dude ,,, no where at the park ,,,does it say not to ride in the river !!! It just says not to cross cuz ur tresspassing ont some1 else's land !!! If riding the river banks was so illegal ,, i think some1 at the park should inform riders by either posting signs or adding it to there so called rule list !!!! Dont get me wrong ,, im all about obeying the law to keep land open ,, but if it is not posted on some1's private property then it is hard to determin what is legal and what is not !!!!!

DUDE,

Did you not read what Trailgage said above

In reply to:

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I am not sure if it is state or federal but I am fairly sure that if you are caught in the river that your motorcycle/ATV can be confisicated and you are subject to a substanical fine.

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But then I guess the key word is "caught".

I emailed the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. and they replyed with the following.

Motor Vehicles Are Prohibited In Texas Navigable Riverbeds STARTING JANUARY
1, 2004

* The Canadian River and Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River are
exempted.

* A motor vehicle is defined as "any wheeled or tracked vehicle, machine,
tractor, trailer, or semitrailer propelled or drawn by mechanical power and
used to transport a person or thing."

* A navigable river or stream is one that "retains an average width of 30 or
more feet from the mouth or confluence up."

* The public retains constitutional right to travel navigable waterways, as
long as a motor vehicle is not used.

* It is illegal to obstruct, restrict, or interfere with lawful public
recreational use of a navigable river or stream.

* Crossing private property without permission to access a river or stream
is illegal.

* Local River Access Plans may allow motor vehicles in specified river
areas.

* Texas Parks and Wildlife Deptartment is seeking grant proposals and sites
for off-road vehicle parks.

They also suggested I contact the Bureau of Land Management in Oklahoma
since the Red River up to the state line of Texas is regulated by laws
applicable to Oklahoma.

As soon as I get their reply, I will post it here.

Aloha Gang,

Well, I have some contacts at TPWD and would like to relay some nfomation to y'all.

First, the Red River is Oklahoma all right. So riding IN THE RIVER BED would be their jurisdiction. Second, riding on the BANKS of a river is not covered by the new law. The new law was passed mostly to prevent 4X4 folks from taking their vehicles with SNORKLES into the likes of the Frio and Llano rivers. Big photos of jeeps buried in water, thowing water in the air caused much ankst among the environmental folks.

Third, there are trail funds and grant available to open and fund ORV parks. Contact TPWD for more info. This money is from the gasoline taxes we all pay. This is the same as the Sportfish restoration fund which has gasoline money from BOATS contributed for making ramps and such.

Finally, NAVIGABLE is the big thing now. Dry river beds don't count. little trickles don't count. Can you paddle a canoe up it? That is the question we need to be aware of. So the area up on the Red River is pretty much open. The tiny little flows of water we cross around Muenster are not the issue. And the Canadian....well all of us that have ridden there know what that super salt water will do to your bike....you avoid the water where ever you can up there.

ciao,

David Klein

Thanks for the info david !!!

uh... ohh... hope nobody sees my icon....

They will be waiting at the truck........trust me.