ATVing and Off highway vehicles, OHV for short, are growing in popularity and is quite possibly one of the most popular outdoor sports in Minnesota. We want to share with you some of the best places to ride.
Before we get in to all the good trail information, let us give you a few facts before you hop on.
- riders born after July 1st 1987 has to pass a required safety course for ATVs and OHMs ( off-road motorcycles) if you’re under the age of 16.
- nonresidents will also need to posses registration papers if the vehicle is not registered in Minnesota. This registration costs 21.00*. riders also don’t need it if they are related to the person’s property if the trail is owned by a relative or spouse.
- also be sure to check for current conditions on trails as this year’s roads could have been washed out due to heavy rain.
Rates could change, check with local DNR to see current rates.
Minnesota has over 1,000 miles of off-road trails and range from easy to difficult with challenging courses. One of the areas known for OHV riding is Iron Range. This area has over 4,000 acres of land and 36 miles of various types of trails. This park has no entrance fee currently and is open almost all year round except for Minnesota’s firearm deer hunting season. This area has 3 gas stations.
The next recreational area you should know about is the Moose Lake/Deer River area; called the SOO Line North Trail. This could be one of the easiest areas for ATVs and OHMs so bring the beginner or the kids along and hit the trails with ease. You will find food, gas and lodging. We suggest renting a Deer River cabin on Moose Lake for less of a hassle and the ultimate experience that this lodging can offer.
This old abandoned railroad trail unwinds its 15 mile course along many little ponds and hardwood forest.
Our favorite trail for MN snowmobiling (or the ski-doo or Arctic Cat) is the Paul Bunyan Trail that leads us through 15 different towns. Of course, we recommend you rent cabins in Brainerd and cabins in Walker. The Paul Bunyan trail is free to access and is well marked for recreation users throughout its 112 miles. This makes it the longest trail in Minnesota and 19 of those miles are paved! With so many lakes alongside the trail, this trail offers fantastic views of nature, wildlife, and various Minnesota towns. Walker sits on Leech Lake, the 3rd largest lake in Minnesota. Walker has magnificent Pine trees, a great beach, and panoramic views of bluffs. This trail also offers many activities, contest, games and local events — make sure your next vacation stay is right alongside this trail. Get a group together, bring the snowmobiles and enjoy all that our Leech Lake vacation rentals have to offer.
A quick reminder about our RentMinnesotaCabins.com website. Once you find a vacation rental(s) you like, you inquire and book directly with rental owners – booking direct is the only way to assure you are getting the best rental rate. Booking through other 3rd party websites likely means your paying more for the same rental because of the booking-commission. BOOKING DIRECT JUST MAKES SENSE.
It’s Cabin Time® Blog 