Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Sandstone, 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 overall, but in dry conditions the sand can get pretty loose. Not a problem with 4x4 and decent tires. After rain, there are a fe...
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 is a great connector if you're tired after a day of riding and want to sit down for a hot meal at Doc...
Learn more about Doc's Trail

Norsemen Pass, named after the club that builds and maintains this trail system, is an easy-flowing trail with some tighter sections that wind through tight trees. It runs along the ATV stem trail for much of the way. Expect mostly dirt for the trail surface with some embedded and loose rocks, narro...
Learn more about Norsemen Pass

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 a faster, flowy sand track that weaves through the pines. There are many blind corners on this trail, so be sure to respec...
Learn more about Sandy Pines Trail

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 still useful as it provides access to a dispersed campsite. It's not clear whether the end of this tr...
Learn more about Zalesky Lake Trail

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 trails in the system. Beware of multiple intersections where other vehicle traffic can be difficult to see. There is s...
Learn more about East West Forest Road

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 runs parallel to the freeway for much of its length, with a fence on that side. The sand can get a little loose in dry conditio...
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 traffic, especially in the summer when the trees are filled out. Use this road to access other trails in the ...
Learn more about Freeway East FR

AlanDale Alps is named for being one of the few trails in the system that has any significant hills. Expect mostly flowing dirt single-track through dense woodland with a handful of short up-and-down hill sections throughout. None of the hills are especially difficult, making this a very approachabl...
Learn more about AlanDale Alps

Greenwald Run is a classic Minnesota woods trail featuring a narrow dirt track winding through a mix of dense forest and open straight sections. Mostly smooth dirt tread allows for good flow with enough embedded rocks/roots, occasional downed trees, and ruts to keep the ride engaging. Visibility can...
Learn more about Greenwald Run

Mathwig Cut is a fun, flowing single track through a mix of dense and open timber. The trail stays relatively flat as it winds through the trees on mostly smooth, packed dirt. Scattered roots, rocks, small logs, and shallow ruts add variety without becoming overly technical. Tight wooded sections an...
Learn more about Mathwig Cut

Logger's Run is a twisty trail that runs through a mix of dense woodland and a clear-cut logging area. Riders should expect the usual tight trees, embedded roots/rocks, some ruts, and some minor logging area hazards like loose sticks and erosion. The clear-cut area is well marked, and the trail is w...
Learn more about Logger's Run

Chelsey Brook Trail is a relatively flat and flowy trail with few obstacles along the way. It primarily has a dirt surface with some short rocky sections, occasional ruts, and some tighter areas that weave between trees. During dry summers, the ruts will contain little to no water, and the trail wil...
Learn more about Chelsey Brook Trail

This is the main service trail for the "stem and leaf" style trail system at AlanDale. The single-track routes branch off of this trail, so motorcycle riders frequently cross it. ATVs are allowed on this trail, but considering it is the only such trail in the system, it is intended primarily as a tr...
Learn more about AlanDale Stem Trail

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 are multiple vehicles wide down to single vehicle width. There is one section that has had a tree across it for some time. ...
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 hold decent water after heavy rain or snowmelt. There are some hills that are blind, so be sure to stay on your side...
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, but 4x4 vehicles should have no issues crossing. This is a good road for accessing other trails and a nice drive, e...
Learn more about Dago Day Use - 0340D

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 few muddy areas due to spring thaw and could be wet during rainy times later in the season.
Learn more about McGrath to Denham

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

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 overall, but in dry conditions the sand can get pretty loose. Not a problem with 4x4 and decent tires. After rain, there are a fe...
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 is a great connector if you're tired after a day of riding and want to sit down for a hot meal at Doc...
Learn more about Doc's Trail

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 a faster, flowy sand track that weaves through the pines. There are many blind corners on this trail, so be sure to respec...
Learn more about Sandy Pines Trail

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 still useful as it provides access to a dispersed campsite. It's not clear whether the end of this tr...
Learn more about Zalesky Lake Trail

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 overall, but in dry conditions the sand can get pretty loose. Not a problem with 4x4 and decent tires. After rain, there are a fe...
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 is a great connector if you're tired after a day of riding and want to sit down for a hot meal at Doc...
Learn more about Doc's Trail

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 a faster, flowy sand track that weaves through the pines. There are many blind corners on this trail, so be sure to respec...
Learn more about Sandy Pines Trail

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 trails in the system. Beware of multiple intersections where other vehicle traffic can be difficult to see. There is s...
Learn more about East West Forest Road