If you are an active ATV rider looking to travel and experience some new trails, we’ve done the work for you. For those dirt bike and ATV owners, there’s no shortage of trail options across the U.S.
Note that some states have an entire trail system, and others have a specific or individual trail that stands out.
When you’re ready for your next adventure, take a look at the best ATV trails the U.S. has to offer. (Just be sure to choose these trails according to your experience level and the season you want to ride).
Top 50 Best ATV Trails in the U.S.
If you want a quick state-by-state assessment of the best ATV Trails in the U.S., look no further!
- Alabama: Top Trails, Talladega
- Alaska: Knik Glacier Trail, Palmer
- Arizona: Hot Wells Dunes Recreation Area, Safford
- Arkansas: Wolf Pen Gap, Mena
- California: Oceano Dunes SVRA
- Colorado: North Sand Hills
- Connecticut: Backyard Adventure UTV Tours, East Canaan
- Florida: Ocala OHV Trail System, Umatilla
- Georgia: Durhamtown Offroad Resort, Union Point
- Hawaii: Maui Off-Road Adventures, Lahaina
- Idaho: St. Anthony Sand Dunes, St. Anthony
- Illinois: The Cliffs Insane Terrain Off Road Park, Marseilles
- Indiana: Interlake State Recreation Area, Lynnville
- Iowa: Rathbun OHV Park, Centerville
- Kansas: Tuttle Creek ORV Area, Randolph
- Kentucky: Rush Off-Road, Rush
- Louisiana: Muddy Bottoms Recreation Park, Springhill
- Maine: Katahdin Lodge/Aroostook County Trail System, Bangor
- Maryland: Wolf Den Run State Park, Kitzmiller
- Massachusetts: October Mountain State Forest, Stockbridge
- Michigan: Silver Lake State Park
- Minnesota: Spider Lake OHV Area, Pine River
- Mississippi: Wild Country Offroad
- Missouri: St. Joe State Park, Park Hills
- Montana: Shepherd Ah Nei Recreation Area, Billings
- Nebraska: Bessey OHV Trail System, Halsey
- Nevada: Logandale OHV Trails, Logandale
- New Hampshire: Jericho Mountain State Park, Berlin
- New Jersey: Egg Harbor Ready to Ride, Egg Harbor
- New Mexico: Gordys Hill/Johnson Hill OHV Area, Socorro
- New York: Lewis County ATV Trail System, Lowville
- North Carolina: Busco Beach ATV Park, Goldsboro
- North Dakota: Roughrider OHV Area, Huff
- Ohio: Perry State Forest, New Lexington
- Oklahoma: Disney/Hogans Off Road Park, Disney
- Oregon: Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Florence
- Pennsylvania: Potter County Trails
- South Carolina: Carolina Adventure World, Winnsboro
- South Dakota: South Boxelder Trailhead, Nemo
- Tennessee: Ride Royal Blue, Pioneer
- Texas: Sabine ATV Park, Burkeville
- Utah: Little Sahara Dunes
- Vermont: Vermont ATV Sportsman’s Association, Barre
- Virginia: Spearhead Trails Pocahontas Trail System, Coeburn
- Washington: Evans Creek ORV Area, Buckley
- West Virginia: Hatfield McCoy Trails, Man
- Wisconsin: Black River State Forest, Black River Falls
- Wyoming: Bighorn National Forest, Burgess Junction
Best ATV Trail Systems (The Best Sand Dunes, Forest Trails, and Mud Riding Locations)
Here, we’ll break down the best trail systems according to trail type (rather than state). The three trail types featured are:: sand dunes, forest trails, and mud riding locations.
The Best Sand Dunes for ATVing
Dune buggy enthusiasts will find an impressive experience in locations like North Sand Hills in Colorado, which promises varied terrain across 300 acres, and Oceano Dunes SVRA in California, where you’ll have a vast 3,500 acres worth of beaches and off-roading to explore.
