The Arizona Off-Highway Vehicle Program
How are OHV needs identified? - State Trails Plan
Public Advisory Groups
The Mission of Arizona State Parks' Off-Highway Recreation Program
How are the motorized funds spent?
Examples of eligible projects
Keys to the future of motorized recreation
Economic importance of OHV recreation to Arizona
How can I help keep OHV areas open?
What are the rules and laws concerning OHVs?
Where can I use my off-highway vehicle?
Where can I go for training?

The Arizona Off-Highway Vehicle Program
The State of Arizona has had a highly successful and effective off-highway vehicle (OHV) program since the early 1990s. The basic tenets center around close interagency coordination that includes active user group participation, sharing available resources, and providing enjoyable recreation opportunities while managing motorized vehicle impacts. The Arizona Off-Highway Vehicle Program was created in 1991 when the Arizona Legislature enacted Arizona Revised Statutes §28-1171 thru 1176. The legislation defined the parameters for off-highway vehicle use in Arizona and created an OHV Recreation Fund to be used to meet the needs of OHV recreation. The fund receives 0.55% of the state motor vehicle fuel tax revenue (approximately $2 million annually). The Arizona Game and Fish Department uses 30% of the yearly accumulation for information, education, and law enforcement activities. The remaining 70% is administered by the Arizona State Parks Board to meet the needs of land managers and recreational OHV users. However, the State Legislature reallocated the OHV Recreation Fund in FY 2003 and FY 2004 to non-OHV uses to help offset the State's budget deficit. State OHV programs managed by State Parks, Game and Fish Department and State Land Department have been severely curtailed by the loss of these funds. Fund allocations for future years are undecided.

The Arizona State Parks Board also administers funds from the federal government through the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). The portion of this RTP fund allocated for motorized recreation is approximately $400,000 annually and is awarded through a competitive grant process.
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How are OHV needs identified? - State Trails Plan
To maintain eligibility for RTP and State funds, the State is required to complete a trails plan to evaluate the extent of trail use and identify motorized and non-motorized trail needs across the state. Numerous open public workshops and meetings with land managers are scheduled to collect comments regarding trail use and needs. Statewide phone surveys are conducted and questionnaires are distributed. All of the comments and survey responses are compiled to produce the State Trails Plan. Arizona Trails 2000 was distributed in October 1999 containing the State Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Plan and the State Nonmotorized Trails Plan. The priority recommendations from this plan are used to allocate available trail funds and other resources. Research for the Arizona Trails 2005 Plan is currently being conducted, the plan will be finalized by November 2004. Click here to review the Arizona Trails 2000 Plan. top

Public Advisiory Groups
The Arizona State Parks Board has established two public advisory groups to provide input to the Parks Board on a continual basis regarding motorized and nonmotorized trail needs and fund expenditures. The Off-Highway Vehicle Advisory Group (OHVAG) and the Arizona State Committee on Trails (ASCOT) perform these functions by conducting several public meetings throughout the year. The two advisory groups also meet together annually to review achievements and recommend future funding allocations for the federal RTP monies. Interested citizens can apply annually for open positions on these committees. Click here for information on volunteering for a committee. top

The Mission of Arizona State Parks' Off-Highway Vehicle Program
"To develop and enhance statewide off-highway vehicle recreation opportunities, and develop education programs that promote resource protection, social responsibility and interagency cooperation."
Program Goals
• Guide outdoor recreationists and public land managers to make responsible choices in enhancing OHV recreation opportunities in Arizona.
• Enhance and preserve motorized recreation opportunities in our state and increase awareness on how to enjoy the land while minimizing or reversing adverse vehicle impacts.
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How are the motorized trail funds (state and federal monies) spent?
The State Parks Board conducts an annual competitive grant process to award motorized trail recreation monies to eligible applicants. Eligible applicants include cities, towns, counties, tribal governments, state and federal agencies, and non-profit organizations. Proposed projects are rated according to criteria developed to fund projects that meet the needs identified in the Arizona Trails Plan. Applicants are encouraged to partner with the user community in designing and developing their projects. The State Parks Board may also provide funds, when available, to land managing entities (such as the National Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and State Land Department) by entering into interagency agreements to accomplish the mission of the state program. State Parks, in partnership with land managing agencies and OHV user groups, also used a portion of the OHV Recreation Fund to launch a successful education outreach campaign. Due to the recent Legislative sweep of the state OHV funds, the Parks Board had to terminate OHV staff positions, and cancel the OHV partnership agreements and educational campaign. Click here for information on the facilities developed under the state grant program. Click here for information on the motorized trails grant program. top

Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:
Development, construction, enhancement and operation of off-highway vehicle recreation facilities, use areas and trails; mitigation of damages to land caused by vehicles; off-highway vehicle related environmental education; and law enforcement. OHV and snowmobile trailheads, restrooms, access improvements, signing, picnic and camping areas, route inventories, brochure production, and education programs are all examples of projects that have been funded through the OHV Program. The OHV Grant Program, funded with federal RTP monies, will continue to provide assistance to land managers and OHV organizations to provide quality OHV experiences to Arizona's outdoor enthusiasts. top

Keys to the future of motorized recreation are:
OHV recreation on our state's public lands has grown significantly during the last 30 years, outpacing Arizona's population growth. Arizona residents annually participate in an estimated 14 million user days of OHV related recreation. Demand is strong and the OHV program aims to meet the demand for environmentally sustainable OHV recreation both today and in the future. The Arizona OHV Program is dedicated to enhancing and preserving motorized recreation opportunities in our state. Through education, the program will increase awareness on how to enjoy the land while minimizing or reversing adverse vehicle impacts. The keys to the future of motorized recreation in Arizona are: 1) responsible use of off-highway vehicles, 2) respect for nature, public stewardship of the land, 3) consistent, coordinated interagency efforts among land management and regulatory agencies, and 4) OHV fund assistance to land managers. top

Economic Importance of OHV Recreation to Arizona
OHV recreation contributes $4.25 billion annually to Arizona's economy. More than half of this amount, $2.2 billion, comes through direct expenditures for motorized vehicles, tow trailers, related equipment, accessories, insurance and maintenance costs. An additional $842.3 million comes from recreational trip expenditures for food, gasoline, lodging and other items. Click here for more OHV economic impact information for Arizona and its 15 counties. top

How can I help keep OHV areas open?
1) Stay on trails and in areas open to OHV use. Respect the environment; respect private land.
2) Take your trash with you. Don't litter.
3) Respect others. Be extra cautious around hikers and horses. Pull off to the side, shut off your engine, and let them pass.
4) Keep your OHV quiet. Do not modify the stock OHV mufflers/exhaust system.
5) Get involved. Educate yourself on the proper use of public lands by talking to local land managers.

"NATURE RULES. STAY ON THE TRAILS."top

What are the rules and laws concerning OHVs?
(The 9.4 million acres of state trust land were granted to Arizona by the federal government when Arizona became a state. Managed by the State Land Department, state trust land must be used to generate revenue to fund public schools, universities and other state institutions. One must have a permit to be on state trust land.)

Public, State and Tribal Land in Arizona: 82.4% of total land baseFederal: 42.2 %--Primarily National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management, which are all part of the U.S. Department of the Interior; and the Forest Service, which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. State: 12.8%--State Land Department (State Parks and Game and Fish Department also manage a small percentage of state lands). The 9.4 million acres of State Trust land were granted to Arizona by the federal government when Arizona became a state. Managed by the State Land Department, State Trust land is not considered public land and must be used to generate revenue to fund public schools, universities and other state institutions. A recreation permit is required for any activity on State Trust land. Tribal: 27.4%--21 Indian Reservations, contact individual tribes before recreating on reservation lands; many require a permit. Private: 17.6%--Permission of the landowner is required to use privately owned lands.top

Where can I go for training
The ATV Rider Course is available nationwide from the ATV Safety Institute. If you bought your ATV after Dec. 30, 1986, you may be eligible for free training. Otherwise there may be a small fee. Call 1-800-447-4700. Some of the OHV organizations also provide training for different types of OHVs. top

Where can I use my off-highway vehicle?
Arizona has many opportunities for OHV recreation. Refer to the Arizona Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Guide for contact information and managed OHV sites. The local land managing agency will have the most current information for the area you wish to visit. Click here to refer to the Arizona Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Guide for contact information. top

Who can I contact for more information?
Arizona Public Lands Information Center (PLIC), 222 N. Central Avenue in Phoenix, is a great source of information with maps, brochures and other materials from all the land management agencies. Call 602-417-9300.
www.publiclands.org/html/explore/frame_recsearch.php?searchstate=AZ&state_name=Arizona. top

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