Are Motorcycles Allowed in National Parks in the United States?

Motorcycle trips in American national parks can make for a breath-taking experience, but are motorcycles allowed in national parks? Luckily, the answer is yes.

American national parks were established to preserve beautiful landscapes, indigenous wildlife, flora and fauna while promoting tourism.

This article discusses the most popular American national parks where motorcycles are allowed to enter.

America’s national parks are ideal for motorcycle trips for the following reasons:

• Motorcyclists get to ride on scenic roads while heading to national parks.
• They can plan visits to scenic landscapes, noteworthy tourist attractions, and recreation areas near the national park they intend to visit.
• Most national parks offer basic amenities like potable water, electricity, vault washrooms, restaurants, and safe parking areas for motorcycles.
• Motorcyclists can turn their adventure ride into a camping trip.
• Motorcyclists can engage in other recreational activities, including hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, nature walks, rock climbing, fishing, hunting, equestrianism, wildlife watching, boating, kayaking, snorkeling, and other water sports.

Here is a list of national parks throughout the United States that allow motorcycles. In national parks, motorcycles are limited to paved roads, select gravel roads, and off-road trails. Motorcycles are not allowed on grassy areas, unpaved roads, and fern-covered dirt trails in accordance with the“leave no trace” rule.

Motorcycle touring is only allowed on the 92.5-mile paved Denali Park Road and managed campgrounds. However, the first 25 miles of Denali Park Road are closed to motorcycle riding from May to September due to landslides.

Going-to-the-Sun is the only paved road that cuts through Glacier National Park. Motorcycles are allowed in the park, but there are no paved roads which can make riding challenging.

Motorcycles are allowed on Wrangell St. Elias National Park’s paved roads but not its trails.The trails are only accessible to off-road vehicles weighing less than 1,500 lbs.

In Petrified Forest National Park, riders can ride on paved roads and park their vehicles in designated areas. Riding on trails is not allowed.

In Grand Canyon National Park, motorcycles are only allowed on paved roads. Shoreline Access Areas and Orange Cliffs’ unpaved roads are open to street-legal motorcycles and off-road vehicles.

In Saguaro Forest National Park, motorcycles are allowed on the paved roads but cannot travel into the forest. Riders can travel on the Cactus Forest Drive Loop or the Bajada Loop Drive.

In Organ Pipe Cactus National Park, motorcycles and street legal all-terrain vehicles are allowed on park roads but not on trails.

Since Death Valley National Park has no designated off-road trails for motorcycles, riding is restricted to paved roads only.

Although motorcycle riding is not allowed on Joshua Tree National Park’s dirt trails, this national park is considered motorcycle-friendly as it possesses 80,000 acres of vistas that can be accessed via paved motorcycle roads.

Kings Canyon National Park features narrow, steep, and slippery roads; therefore, motorcycle riding is restricted to paved roads only.

Yosemite National Park has a well-developed infrastructure as most of its roads are paved. Restrictions are imposed only on vehicles longer than 45 feet and taller than 9 feet. Motorcycles are allowed on the following roads:

• El Portal Road
• Wawona Road
• Big Oak Flat Road
• Mariposa Road
• Hetch Hetchy Road
• Tioga Road
• Glacier Point Road

At Sequoia National Park, registered motorcycles are allowed on paved roads, designated campgrounds, and public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

In Redwood National Forest, you are allowed to ride a motorcycle on paved and unpaved roads. Riders can get off the paved road and head into the dense forest via the partially unpaved Howland Hill Road.

Other motorcycle-friendly routes in the Redwood National Forest include the Chandelier Tree and Avenue of the Giants.

In Lassen Volcanic National Park, motorcycles are not allowed in the wilderness region. Riding a motorcycle is restricted to paved roads only.

At Rock Mountain National Park, motorcycle riding is restricted to designated paved roads. Riding motorcycles on trails and unpaved roads is prohibited.

Everglades National Park allows motorcyclists to ride through the alligator-inhabited wetlands. Since most of the national park is covered with freshwater reservoirs, riders can only see a small fraction of the park.

Besides the paved roads around Haleakala National Park, motorcycles are also allowed in the Summit and Kipahulu areas.

Mammoth Cave National Park is the only motorcycle-friendly national park in Kentucky. Motorcycles are allowed on paved roads and designated parking roads only.

The Great Basin National Park is accessible to motorcyclists via the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. Aside from this route, motorcycles loaded with luggage are allowed on the paved roads inside the national park.

In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, motorcycles are allowed on paved and gravel roads. The most popular unpaved road is the Cades Cove Loop. Keep in mind that fatal accidents have occurred in Great Smoky Mountains National Park due to severe weather conditions, animals crossing the road, snow and sleet, and rocks and logs blocking gravel roads. Riders are advised to ride at slow speeds to ensure safe touring.