Michigan’s Silver Lake State Park and Utah’s Little Sahara Dunes are suitable for riders of every skill level. Some of these trails allow riders all year long.
| Location | Difficulty Range | Season Open |
| North Sand Hills, Colorado | Easy to Difficult | Spring to Fall |
| Oceano Dunes SVRA, California | Easy to Moderate | Year-round |
| Silver Lake State Park, Michigan | Moderate to Difficult | April to October |
| Little Sahara Dunes, Utah | Easy to Difficult | Year-round |
The Best State Forest Trails
State forests offer a rich ATV-riding experience, that merges the thrill of the trail with stunning natural scenery characteristic of a state forest.
Pennsylvania is said to be one of the best states for ATV-friendly forest trails. Riders can explore extensive networks like the 43-mile loop in Potter County or the 20-mile trail spanning Snyder and Union Counties, available primarily in the summer.
| Location | Difficulty Range | Season Open |
| Potter County, Pennsylvania | Moderate | Summer |
| Snyder and Union Counties, PA | Moderate | Summer |
| Sideling Hill, Pennsylvania | Varies | Not specified |
| Whiskey Springs, Pennsylvania | Varies | Not specified |
The Best Locations for Mud Riding
Muddy Bottoms in Louisiana, Sabine ATV Park in Texas, and Wild Country Offroad in Mississippi are havens for off-road enthusiasts who crave the excitement of mud riding.
These parks are chalked full of challenging mud trails, deep-water crossings, and hill climbs. Bring an extra set of clothes when enjoying the mud trails, and make sure you have insurance on your ATV to avoid any expenses due to accidents.
| Location | Difficulty Range | Season Open |
| Muddy Bottoms, Louisiana | Moderate to Difficult | Year-round |
| Sabine ATV Park, Texas | Moderate to Difficult | Year-round |
| Wild Country Offroad, Mississippi | Moderate to Difficult | Year-round |
Seasonal Access: When Trails Are Open
While the thrill of the ride is exhilarating, it’s also essential to know when these ATV trails are open for riding.
Many trails in Pennsylvania state forests, for instance, are open during the summer season, typically from the Friday before Memorial Day through the last full weekend in September.
The winter season usually ranges from the end of deer season to April 1st.
As an avid rider it’s best to find places that are open year round. Then, you can then alternate your schedule and always have a place to stop.
For the latest trail updates, RiderPlanet USA is a comprehensive directory to turn to, complete with a calendar for event notifications and seasonal trail reopenings.
Matching Your Skill Level to the Right Trail
Beginners should look for trails designated as easy to moderate. Expert trail riders may find this type of trail boring, so if you’re riding with a group of varying experience levels, plan ahead and find something that works for everyone.
It’s recommended that beginners start their ATV riding career on easier trails–usually marked with green circle symbols. As they become more proficient, they should seek out trails with intermediate (blue square) markings and eventually move to trails with advanced (black diamond) ratings.
As a rule of thumb, look for trails that offer a slightly greater challenge than what you are used to –but are still manageable with your current skill level.
Trails classified as ‘more difficult’ or ‘most difficult’ are designed for those who want to test their skills with features like:
- Steeper hills
- Narrow paths
- Switchbacks
- Significant obstacles
When attempting more challenging trails, progress slowly and closely examine how your vehicle handles different terrains.
Summary
When a day of ATV riding comes to a close, you’ll need a place to store your vehicle.
Proper storage can keep your ATV in excellent condition and maintain its value. Sometimes, it makes sense to store it near a trailhead. With Neighbor, a peer-to-peer vehicle storage marketplace, you’ll find storage options in all 50 states. Luckily, this storage option is also known to be about 50% lower in price than traditional storage options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is an ATV Trail?
An ATV trail is a path or route specifically designed for all-terrain vehicles. Some ATV trails allow for dune buggies, dirt bikes, and other all-terrain vehicles.
What Is ATV Riding?
ATV riding involves operating an all-terrain vehicle designed to travel on four low-pressure tires.
What Is the Difference Between a UTV and an ATV?
UTVs are larger and usually have side-by-side seating and a cargo box. ATVs are smaller and built for single riders, with a straddle seating position.
What Is the Longest ATV Trail?
The longest ATV trail is the Trans-America Trail. This trail stretches over 5,000 miles.
What Is the Best ATV Trail Map?
Access the best ATV Trail maps on apps like The Polaris Ride Command app.
