12 Best Dirt Bike Trails MN: Minnesota

Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes, is known for its beautiful landscape, year-round outdoor activities, and friendly locals. Its acres of forest and miles of trails make it a top destination for dirt bike riding. So, where are the top dirt bike trails in Minnesota?

There are lots of great places to ride your dirt bike in Minnesota. Head to Straight Arrows Trail, an excellent choice for riders looking for a challenge. There’s also Meeker County OHV Park, a great place to ride with family and friends.

Our top 12 dirt bike trails in Minnesota are as follows:

1. Meeker County OHV Park
2. Straight Arrows Trail
3. Spider Lake Trails
4. Fond du Lac State Forest Trails
5. Huntersville State Forest Trails
6. Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle Recreational Area
7. Meadow Valley MX
8. Nemadji State Forest Trails
9. Paul Bunyan State Forest Trails
10. Snake Creek Trail
11. Soo Pits OHV Trails
12. St. Croix State Forest Trails

You can’t go wrong picking Minnesota for your next dirt bike trip. There are tons of trails to enjoy and areas to practice new skills. Read on to learn more about these Minnesota dirt bike trails.

12 Best Dirt Bike Trails MN: Minnesota

1. Meeker County OHV Park

While its five-mile trail is for ATVs, the Meeker County OHV Park’s six-mile track is for dirt bikes. As a plus, it has a section for younger enthusiasts who are still training and a mud pit for experienced riders.

However, if you’re an advanced or professional rider, you might find the trail too easy. Most of its sections are beginner-friendly, while there are a few areas for intermediate riders.

This location has a massive parking lot, a cozy picnic area, and restrooms. The Crow River Wheelers ATV Club regularly maintains everything.

Some areas on the trail still need more attention, though. They can be too muddy for dirt bikes. Others even have big rocks everywhere that can put you at risk while riding a motorcycle.

2. Straight Arrows Trail

Spanning 35 miles near the border of Wisconsin, the Straight Arrows Trail is perfect for off-highway motorcycles. It’s also specifically ideal for experts because of the area’s elevations and sharp turns. It will surely be a challenge for beginners, of course.

3. Spider Lake Trails

Right in the Foot Hills State Forest, the Spider Lake Trails are 29-miles long in total. This trail system is not as big as other locations on this list. Still, it’s surprisingly versatile geographically because of all the rocks, sand, elevations, and bodies of water in different sections.

4. Fond du Lac State Forest Trails

Under the management of the MDNR or the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Fond du Lac State Forest is primarily found in Carlton County, specifically between Cromwell and Sawyer.

When it comes to its trail system, this forest has different paths for various activities.

If you’re a beginner, remember that the looped trails can be too challenging. Don’t worry; there’s a massive pit that’s mostly gravel right in the forest where you can practice all you want.

5. Huntersville State Forest Trails

One of the ultimate Wadena County destinations, the Huntersville State Forest, is only partially under MDNR. That’s because some of its sections are private.

Regarding the trails, a 58-mile route is for off-road motorcycles. There are also ATV and equestrian trails that are 3.6 and 18 miles long, respectively.

Focusing on the dirt bike trail, it’s a system of four paths with three primary areas. That’s why the flow there is smooth, and there are sections for both beginners and pros. If you’re an expert biker, you’re going to appreciate the sand whoops and more clumps of trees.

If you prefer a more peaceful location, then you better consider other trail systems. This forest has a lot of visitors most of the time, including kids. You can’t relax in some areas like the beach. The public toilets are also off-putting.

6. Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle Recreational Area

Located in the City of Gilbert, Minnesota, the Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle Recreational Area is technically a park spanning 3,600 acres. However, it isn’t just your ordinary park. It includes a 49-mile trail system only for ATVs, 4×4 or four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles, dirt bikes, and trucks suitable for all-terrain use.

For safety, check the markings to avoid getting lost, as well as see the trail’s level of difficulty. It’s such a relief that there’s no entrance fee required in this park, but it’s your responsibility to get a special license for your dirt bike.

Don’t worry about dirt and mud from the rocky and wet grounds of this hilly location. Included in the facilities is an area where you can wash your bike. However, a problem you can’t control is how crowded this place can be due to bigger vehicles like jeeps.

7. Meadow Valley MX

By watering and grooming its surfaces regularly, the Meadow Valley MX staff ensures that the motocross track is always at its best for dirt bikes. As a plus, the track is excellent for all ages and skill levels because of its beginner and expert sections.

If you prefer the wilderness, some trails span 23 miles in the area as well. Aside from dirt bikes, side-by-side (SxS) vehicles and quads are also allowed there.

This private property is too expensive for some visitors, though. While the motocross track is impressive, the trail requires better maintenance because of its low-quality signage and excessively rocky surfaces.

8. Nemadji State Forest Trails

With its massive land spanning three different locations (mostly in Pine County and the rest are in Carlton County and Wisconsin), the Nemadji State Forest is an extensive trail system. The longest trail, which spans 121 miles, is developed for off-road dirt bikes and ATVs.

However, since the trail is extremely long and open for different vehicles, it can be quite noisy because of the crowd and traffic. If you prefer a more peaceful experience, consider other dirt bike trails in Minnesota.

9. Paul Bunyan State Forest Trails

Different sides of the Paul Bunyan State Forest cover portions of the Hubbard County, Cass County, Chippewa National Forest, Welsh Lake State Forest, and Mississippi Headwaters State Forest. Its 87-mile trail is enough for a good day of dirt biking. Unfortunately, there’s a lack of wildlife there, which can potentially make your adventure a bit boring.

10. Snake Creek Trail

A 13-mile track in a forest, the Snake Creek Trail includes an elevated section, which will give you majestic views. While that’s going to be a piece of cake for other vehicles, dirt bikes might have a hard time in rocky areas because of their machines’ limited size.

11. Soo Pits OHV Trails

With Moose Lake as the nearby community, the Soo Pits OHV Trails are easily accessible. They’re only a total of five miles long, but you can still enjoy the entire area because of the gravel pit. Even better, there are sections for all skill levels.

12. St. Croix State Forest Trails

If you’re really into nature, the St. Croix State Forest has some of the most beautiful trails. That’s because of the dense forest itself where you can appreciate its wildlife. It’s a decent location for dirt biking but still needs some improvement on its system compared to other trails on this list.

Conclusion – 12 Best Dirt Bike Trails MN

There are a lot of dirt bike trails in the U.S., but only a limited number of places have a certain charm that will make you want to come back over and over again. Minnesota is one of those states with picturesque trail systems.

Again, these are all the trails or trail systems for dirt bikes we highly recommend if you’re going to Minnesota:

1. Meeker County OHV Park
2. Straight Arrows Trail
3. Spider Lake Trails
4. Fond du Lac State Forest Trails
5. Huntersville State Forest Trails
6. Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle Recreational Area
7. Meadow Valley MX
8. Nemadji State Forest Trails
9. Paul Bunyan State Forest Trails
10. Snake Creek Trail
11. Soo Pits OHV Trails
12. St. Croix State Forest Trails

State forests usually have trail systems, so we suggest prioritizing Minnesota’s forests if you want to visit many trails in a short amount of time.