Visitors need to buy an entrance pass to ride motorcycles in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Visitors can ride motorcycles on paved and designated unpaved roads. Scenic drives are closed for motorcycles between October and March due to snow.

Visitors can ride their motorcycles on the paved roads in the Crater Lake National Park if they have an entrance pass. Motorcycles are allowed on all paved roads; however, motorcycle riding may be banned during the winter due to heavy snowfall.

The Badlands National Park has three entry points that eventually join with Highway 240. Collectively, these roads are called the Badlands Loop Road. Motorcycles are allowed on this paved road, able to take in the breathtaking scenic views of the national park.

If you want to ride an unpaved road on the Badlands National Highway, take the Sage Creek Rim Road off the Badlands Loop Road near the Pinnacle Entrance.

Motorcycles are restricted to paved roads in Wind Cave National Park. Hiking is the only way to explore the caves, wildlife, and scenic campgrounds.

From Wind Cave, riders can ride across the 225-foot-long Beaver Creek Bridge to reach Custer State Park. Riders can ride the 40-mile Custer State Park Loop if they want to enjoy scenic views of granite towers, mountain peaks, and wildlife.

In Big Bend National Park, motorcycles are allowed on public roads around the park but not on park trails.

In Guadalupe National Park, motorcycles are allowed on park roads and designated trails.

In Arches National Park, motorcycles are allowed on paved roads but not dirt trails. Trails and unpaved roads are off-limits for motorcycles.

In Zion National Park, motorcycles are allowed on paved park roads but not dirt trails. Dirt bikes and other off-road vehicles are not allowed.

In Canyonlands National Park, motorcycles are allowed on paved roads and the following unpaved roads:

• White Rim Road
• Elephant Hill Trail
• Salt Creek/Horse Canyon - (Upward motorcycle ride in Salt Creek Canyon is not allowed)
• Lavender Canyon

In Bryce Canyon National Park, motorcycles suited for highways are allowed on paved roads. During busy seasons, the authorities restrict motorcycles to prevent traffic congestion. Besides riding on paved roads, riders can explore the canyon area of Moab and the ravines, mountains, and mesas of the Colorado Plateau.

Motorcycles are allowed on the 105-mile paved road that passes through the Shenandoah National Park. This road begins from the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains, passes through Front Royal, and ends at Rockfish Gap.

In Mount Rainier National Park, motorcycles are allowed on paved roads but not on trails and unpaved roads.

Motorcycle use is restricted to paved roads in North Cascades National Park. Off-roading is not allowed.

In Olympic National Park, motorcycle use is allowed on paved roads only. The Department of Natural Resources allows motorcycling on paved and off-road trails on managed forest territory near Olympic National Park. Visitors can ride registered motorcycles or dirt bikes on these designated trails:

• The Green Mountain and Tahuya State Forest in the Eastern Olympic Peninsula have 16 miles of off-road trails for motorcycle riding.
• The Capital State Forest of the Southeastern Olympic Peninsula has a motorized trail system for dirt bikes accessible from the campground known as Middle Waddell.
• The Sadie Creek Multi-Use Trails & Campground, Sadie Creek 4x4 Trail, and the Foothills ORV Trail System in the Northern Olympic Peninsula are open to motorcycles and off-road vehicles.

Yellowstone National Park allows motorcycles on paved roads around the park and scenic routes within the park, including:

• Upper Loop featuring Norris Geyser Basin, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Tower Falls.
• Lower Loop featuring Yellowstone Lake and the Old Faithful

Motorcycles are only allowed on paved roads passing through Grand Teton National Park.

Whether you ride on paved roads or trails in national parks, make sure you follow road laws to ensure safe and responsible touring. Excess noise, large groups, irresponsible waste disposal, and building campfires in prohibited areas can ruin the natural beauty of the national park and have a negative impact on wildlife.

• Never exceed the speed limit as it increases the chances of running into an animal.
• Try to travel in a small group.
• Do not rev the engine unnecessarily as it emits harmful emission gases.
• Do not leave your engine idle. Turn it off when stopped to prevent air pollution.
• Try to use the horn as little as possible.
• Do not play loud music or increase the radio’s volume as it might disturb or scare nearby wildlife.
• Ride slowly.
• Maintain a safe distance from animals when spotted.
• Do not feed anything to the wildlife.

For some national parks, the National Park Service does not allow motorcycles or motorized vehicles onto paved roads and dirt trails.

American national parks offer ample opportunities for motorcycle camping, riding, and recreation. However, riding in the national parks is restricted to designated roads only. If you plan to ride across the national park, check for the riding rules, permits, and trails before visiting.

Moreover, responsible riding will keep these national parks and the indigenous wildlife protected, allowing you and other motorcyclists to experience the beauty and benefits offered by these parks for a long time.