Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Grand Rapids, Minnesota

UPM Blandin Trail North area starts from the picnic area overlooking Cook Lake to the parking lot on Shingle Mill Road and Sugar Lake Trail. This section is 9.8 miles long with a travel time of about an hour at an average speed of 11.0 MPH. The trail is easy to follow with changes in scenery from li...
Learn more about UPM Blandin Trail N

This trail is relatively wide, well-maintained, and sees regular use. It passes several homes and a Bible camp, so it's essential to watch for children near the road. As the trail approaches the boat launch area, it narrows slightly and ends near a quiet beach, offering a peaceful spot to stop and t...
Learn more about County Road 335

This trail is a well-maintained gravel road that is wide and regularly used, primarily because it passes several homes and provides access to two campsites: Little Cottonwood Camp and Moose Lake Camp. Local traffic is common, so it's advisable to drive with caution. Both camps offer basic amenities,...
Learn more about Suomi Clearwater Trail

This trail is wide, well-maintained, and sees regular use, passing several homes along the way. There are several access roads leading to the nearby lake, and the area features hiking and cross-country ski trails. However, the trail ends suddenly at a private property boundary, where the landowner a...
Learn more about 246

This trail sees very little use and has sections where small trees and branches have fallen across the path. After rain, the trail becomes quite muddy and can be slippery and bumpy, making travel more challenging. It winds through the forest and eventually reaches a junction marked by a sign stating...
Learn more about FS 3478

This trail is accessed from a paved road and begins as a narrow two-track composed of gravel and sand. It is often very bumpy, corrugated, and dusty in dry weather, but can also hold water in lower sections. The route traverses a mix of forested terrain, featuring steady ascents and descents, and pa...
Learn more about 2721

This trail begins as a narrow two-track made up of gravel and sand, with some sections holding water depending on recent conditions. It winds through forested terrain, featuring a mix of ascents and descents, providing a steady yet manageable drive. Evidence of past logging activity is visible along...
Learn more about Willow River

This trail, also known as the 49, is one of the primary routes through the area, providing access to several lake communities as well as the Marcell Experimental Forest and the Spruce research sites. While the trail is generally wide and well maintained, it sees frequent use and has developed signif...
Learn more about 2143

This trail is fairly wide and in decent condition, though the surface is sandy and can get quite dusty. It winds through forested terrain and includes some uneven stretches that could become difficult to navigate when wet. Along the route, there is access to Pine Lodge as well as a bridge crossing a...
Learn more about Country Road 158

This trail is designated for highway-legal vehicles only and stretches for a considerable distance through forested terrain. It is relatively well-maintained overall. The trail begins as a straight section where Western Painted Turtles are often seen crossing, then becomes more winding with a series...
Learn more about FS 2153

Hill City to Washburn Lake on the Rabey Line converted rail is a section that is 7.1 miles long and takes about 30 minutes with an average speed of 12.6 MPH. This is an easy section of trail that was mapped from Sunny's gas station in Hill City. A short section of trail uses the State Highway 200 br...
Learn more about Hill City to Washburn Lake

This trail follows a mostly wide and well-maintained gravel route that winds through a landscape of mixed fields and predominantly forested areas. Along the way, a few smaller trails branch off from the main path, and there are occasional residences scattered throughout the route. As the trail appro...
Learn more about 2112

This trail stands out in the region for both its natural beauty and its geographical importance, as it marks the point where the Leech Lake River flows into the Mississippi River. The trail is composed of three distinct sections, each offering a different experience. The first section is a wide, wel...
Learn more about 139

Although officially designated as an "unmaintained trail," this route is in relatively good condition due to the presence of residences along its length. The surface is mostly smooth, with minimal corrugation, and is suitable for a comfortable drive. The trail winds between the Mississippi River and...
Learn more about Gamblers Point Drive Northeast

This trail offers a little bit of everything in terms of off-road conditions. It is narrow and generally suited for single-vehicle travel, with no regular maintenance. The surface alternates between sandy stretches and muddy sections, with ruts forming in some areas. Water erosion is visible along t...
Learn more about 3705

UPM Blandin Trail South area starts from the Rabey Line and runs northwest 11.1 miles to the picnic area overlooking Cook Lake. The travel time is about an hour with an average speed of 9.6 MPH. The trail is easy to follow with changes in scenery from lightly wooded to open areas and wetlands. From ...
Learn more about UPM Blandin Trail South

Rabey Line converted rail grade, this section is 12.1 miles long and takes about an hour and 15 minutes with an average speed of 10.1 MPH including time to take trail pictures. This is an easy section of trail starting from the Washburn Lake area where the old rail grade is no longer used at the int...
Learn more about Rabey Line

This trail is a well-maintained and smooth gravel road. It is mostly straight but includes some gentle curves, as well as a few mild ascents and descents. Along the way, the trail passes a handful of private residences and a number of side trails that branch off from the main route. While there are ...
Learn more about 3755

This trail follows a narrow, two-track path composed of gravel and sand. It is often dusty, although some stretches remain wet, depending on recent weather conditions. The route winds through forested terrain with steady ascents and descents, and large ruts are present along portions of the track, r...
Learn more about 2743

This trail begins as a well-maintained route leading toward the Spruce Administrative area, where there is noticeable infrastructure and a mix of foot and vehicle traffic. As the trail continues, it narrows slightly while passing additional facilities before ending in a cul-de-sac. While not designe...
Learn more about FS 3851

UPM Blandin Trail North area starts from the picnic area overlooking Cook Lake to the parking lot on Shingle Mill Road and Sugar Lake Trail. This section is 9.8 miles long with a travel time of about an hour at an average speed of 11.0 MPH. The trail is easy to follow with changes in scenery from li...
Learn more about UPM Blandin Trail N

This trail begins as a narrow two-track made up of gravel and sand, with some sections holding water depending on recent conditions. It winds through forested terrain, featuring a mix of ascents and descents, providing a steady yet manageable drive. Evidence of past logging activity is visible along...
Learn more about Willow River

This trail, also known as the 49, is one of the primary routes through the area, providing access to several lake communities as well as the Marcell Experimental Forest and the Spruce research sites. While the trail is generally wide and well maintained, it sees frequent use and has developed signif...
Learn more about 2143

This trail is fairly wide and in decent condition, though the surface is sandy and can get quite dusty. It winds through forested terrain and includes some uneven stretches that could become difficult to navigate when wet. Along the route, there is access to Pine Lodge as well as a bridge crossing a...
Learn more about Country Road 158

UPM Blandin Trail North area starts from the picnic area overlooking Cook Lake to the parking lot on Shingle Mill Road and Sugar Lake Trail. This section is 9.8 miles long with a travel time of about an hour at an average speed of 11.0 MPH. The trail is easy to follow with changes in scenery from li...
Learn more about UPM Blandin Trail N

This trail begins as a narrow two-track made up of gravel and sand, with some sections holding water depending on recent conditions. It winds through forested terrain, featuring a mix of ascents and descents, providing a steady yet manageable drive. Evidence of past logging activity is visible along...
Learn more about Willow River

This trail, also known as the 49, is one of the primary routes through the area, providing access to several lake communities as well as the Marcell Experimental Forest and the Spruce research sites. While the trail is generally wide and well maintained, it sees frequent use and has developed signif...
Learn more about 2143

This trail is fairly wide and in decent condition, though the surface is sandy and can get quite dusty. It winds through forested terrain and includes some uneven stretches that could become difficult to navigate when wet. Along the route, there is access to Pine Lodge as well as a bridge crossing a...
Learn more about Country Road 158