Phase 1 · Tri-State (OH · KY · IN)
Gas it.
Trust the line.
TrailForge does not care which seat you bought. The boundary has to be honest and the trail has to be real. Every park in this index carries a data grade — we tell you when the intel is sharp and when it is still rough.
Planning only — verify MVUM, land status, and local rules before riding.
Honest grades
Every entry is stamped VERIFIED or ROUGH with a last-checked date. Verified means cross-checked against the managing agency. Rough means it came from rider reports and needs your eyes.
Real trail lines
Nearly 300 miles of official US Forest Service trail geometry — Wayne, Daniel Boone, and Land Between the Lakes — drawn right on the map. Plan your line before you unload.
Route planner
Drop waypoints on the map, watch the mileage stack up, save routes by name and export GPX straight to your GPS unit or phone. Import a GPX track to review a ride. Works offline once loaded.
Shared trail board
Condition reports from every rider on TrailForge. Washout on trail 4? Gate locked at the north entrance? Pin it — the whole crew sees it.
Know your plate
Ohio APV decals, Indiana ORV registration, Kentucky permit math — the Plate tab lays out what each state demands before your tires touch dirt.
Park directory
Trail board
Condition reports shared by every rider on TrailForge. Be straight, be useful.
Plate & permit cheat sheet
What each state demands before your tires touch dirt. Rules change — verify with the agency before you ride.
Plate and permit info on this tab is general information, not legal advice — rules change, so verify the current requirements with the agency before you ride.
Ohio
- APV registration decal required for ATVs/UTVs/dirt bikes — issued through Ohio BMV, renews every 3 years.
- Wayne National Forest ORV trails also require a Wayne NF trail permit (daily or annual) on top of state registration.
- Helmets required for riders under 18 on public land.
- State forest APV areas (Perry, Pike, Maumee) are free but registration rules still apply.
- Verify: Ohio BMV & ODNR.
Indiana
- ORV registration required through Indiana BMV for ATVs/UTVs/dirt bikes ridden off your own property.
- Out-of-state machines need an Indiana ORV registration or non-resident permit.
- DNR properties (Redbird, Interlake) charge a gate fee on top of registration.
- Helmets required for riders under 18.
- Verify: Indiana BMV & DNR.
Kentucky
- No statewide OHV registration — but every park sets its own permit (Black Mountain, Hollerwood, Turkey Bay all sell their own).
- USFS areas (Turkey Bay, Redbird Crest) require a trail permit sold at the site or ranger district.
- Street-legal SXS/ATV rules on county roads vary by county — the DBBB requires a fully licensed, plated 4WD.
- Waivers are standard at private parks; most require them for every occupant, not just the driver.
- Verify: managing agency or park office.
Everywhere
- Carry your registration, ID, and signed waiver confirmations — rangers and park offices check.
- Spark arrestors are required on National Forest land.
- Stay on marked trails; the MVUM is the law, not a suggestion.
- Tread lightly — closed trails today means closed parks tomorrow.
Who mapped what
Where the intel comes from and how much to trust it.
VERIFIED
Cross-checked against the managing agency — US Forest Service MVUMs, state DNR recreation pages, or the park's own published site. Every verified entry carries a last-checked date in its detail sheet.
ROUGH
Built from rider reports, forum posts and stale brochures. The park is real, but acreage, fees or operating status may be off. Treat it as a lead, not a promise — call ahead.
Sources
- US Forest Service — Wayne NF, Daniel Boone NF, Land Between the Lakes
- USFS EDW National Forest System Trails — trail geometry (fetched 2026-07)
- Ohio DNR — state forest APV area regulations
- Indiana DNR — Off-Road Vehicle / SRA program pages
- Park official sites — Hollerwood, Harlan County Trails, Badlands, Haspin Acres
- Powell County Tourism — Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway
- Rider reports for rough-graded entries
Corrections
Found a locked gate, a wrong fee, a park that folded? Pin it on the Board so the next rider sees it.