Off-Road Parks Open Year-Round: Where to Ride This Winter
In many locations in the United States, when winter rolls around it means it’s time to park one’s powersports vehicle in storage until the early months of spring. But not everywhere. In many places with more temperate weather, especially in the South, some OHV parks (and trails) allow year-round off-road access. For those looking to continue the ride and extend their off-roading season into the winter months, read on to learn some quick and easy ways to determine whether OHV parks and trails in a given area are open for use.
TL;DR:
Many OHV parks in colder regions close in winter to prevent trail damage, but plenty of spots in the South, Southwest, and select Midwestern/Eastern areas (like Gulches ORV, Ocotillo Wells, Hatfield-McCoy, and Kairos Wilderness) stay open for year-round riding. Safe winter wheeling means checking park status and conditions ahead of time, prepping your vehicle and recovery gear for cold weather, and not riding muddy or closed trails. The onX Offroad App makes it easy to find which parks and trails are open, see snow and weather overlays, view recent imagery, check difficulty, and download Offline Maps so you can confidently plan winter off-road trips.
Why Some Off-Road Parks Stay Open Year-Round
The weather is the primary factor here. OHV parks and trails located in northern latitudes are likely closed during the winter months. Off-roading in snowy, muddy, and icy conditions can cause unnecessary trail damage, rendering them unusable or permanently closed. Parks in regions with warmer winter weather (such as the South) tend to be open year-round.
Another factor is whether an OHV park is publicly or privately managed. Publicly managed parks tend to follow strict trail access periods and rules, whereas privately owned parks are open at the property owner’s discretion.
Keep Your Off-Season Rolling
Don’t park your rig just because it’s winter. Use onX Offroad to find year-round parks, check conditions, and download Offline Maps so you can ride with confidence in any season.
Publicly managed OHV parks struggle to secure the resources to maintain trails during winter months, while private OHV parks are run as businesses that make money only when they are open. In either case, it’s best to know before you go if a park is open during the winter months.
Best Off-Road Parks Open All Year
To give you a better idea of the locations where year-round OHV access is available, we’ve gathered a few examples of parks by region, with acceptable vehicle types, terrain to expect, park amenities, and why they’re a worthy choice for winter off-roading.
Southern U.S. | Warm-Weather Winter Riding
- State: South Carolina
- Ride Types Allowed: All vehicle types
- Terrain Types: Full-width roads
- Why It’s a Worthy Winter Choice: A total of 20 miles of trails set on 80 acres.
Hawk Pride Mountain Offroad Park
- State: Alabama
- Ride Types Allowed: All vehicle types
- Terrain Types: Full-width roads
- Why It’s a Worthy Winter Choice: A privately owned OHV park with 1,000 acres of trails.
Southwest | Desert and High Desert Parks
- State: California
- Ride Types Allowed: All vehicle types
- Terrain Types: Full-width roads, two-track, singletrack
- Why It’s a Worthy Winter Choice: 85,000 acres of off-road dunes and trails.
DOMO (Dove Nest Motorsports Club)
- State: Texas
- Ride Types Allowed: All vehicle types
- Terrain Types: Full-width roads
- Why It’s a Worthy Winter Choice: A privately owned motorsports club with 35 miles of trails set on 550 acres in central Texas.
Midwest and East | Cold-Weather Riding
- State: West Virginia
- Ride Types Allowed: All vehicle types
- Terrain Types: Full-width roads, two-track, and singletrack
- Why It’s a Worthy Winter Choice: Over 1,000 miles of riding on 1,000,000+ acres.
- State: Virginia
- Ride Types Allowed: All vehicle types
- Terrain Types: Full-width roads, two-track, and singletrack
- Why It’s a Worthy Winter Choice: 100+ miles of trails in the Appalachian wilderness.
Tips for Safe and Fun Winter Off-Roading
With pre-planning and preparation, winter off-roading can be seriously fun. A few tips to help make your winter off-roading safe and smart when the temperatures drop include:
- Know before you go: check trail conditions and OHV park status in onX Offroad.
- Know the difference between public and private trail closures.
- Prepare your vehicle for cold conditions (e.g., snow tires, fresh battery).
- Come prepared with rescue and recovery gear (e.g., winch, traction boards).
- Bring cold-weather survival gear in case you get stranded (e.g., heated gear, blankets).
- Bring a travel companion to help navigate and for added help on the trail.
- Keep electronic devices like GPS and smartphones close to the body for added warmth.
- Use onX Offroad Waypoints for emergency coordination.
- Download Offline Maps so you are always aware of your position, regardless of cell service.
Use onX Offroad to Find Year-Round Trails
The onX Offroad App was designed for off-roaders to prepare better and navigate the unknowns of the backcountry. The following resources allow onX Offroad users to quickly determine if an OHV park or trail is open during winter months. With onX Offroad, users can:
- Filter parks and trails by open status.
- Access recent imagery of off-road parks that shows what each trail looks like in near-real time.
- See snow depth and weather overlays.
- Check trail difficulty and conditions.
- Save Offline Maps for remote access.
- And so much more!
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FAQs About Off-Road Parks Open Year-Round
OHV parks open in winter tend to be located in regions with milder weather, such as the Southeast, Mid-South, and Southwest. Parks located in higher latitudes (and altitudes) tend to close for winter months, though some can be open on a case-by-case basis and should be verified before heading off on a winter off-road adventure.
Absolutely. As long as an OHV park is open during winter months and trails are deemed accessible, it is possible to go off-roading in the snow. Of course, preparation is even more critical during winter months, when temperatures can plummet and the weather can change quickly.
It really comes down to weather. An off-road park is located in a region that receives cold winter temperatures, and snowfall is unlikely to be open during the winter. It’s critical to research in advance and use an app like onX Offroad to find the operating dates for OHV parks.
Visit OHV Park websites or use an app like onX Offroad to locate trail use information and open and close dates to determine if the trail is accessible during winter months. Off-roaders should avoid closed trails and those that are wet and muddy to prevent damage.
The best locations are places where it is acceptable to drive off-road vehicles safely during the winter months without damaging trails or requiring rescue assistance. Driving on muddy trails requires unnecessary maintenance to restore them to usable condition.
Yes. The onX Offroad App makes it easy to find OHV park open and close dates. Users can quickly search the app for an OHV park or trail name to access its open and close dates, current weather conditions, and user-generated reviews with photos.
Four-wheel-drive vehicles are best for winter off-roading, as they can navigate frozen, slippery conditions more easily from the warmth of a heated cab. Dirt bikes and ATVs not only leave riders exposed to the harsh winter elements but are also more challenging to maneuver in snow and ice, especially without studded tires.