Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Akeley, Minnesota

Minnesota 34 Ditch Trail between Akeley and Nevis runs along the north side of Minnesota State Highway 34. This section of trail is 6.1 miles long and takes about 30 minutes at an average speed…
Learn more about Minnesota 34 Ditch Trail 6.1

This trail is quite close to the Stompin Grounds campground but appears rather untouched. There is a really beautiful section of tall evergreens. The trail has typical roots to cross, some inclines and decline with…
Learn more about Paul Bunyan South Border

This is a simpler dirt bike trail with multiple pretty lakes and ponds. The trail is quite narrow but overall is a pretty mellow single track. If you are leaving Stompin' Grounds Campground or you…
Learn more about Paul Bunyan Southern Single Track Bypass

Parkway Forest Road is a gentle gravel forest road that splits the eastern section of Paul Bunyan State Forest in half. It stretches over 8 miles, connecting County Road 39 and County Road 23. There…
Learn more about Parkway Forest Road

Really nice cruising trail with some rocks and roots but overall tame. The trail widens and narrows to about the size of a SxS. Some technical spots on other trails to access this one from…
Learn more about Paul Bunyan South River Rd

This trail is set near the southwestern area of the Paul Bunyan Forest trail system. There is a large trail loop people often do, but this trail could be used to shorten said loop or…
Learn more about South Round River Drive Cut Through

This trail borders the far east side of the Paul Bunyan Trail System. This trail appeared to be marked with SxS and ATV only in some areas. It seems that certain clubs in the area…
Learn more about Paul Bunyan Far East Loop

Nice wide forest road with pretty fall colors and pine trees. Some occasional ponds or water but it's more woodsy than water views. Multiple spots to disperse camp along this road and great access to…
Learn more about Paul Bunyan West Steamboat Forest Road

East Steamboat Lake Road is one of the main arteries in the eastern half of Paul Bunyan State Forest. It is a gentle, wide, and well-maintained gravel road. Use it to cruise the forest or…
Learn more about East Steamboat Lake Road

This trail is quite smooth and flowy as we call it. You are able to go somewhat fast without many bumps. The trail is narrower in spots but overall a wider trail with the occasional…
Learn more about Paul Bunyan's Smooth Backwoods Cruise

This trail is a really nice edge of the park trail. This area feels removed from the rest of the trails. It is not overly narrow but there are plenty of spaces to pass other…
Learn more about Paul Bunyan West River Rd Loop

This trail is about one SxS wide and that is overall quite easy. There are a few rocky sections but these are short-lived. When starting the trail, it will feel a lot like a forest…
Learn more about Paul Bunyan Round River Dr

This is a really short jaunt that dirt bikers are required to take because some of the trails in this area are pretty well specified for certain types. Some water and close trees on this…
Learn more about Round River Dr. Dirt Bike Short Cut

Highway 2 Ditch Trail between Nevis and where Hubbard County Road 2 turns west just south of Paul Bunyan State Forest. This section of trail runs along both sides of County Road 2 once you…
Learn more about Highway 2 Ditch Trail 5.4

Inner Forest Road between Hubbard County Road 2 and Spur I Forest Road is 4.6 miles long and takes about 1 minute to travel at an average speed of 15. MPH. This section of trail…
Learn more about Inner Forest Road 4.6

This is a nice smooth trail that gets a bit windy and steep in spots. The switchback portion which is farthest from the large parking area is not too technical but can be washed out…
Learn more about Round River Dr Cut Through

This is a short, easy forest road with maintained gravel, pretty views, and nice fall colors. This road takes you back to some dispersed camping, other forest roads, and trails for ATVs and Dirt Bikes.…
Learn more about Paul Bunyan Round River Dr. Forest Road

This trail is on the narrower side with really nice mature trees, some small rocks, and small water puddles. This trail could be quite wet in the spring after snowmelt or after a large storm.…
Learn more about Round River Drive Western Loop Cut Through

This trail offers a scenic drive through the forest and features a surprising amount of infrastructure for the area. As it winds through the woods, it runs mostly parallel to both a paved cycling trail…
Learn more about Bachelor Road Northwest

Sandwinder is named after the long sand chute hill climb in the northern portion of the trail. Run the trail north to south in order to hit it in the uphill direction. The rest of…
Learn more about Sandwinder

Hammer Handle is a trail with sweeping climbs and descents that has some loose rocks mixed in. The northern part of the trail has active logging, which can make the route a little confusing at…
Learn more about Hammer Handle

If this trail wasn't overgrown, it could maybe pass as a forest road. It's listed as part of the Round River Road network. It's quite wide but technically only allows SxS and ATVs. There are…
Learn more about Akeley Cutoff Road SW Connector

This trail is a nice wooded trail with really pretty fall colors. There are some pretty wide spots where one would think this is an ATV/SxS trail but it is in fact a dirt bike…
Learn more about Paul Bunyan's Overgrown ATV Trail

Spurr II is a gentle gravel forest road with easy curves and grades. It is the confluence of several other forest roads at the south end connecting it to Spur I in the north. There…
Learn more about Spur II

Thorpe Tower Forest Road 13 runs between Spur I Forest Road 14 and Refuge Road. (Forest Road 17) This also includes the very short section of 12A. Although the name is misleading as the tower…
Learn more about Thorpe Tower Road 5.4

This trail is a long and winding gravel route that is relatively well-maintained as it travels through a forested area. Running parallel to the main trail is a multi-use path designated for hiking, biking, and…
Learn more about County Road 50

This trail begins as a wide, two-vehicle gravel road that is well-maintained at the start but quickly narrows into a single-vehicle two-track. The surface shifts between sand and gravel, with muddy patches and potholes appearing…
Learn more about Hungry Gulch Road

This trail is a natural continuation of the Akeley Cutoff Road trail. Similarly challenging and part of a larger loop where you can pass by a lookout tower. I am unsure where it is allowed…
Learn more about West Round River - Part 1

This shorter trail in Paul Bunyan State Forest is a tame but extremely narrow cut-through running parallel to the highway. There are a few rocks but it's overall quite smooth and comfortable. Some larger lakes…
Learn more about Paul's Narrow Thicket Bike Path

This trail is a wide, well-maintained two-vehicle track. The surface is a mix of gravel and sand, and the route winds its way through forested terrain with steady ascents, descents, and several sharp curves that…
Learn more about Saubtine Road Northwest