Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Finlayson, Minnesota

If you’re trying to get onto dirt (or sand) as soon as you’re off the freeway, run this instead of taking Old Hwy 61 into the rest of the state forest. It’s an easy trail…
Learn more about Freeway West FR

This trail is a long, mostly straight sand track with some hills, braking bumps, small whoops, and a few areas that collect water after rain, particularly as you get closer to Doc's Sports Bar. This…
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This trail is meant to take you to Zalesky Lake as an out-and-back; however, there is significant deadfall across the southern part of the trail that makes it impassable. In its current state, it is…
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This is one of the more fun ATV-type trails in this system. On the freeway side, there is a section with some taller whoops before it enters the forest. The rest of the trail is…
Learn more about Sandy Pines Trail

McGrath to Denham on the Soo Line South is a section of converted rail grade. It's 19 miles long and takes about 40 minutes with an average speed of 28.5 MPH. This section has a…
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This is a fast, straight section with a lot of small sand whoops and braking bumps. Some of the whoops are big enough to double on a dirt bike if you carry speed. The trail…
Learn more about Freeway View Trail

This is a basic sandy forest road that connects Dago Lake Road to Willow River N Forest Road. Beware of the intersection with East/West forest road, where it can be hard to see other vehicle…
Learn more about Freeway East FR

This is a long, straight sand track forest road that connects the east and west sides of the state forest. This is one of the main roads used to transfer between the other roads and…
Learn more about East West Forest Road

Take this route to return to the Dago Lake boat ramp/parking area or use it to connect up with other trails and forest roads in the system. This trail is a mix of sections that…
Learn more about Dago Lake Fork

This is a longer perimeter forest road that intersects with many other trails and forest roads along the way. This road is mostly a long sand track, but there are a few spots that can…
Learn more about Willow River North

This forest road connects the north and south ends of the forest and is an easy, sandy road about two vehicles wide in most places. There are a few spots where puddles form after rain,…
Learn more about Dago Day Use - 0340D

The Solana Loop has roughly 15 miles of rideable trail with the main loop being about 14 miles. The trail also provides access to the Solana State Forest, which includes an additional 25+ miles of…
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Wahkon to McGrath is a section of converted rail grade. It's 15 miles long and takes about 30 minutes with an average speed of 13.7 MPH. This section starts at the Wahkon City Park. There…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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The Red Top Loop is located within a wooded area between the communities of Isle and McGrath in Aitkin County. The Red Top Loop trail network is made up of several different trails, all generally…
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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…
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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…
Learn more about Straight Arrows Trail

The Foxy Loop is the first ATV trail network along the Soo Line Trail just north of Isle, Minnesota. There are about 2.5 miles of trail within the Foxy Loop network. The 1.5-mile main trail…
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The Foxy Loop 2 is a shorter loop trail within the Foxy Loop network, accessed a short distance in from either entrance on the Soo Line. The trail is a little shorter than the Foxy…
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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…
Learn more about Chengwatana Forest Road

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…
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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…
Learn more about Hunter's Spur

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…
Learn more about Matthew Lourey State Trail

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…
Learn more about High Ground

This route is an out-and-back starting from the Gandy Dancer Trail and traversing through the heart of Nemadji State Forest. The route begins at the Park Forest Trail and eventually becomes the Potlatch Trail. The…
Learn more about Park Forest, Potlatch, and Hilton Trails

Grouse Forest Road is a minimum maintenance road lined by thick brushy forest habitat favored by grouse. You will likely see some standing in the middle of the trail at dawn and dusk. Be careful…
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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.…
Learn more about Nemadji to County Road 3