LITTLE SAHARA GUIDE
Permits & registration
The entry fee and the OHV registration are two different things. Bringing only one is the most common way a trip goes wrong at the gate.
- Thing one: the recreation area fee
- Thing two: Utah OHV registration or a non-resident permit
- If you are visiting from out of state
- Education certificates
- Operator age rules
- Verify before you tow
Thing one: the recreation area fee
Paid to BLM, covers your vehicle's entry and your campsite. $18 per vehicle per night, or $120 for an annual pass. See the fees page for how to pay and how the annual sticker works.
Thing two: Utah OHV registration or a non-resident permit
Paid to the State of Utah, covers the machine itself. Every OHV must display a current Utah OHV registration sticker when operated or transported on public lands or roads. Since January 1, 2023, vehicles other than motorcycles and snowmobiles must also display a license plate alongside the sticker.
If you are visiting from out of state
Non-residents bringing an ATV, UTV, off-highway motorcycle, or snowmobile into Utah must obtain a non-resident OHV permit to operate on public land. The permit costs $35 and is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. Permits are purchased online, and the permanent permit can take around 20 business days to process, so do not leave this to the week of your trip.
- Cost: $35, valid 12 months
- Purchased online through Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation
- Allow roughly 20 business days for the permanent permit
- You must show proof of out-of-state residency and that the OHV is not owned by a Utah resident
- Duplicate permit: $4
Education certificates
Utah requires OHV education before riding on public land. Operators under 18 need a Utah-approved Youth OHV Education Certificate; operators 18 and older need an approved Adult OHV Education Certificate unless an official exemption applies. The adult online course is free. Approved youth courses may charge a fee.
Operator age rules
Utah does not set a minimum age for OHV operation on public land. It instead ties youth operation to physical ability, certification, and supervision.
- Under 18: may operate only when able to reach and operate every control, carrying a Utah-approved youth certificate, and under direct adult supervision
- 18 and older: must carry an approved Adult OHV Education Certificate unless an official exemption applies
- Road use: operators must also meet driver-license and street-legal vehicle requirements
- Helmet: riders under 18 on Type I ATVs and off-highway motorcycles must wear a properly fitted DOT helmet; Utah does not require one for UTV or side-by-side occupants, though helmets are strongly recommended
Verify before you tow
State requirements change and this page is a planning summary, not a legal document. Confirm current rules with the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation before every trip, especially if you are crossing state lines.
BLM Little Sahara Recreation Area · Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation
435-433-5960 · BLM Fillmore Field Office