National Forest minimum unattended rider age

[KooLaid]

Anyone have an exact source for the minimum age to ride unattended in the Inyo National Forest?

A ranger there threatened to cite for every single kid, for allowing our group of 5+ kids to group ride unattended without 18+ supervision. The age range was 12-15 for the kids and were all riding the same big loop over, and over, and over, and over where we have 95% visibility of them except for where the trail dips behind a small hill and we can get to any point of the trail within 15 seconds. My 15 year old was also said to not be allowed to ride on the trails unsupervised. Ranger Rick wouldn't have any of it when I told him that in Sequioa national forest it was 14 on their guide and that we had had near complete visual supervision of everyone and that the kids were group riding, not just randomly scattered.

 

[berth]

36CFR 261.15i is deferring to State law about off road vehicle use, so whatever they're referencing there is not National Forest or Sequoia law/policy.

You'd have to dig up the relevant State statutes.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/261.15

§ 261.15 Use of vehicles off roads.
It is prohibited to operate any vehicle off National Forest System, State or County roads:
...
(i) In violation of State law established for vehicles used off roads.

 

[Dmitriy]

Did Ranger Rick perhaps specify how close (but 6ft away obviously) does the 18+ adult supervisor needs to be?

If his only reason for hassling your party is because your kids were having fun whole creating a little dust. I'm sure I can talk a few adult friends of mine to come out and have so fun on 'Ranger Rick's' loop

 

[OaklandF4i]

I always thought it was 14, but looks like CA is 18 according to this link unless an appropriate safety certificate is acquired. If they have a safety certificate, then 14-17.