it doesn't, slowly back your machine away to create a safe distance. Never approach it.
- Ride in daylight: Avoid riding at dawn, dusk, or night when bears are most active and visibility is low.
- Secure your food: If you pull over for a snack, never leave food or garbage unattended on your machine. Keep all attractants on your person or sealed in certified bear-resistant containers.