California off road registration

[Dragos80]

I just found out today from a friend that I need an off road registration or permit when going off road.

He is a CA resident, but his car is registered in Nevada.
I can't find anything supporting his claim. It seems this registration is for non CA residents, but he keeps on saying it is for everybody and showed me a web site.

I found some websites too in which apparently if a vehicle is registered to operate on highway, it does not need any special permit off road.

OHV Registration

How To Register an Off Highway Vehicle (HOV) (HTVR 19)


OHMVR Frequently Asked Questions

 

[FromTjtoLC]

Is your truck street legal?

 

[Dragos80]

Yes.
That's how I read it too.
If you are registered, legal to drive on the street, you are good to go off road too.

He sent me this link, but I think he is talking about one area and extrapolates from there as if the entire CA is the same.

Cleveland National Forest - Passes & Permits

He said even if you just go hiking you need this permit. Good at Big Bear, Trabucco, Rowher flats, etc.
I hit the trail with him once and he said he had the pass with him in the car.
But, again, his truck is registered in Nevada.

 

[chap79]

Yes, for the Cleveland National Forest you must have an "Adventure Pass" for valid use. This applies to all street vehicles regardless of state registered. The annual pass is cheap, $30 for the first car, $5 for the second. If more clarification is needed I would recommend calling the Big Bear Discovery Center. They have always been more than helpful to answer any questions I have had about road status, what sites campfires are permitted in the summer, and what streams still have water on particular backpacking trails.

 

[sdnative]

^^ you mean San Bernardino NF? I'm not sure the Cleveland NF requires an adventure pass. You may want to check, but I believe the pass isn't required anymore except in a few areas.

 

[bhicks]

Lets clear this up. You DO need a Forest Adventure Pass ($30 annually) IF you get out of your car anywhere in the San Bernardino National forest. I buy one every year and spend the extra $5 for my wifes car. I do live in the San B. National Forest so it makes sense for me. If you drive through a trail and never place your feet on the ground then technically you don't need a pass. The car on the trail must be registered and street legal in the state of Cali. There are exceptions to this like private land, certain OHV areas, and a few other spots. If you drive to Big Bear and park in a business parking lot/ski resort then you don't need a pass because your feet never touched National forest. You drove through the forest to place your feet on private land. Same applies to visiting friends in the mountains and parking on their property. No pass needed. If you stop and get out and your not on private land then you need a pass; period. Do I agree with this rule; HELL NO!! It's ridiculous that Cali charges us to use the forest. That would never fly in most of the country. We are so used to getting bent over and man handled with fees that we don't even question them anymore. We are the biatch of our politicians. The wild is a freedom all Americans should have access to and be able to enjoy. The concept of "allowed acesss" IF you pay your fees is a total joke. Just another ridiculous fee. Living up here in the mtns. is getting insane. I now have to pay a "poop sniff" tax every year for someone to come up to my land for 2 seconds and sniff the air. What the hell?!?! The county worker usually just sits at the end of my driveway drinking his latte and never even getting out of the car. I get a huge bill a week later. I also have to pay a "fire tax" that goes to Cal fire which does not cover our area. I also have to pay over $7000 a year in flood insurance for a policy that ONLY covers still rising water. If Forest Falls has still rising waters at 6,200ft then your all dead. My policy does not cover any form of mud or debris flow which is all you get in the mtns. Another BS FEE!!! Ok. Ok. I will calm down. Rant done.

 

[sdnative]

Lets clear this up. You DO need a Forest Adventure Pass ($30 annually) IF you get out of your car anywhere in the San Bernardino National forest.

My understanding is you only need an adventure pass in certain "recreation fee" areas like campgrounds, trailheads, picnic areas etc.

Region 5 - Recreation Passes & Permits

 

[bhicks]

My understanding is you only need an adventure pass in certain "recreation fee" areas like campgrounds, trailheads, picnic areas etc.

Region 5 - Recreation Passes & Permits

Wow. That is some serious changes as of 9/1/16. I was unaware of the new verbage of the rules. That is VERY different then the old system. Good to know. I'm surprised none of my neighbors have mentioned these changes. Those are significant. This is bad news for me. In the past all the crazies come up for the snow. The rangers just sit tight and wait for everyone to park all along the roads and clog everything to hell then just start dishing out the tickets for not showing a Forest Adventure Pass. With the new rules, they wont need one unless they are actually in the parking lot of the picnic area. That means they can park in front of my house as much as they want. I HATE the concept of a Forest Adventure Pass but it's wonderful in the winter time. Keeps the crazies away. I can always go out and give them a warning that they will get ticketed if they don't have one. That usually gets them to move. That wont work anymore. Hopefully the general public doesn't become aware of this change. I actually feel like that is a step in the right direction and fully support that change but now I'm screwed. Talk about a sucky situation.

 

[Brentbba]

My understanding is you only need an adventure pass in certain "recreation fee" areas like campgrounds, trailheads, picnic areas etc.

Region 5 - Recreation Passes & Permits

I was about to go find a similar thread over on Expedition Portal with the same info. Basically certain places where the Nat'l Forest has improvements. Personally $30/yr was a small price to pay if even a fraction of the money was actually spent by the Feds on keeping our National Parks open!