Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Birchwood Village, Minnesota

Cattail State Trail: Amery to Turtle Lake is an 11.8-mile point-to-point trail rated 2 of 10 located in Polk County. The Amery to Turtle Lake section of the Cattail State Trail is a packed gravel rail-to-trail that has a gentle elevation gain of 200 feet over the length of the trail. Departing Amery...
Learn more about Cattail State Trail: Amery to Turtle Lake

Beautiful easy dirt road. Great views year-round, especially in the fall or in the winter after a light snow. This is an easy-maintained gravel road meandering through the driftless area of east central Minnesota. Close to many other beautiful gravel roads to explore. There are many nice small towns...
Learn more about East Central Scenic Trail

Cattail State Trail: Turtle Lake to Almena is a 6.4-mile point-to-point trail rated 2 of 10 located in Barron County. The Turtle Lake to Almena section of the Cattail State Trail is a packed gravel rail-to-trail that has a gentle descent, losing about 75 feet over the length of the trail. Departing ...
Learn more about Cattail State Trail: Turtle Lake to Almena

This is a simple dirt road serving as the main avenue to the rest of the forest. Along the way, there are some nice views, especially where it opens up to the main bog/marshland. Keep in mind, this road sits very close to the waterline in several spots, so the ground may get soft in those sections d...
Learn more about Chengwatana Forest Road

This trail is one of the few in the whole forest that does not have any deep water crossings. There are a few shallow puddles that you'll encounter, but nothing extreme. Overall, this route is a nice break from the boggy trails in the rest of the system. It also smells wonderfully of pine.
Learn more about High Ground

This is a short section of the Matthew Lourey State Trail that's accessible to OHVs in the summertime. Note that this is an out-and-back trail because OHV access ends at a dirt turn-around while the snowmobile trail continues north. Expect some smaller whoops, braking bumps, a few mud holes, and roc...
Learn more about Matthew Lourey State Trail

A relaxing drive through the Driftless area north of Pepin, Wisconsin. There is nothing technical;this is a gravel county road drive with a few tar sections. You can take a hike at Five Mile Bluff Prairie State Natural Area. This trail would be extra beautiful in the fall and after a fresh snowstorm...
Learn more about Sand Road Driftless Loop

This is an easy trail with sections of red rock gravel base. Plenty of wetter areas to keep the ride interesting, and many winding trails through the trees and edges of farmers' fields. This segment is bookended by picnic areas at Anderson Park in Barron and a pavilion just off the Red Cedar River o...
Learn more about Barron to Cameron - Blueberry Trail Extension

Narrow and winding trails travel through this 40-acre parcel of woods. There is a youth training area on site, as well as a picnic shelter area, restroom facilities, and plenty of parking. There is a constructed mud pit area and good cell service. Standard Minnesota ATV permits/licenses are required...
Learn more about Meeker County OHV Park Outer Loop

The Minnesota portion of the Gandy Dancer trail is an easy 30-mile ride. The trail is open year-round to ATV/UTV/ORV and bikes. In winter, the trail is groomed and shared with snowmobiles. The trail connects to other trails in the Danbury area, Nemadji State Forest, and Douglas County, WI. The trail...
Learn more about Gandy Dancer Trail

Tamarack Sandway is a long sand track that runs adjacent to the Lower Tamarack River. The trail begins at the end of St.Croix High Line South and is OHV only. Expect rolling terrain with deep, sugary sand that's loose and dusty in dry conditions. There are lots of blind corners and hills, so be sure...
Learn more about Tamarack Sandway

The Snake Creek Trail network encompasses 13 miles of varying terrain and trail conditions that run through the Southeastern Minnesota bluff country. The majority of the external looping trail is considered a one-way track running clockwise. Riders need to ensure compliance with the trail direction ...
Learn more about Snake Creek ATV Trails

East Arm Forest Road connects Mallard Lake Forest Road and the Gandy Dancer Trail. It is fairly smooth in the western half, then gets progressively rockier as you travel east. This route is the primary way to access the eastern side of St. Croix State Forest when traveling on the Gandy Dancer Trail....
Learn more about East Arm Forest Road

St. Croix High Line South is the southern portion of the trail, which begins at the staging area along Mallard Lake Forest Road. It ends at a large clearing with a small shelter and a vault toilet. OHV riders can continue beyond that point, but 4x4 drivers will have to use this as an out-and-back, a...
Learn more about St. Croix High Line South

