ATV Trails, Routes, and Signs

ATV Route Sign

A route is defined as a highway or sidewalk designated for use by ATV operators by the governmental agency having jurisdiction.

ATV routes must be designated by ordinance and filed with the Department of Natural Resources.
Unless specifically prohibited by local regulations and signs, UTVs are allowed to operate on all designated ATV routes.

ATV trails are off-road corridors designed for ATV travel.
An ATV trail is identified by small brown signs with the white silhouette of an ATV along with orange blazer (diamond) signs. Be careful because snowmobile trails also use the orange blazer to mark the pathway of a trail. If the brown-and-white ATV sign is not present, you are not allowed to ride an ATV on that trail. A trail is not the same as a route and generally will never be on a road or in a ditch. Typically, a trail will involve a road only when you cross the road at marked intersections.
Some trails may be designated as multiple-use trails. On these trails, you could encounter other traffic such as horses, motorcycles, other ATVs, and bicycles.
Trail and route signs are standardized across Wisconsin. When a county, city, town, or village creates an ATV route, ATV route signs must be erected, along with directional arrow(s) at the beginning of the route and at locations and intervals necessary to enable ATV operators to follow the route.