If you ride on state trust lands you are required to have a state lands permit. While enforcement is nearly nonexistent, a deputy sheriff who doesn't like your bumper sticker could give you a ticket. Or you could be having a bad day and as you are carrying your bike back because you had four flats and ran out of patches you could meet one of the two or three State Land Department enforcement people, who had just been run off the trail by three gonzo outlaw mountain bikers.

To avoid this, and to be a law-abiding citizen, you'll need to shell out some cash. You will be mailed a permit to carry on your person and a hang tag for your car. Even easier, give the nice folks a call at 520-628-5480 and they'll send you an application in the mail.

To give you an idea of where you need this permit, if you park at the cattleguard to ride the 50 Year Trail you need one. (If you park at Catalina State Park and ride ONLY on the 50 Year Trail -- no chutes or other jeep roads or trails -- you don't have to have one.) A lot of other riding areas, including the 24-Hours in the Old Pueblo course, parts of the Watermans, West Silverbells and of course, Fantasy Island, are either partially or wholly state trust lands.

The Tucson office no longer sells permits. You can download the form from the Internet and mail it, with your check, to Phoenix. Download their form (pdf).

For more information, please visit here.