Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Brookston, Minnesota

Carlton County Road 3 to the Wisconsin border on the Soo Line South is a section of converted rail grade that is 7.3 miles long and takes about 30 minutes with an average speed of 15.2 MPH. This converted rail grade is raised enough that it sheds water very well. Even on a rainy day or after several...
Learn more about County Road 3 to Wisconsin Border

Nemadji to Carlton County Road 3 on the Soo Line South is a section of converted rail grade that is 9.4 miles long and takes about 30 minutes with an average speed of 16.4 MPH. This converted rail grade is raised enough that it sheds water very well. Even on a rainy day or after several days of rain...
Learn more about Nemadji to County Road 3

Hulligan Lake Forest Management Road and Carol Truck Trail are seasonally accessible with most 4x4 vehicles. The gate at the entrance to Corol is visible from the highway to determine if the route is open. Watch for logging trucks and give way to any large equipment. Canoe launch and campsites are a...
Learn more about Hulligan Lake & Carol Truck Trail

Kettle River to Lawler Loop Trails on the Soo Line North is a section of converted rail grade that is 9.6 miles long and takes about 25 minutes with an average speed of 23.3 MPH. This converted rail grade is raised enough that it sheds water very well. Even after rain for several days, the water on ...
Learn more about Kettle River to Lawler Loop Trails

Denham to Moose Lake on the Soo Line South is a section of converted rail grade that is 12.6 miles long and takes about 45 minutes with an average speed of 16.8 MPH. This section has a few muddy areas due to spring thaw and could be wet during rainy times later in the season. There are great views o...
Learn more about Denham to Moose Lake

Moose Lake to Kettle River on the Soo Line North is a section of converted rail grade that is 7 miles long and takes about 20 minutes with an average speed of 21.3 MPH. This converted rail grade is raised enough that it sheds water very well. Even after rain for several days, the water on the trail ...
Learn more about Moose Lake to Kettle River

Moose Lake to Nemadji (Carlton County Road 11 at Ballou Road) on the Soo Line South is a section of converted rail grade that is 9.2 miles long and takes about 30 minutes with an average speed of 19.6 MPH. This converted rail grade is raised enough that it sheds water very well. Even on a rainy day ...
Learn more about Moose Lake to Nemadji

Interstate Trail North is a sand track that carves through the pines and birch trees and is an out-and-back for 4x4 traffic. OHVs can continue further north. The terrain is mostly sand with some parts that hold water frequently. There is one steeper hill along the way. All riders should be mindful o...
Learn more about Interstate Trail North

Lawler Loop Trails to Lawler goes from the far east intersection of Soo Line Trail North and Lawler Loops North and South 4-way intersection. This section of converted rail grade is 5.6 miles long and takes about 20 minutes with an average speed of 15.3 MPH. This converted rail grade is raised enoug...
Learn more about Lawler Loop Trails to Lawler

Straight Arrow Enduro Riders (SAER) maintains approximately 45 miles of single-track / ATV trail in the Nemadji State Forest. This 5-mile singletrack loop features mostly hard-packed, narrow trail with a few bridges and sections of buried old snowmobile trail designed to reduce erosion. Expect long ...
Learn more about Tamarack Straight Arrow East Trail

Harlis Bypass is a mix of gently loamy single track and some greasy, muddy sections with areas that stay wet year-round. You'll also find some medium-sized rocks and some step-up ledgy roots throughout. It's a shorter trail compared to the rest of the system, but it's a good way to get warmed up bef...
Learn more about Harlis Bypass

Straight Arrow Enduro Riders (SAER) maintains approximately 45 miles of single-track / ATV trail in the Nemadji State Forest. This 3-mile singletrack trail isn’t as tight as other trails and flows much faster with deep sweeping turns and fewer switchbacks. It does have a few bridges—when wet, be car...
Learn more about Tamarack Straight Arrow Blue Trail

The southern part of this trail was logged heavily over the winter of 2025, so the route will require a bit of interpretation until that section gets rutted in more. Aside from that, the forest that remains is beautiful. Along the way, you'll find a twisty single track with some sections of tight tr...
Learn more about Gandy Dancer Bypass

Yellow Birch Trail is a winding sand track with water holes along the way. It connects the Matthew Loury State Trail to the Gandy Dancer Trail with the Harlis Road staging area in between. This trail is open to all OHVs and ORVs and is two-way, so be mindful of normal left/right traffic separation a...
Learn more about Yellow Birch Trail