Churchill Lake Trail is a fairly relaxed route that connects Grace and Churchill Lakes via Tamarack Forest Road and Grace Lake Road. It's mostly sand and has fewer rocks than most of the trails in this system. There are a few shallow water crossings, most of which have by-passes. There is one sectio...
Learn more about Churchill Lake Trail

Tamarack River Forest Road is a smooth gravel road with gentle grades. It serves as one of the main roads through St. Croix State Forest with many trail crossings along the way. It begins at Grace Lake Road and ends at Boulder Campground and Rock Lake. Note that OHVs are not permitted inside the cam...
Learn more about Tamarack River Forest Road

Mallard Lake Spur B is a short trail section with a few mud holes along the way. You can use this route to connect up to St.Croix High Line S from Mallard Lake Road. The mud holes vary in depth depending on the time of year, but are generally less than a foot deep. There are several large clearings ...
Learn more about Mallard Lake Spur B

Trout Brook Trail is a short out-and-back that spurs off the Gandy Dancer Trail. Expect some medium-sized rocks and several mud holes that can get deep depending on the time of year. There is a go-around for the deeper one towards the end of the trail. OHV access ends short of Trout Brook, but you c...
Learn more about Trout Brook Trail

This is a short spur trail off the main trail that leads to a small clearing. There are often a number of grouse in the middle of the trail. There are many birch trees that line this route, which fall across the trail frequently and may be in the way if they haven't been cleared recently.
Learn more about Hunter's Spur

Hay Creek Trail is mostly a tame route with several mud holes along the way but there is a creek crossing at Longstrem Brook that can be a little intimidating. It's not deep but the steep approach makes it seem worse than it is. It can be used as a low consequence confidence booster for newer riders...
Learn more about Hay Creek Trail

Cattail State Trail: Amery to Turtle Lake is an 11.8-mile point-to-point trail rated 2 of 10 located in Polk County. The Amery to Turtle Lake section of the Cattail State Trail is a packed gravel rail-to-trail that has a gentle elevation gain of 200 feet over the length of the trail. Departing Amery...
Learn more about Cattail State Trail: Amery to Turtle Lake

Beautiful easy dirt road. Great views year-round, especially in the fall or in the winter after a light snow. This is an easy-maintained gravel road meandering through the driftless area of east central Minnesota. Close to many other beautiful gravel roads to explore. There are many nice small towns...
Learn more about East Central Scenic Trail

Cattail State Trail: Turtle Lake to Almena is a 6.4-mile point-to-point trail rated 2 of 10 located in Barron County. The Turtle Lake to Almena section of the Cattail State Trail is a packed gravel rail-to-trail that has a gentle descent, losing about 75 feet over the length of the trail. Departing ...
Learn more about Cattail State Trail: Turtle Lake to Almena

This is a simple dirt road serving as the main avenue to the rest of the forest. Along the way, there are some nice views, especially where it opens up to the main bog/marshland. Keep in mind, this road sits very close to the waterline in several spots, so the ground may get soft in those sections d...
Learn more about Chengwatana Forest Road

Beautiful easy dirt road. Great views year-round, especially in the fall or in the winter after a light snow. This is an easy-maintained gravel road meandering through the driftless area of east central Minnesota. Close to many other beautiful gravel roads to explore. There are many nice small towns...
Learn more about East Central Scenic Trail

This is a simple dirt road serving as the main avenue to the rest of the forest. Along the way, there are some nice views, especially where it opens up to the main bog/marshland. Keep in mind, this road sits very close to the waterline in several spots, so the ground may get soft in those sections d...
Learn more about Chengwatana Forest Road

This is a short section of the Matthew Lourey State Trail that's accessible to OHVs in the summertime. Note that this is an out-and-back trail because OHV access ends at a dirt turn-around while the snowmobile trail continues north. Expect some smaller whoops, braking bumps, a few mud holes, and roc...
Learn more about Matthew Lourey State Trail

A relaxing drive through the Driftless area north of Pepin, Wisconsin. There is nothing technical;this is a gravel county road drive with a few tar sections. You can take a hike at Five Mile Bluff Prairie State Natural Area. This trail would be extra beautiful in the fall and after a fresh snowstorm...
Learn more about Sand Road Driftless Loop