This trail is accessed from Long Lake Road and follows a narrow, bumpy route that remains relatively well-maintained with a gravel surface. It passes by a wetland area, and while it is not particularly technical, it can be soft in spots depending on recent rainfall. Two noticeable spurs are branchin...
Learn more about South Long Lake Road

Net Lake Forest Road is the main east/west road through Nemadji. There are tons of dispersed campsites along it and many trail crossings. Be mindful of OHV traffic as it's used as one of the busiest connecting routes in the forest. There are some slightly off-camber sections around blind corners whe...
Learn more about Net Lake Forest Road

As the name implies, Corduroy Trail is full of choppy roots throughout. Riders should also expect tight trees along the way (some narrower than bar length), several areas that hold water for most of the year, short but frequent climbs and descents, and a few old bridges crossing swampy sections. It'...
Learn more about Corduroy Trail

Wilderness Trail is a twisty two-track that runs alongside Harlis Road for most of the way. It's a rocky, rutted trail with some up and down hills throughout. There are a couple of areas where ruts will fill up with water, and a few bridges. Wilderness Trail isn't especially technical, but it is nar...
Learn more about Wilderness Trail

Iron Pipe, of the Straight Arrows OHM Trail system, is a novice-level single-track motorcycle trail that alternates between flowy and somewhat tight woods sections. Whether you're new to woods single track riding or experienced in all terrain types, this can be a fun trail for riders of all skill le...
Learn more about Iron Pipe

This trail features forest-lined paths typical of Nemadji’s landscape, with a mix of packed dirt and occasional muddy patches depending on recent weather. Nemadji is known for its network of ATV and OHV trails, so Straight Arrows Trail could be a great starting point or a scenic detour.
Learn more about Straight Arrows Trail

Carlton County Road 3 to the Wisconsin border on the Soo Line South is a section of converted rail grade that is 7.3 miles long and takes about 30 minutes with an average speed of 15.2 MPH. This converted rail grade is raised enough that it sheds water very well. Even on a rainy day or after several...
Learn more about County Road 3 to Wisconsin Border

Nemadji to Carlton County Road 3 on the Soo Line South is a section of converted rail grade that is 9.4 miles long and takes about 30 minutes with an average speed of 16.4 MPH. This converted rail grade is raised enough that it sheds water very well. Even on a rainy day or after several days of rain...
Learn more about Nemadji to County Road 3

Hulligan Lake Forest Management Road and Carol Truck Trail are seasonally accessible with most 4x4 vehicles. The gate at the entrance to Corol is visible from the highway to determine if the route is open. Watch for logging trucks and give way to any large equipment. Canoe launch and campsites are a...
Learn more about Hulligan Lake & Carol Truck Trail

Kettle River to Lawler Loop Trails on the Soo Line North is a section of converted rail grade that is 9.6 miles long and takes about 25 minutes with an average speed of 23.3 MPH. This converted rail grade is raised enough that it sheds water very well. Even after rain for several days, the water on ...
Learn more about Kettle River to Lawler Loop Trails

Carlton County Road 3 to the Wisconsin border on the Soo Line South is a section of converted rail grade that is 7.3 miles long and takes about 30 minutes with an average speed of 15.2 MPH. This converted rail grade is raised enough that it sheds water very well. Even on a rainy day or after several...
Learn more about County Road 3 to Wisconsin Border

Nemadji to Carlton County Road 3 on the Soo Line South is a section of converted rail grade that is 9.4 miles long and takes about 30 minutes with an average speed of 16.4 MPH. This converted rail grade is raised enough that it sheds water very well. Even on a rainy day or after several days of rain...
Learn more about Nemadji to County Road 3

Hulligan Lake Forest Management Road and Carol Truck Trail are seasonally accessible with most 4x4 vehicles. The gate at the entrance to Corol is visible from the highway to determine if the route is open. Watch for logging trucks and give way to any large equipment. Canoe launch and campsites are a...
Learn more about Hulligan Lake & Carol Truck Trail

Kettle River to Lawler Loop Trails on the Soo Line North is a section of converted rail grade that is 9.6 miles long and takes about 25 minutes with an average speed of 23.3 MPH. This converted rail grade is raised enough that it sheds water very well. Even after rain for several days, the water on ...
Learn more about Kettle River to Lawler Loop Trails