15 Best Idaho ATV Trails (4×4 Off-Road)

Idaho’s natural beauty and excellent trails make it an ideal destination for your next adventure. If you’re an off-road enthusiast, you may be wondering where some of the best Idaho ATV trails are.

Idaho has many ATV trails to explore. You can visit Rocky Bar Mine and Trinity Mountain Lookout OHV trail for rocky terrain and spectacular views. There’s also Canfield Mountain Trail, which has over 32 miles of trail to explore.

Here are the 15 best ATV trails in Idaho:

1. Rocky Bar Mine and Trinity Mountain Lookout OHV Trail
2. Railroad Right Of Way Trail
3. Canfield Mountain ATV Trail System
4. Danskin Mountains OHV Area
5. Idaho Centennial Trail
6. Baumgartner Trails
7. Clay Peak Recreation Area
8. Elk City Wagon Road
9. Fourth of July Pass ATV Trails
10. Cottonwood Creek
11. St Anthony Sand Dunes
12. Devil’s Corral
13. Graham Mountain
14. Greenhorn
15. Independence Creek Trail System

You can’t go wrong picking Idaho for your next off-road ATV trail adventure. There are miles of trails and exciting places to see. Let’s go through each of our top trails.

15 Best Idaho ATV Trails

1. Rocky Bar Mine and Trinity Mountain Lookout OHV Trail

Famous for its light trafficked loop trail, the Rocky Bar Mine and Trinity Mountain Lookout OHV trail feature 69 miles of lightly trafficked and fascinating road views. This trail is fit for OHV drivers who want to hit the trails for the views.

One thing that makes Trinity an exceptional trail is its steep and impressive north side, full of alpine views. Lakes are found mostly in the northern and eastern parts of the trinity mountain. There are 15 of these lakes that provide excellent backpack fishing and ATV drives.

An exciting part of the ATV trail experience is the ride towards the parking area. It can be unnerving with very rocky terrain, but worth the ride.

2. Railroad Right Of Way Trail

One of the best parts of an adventure is finding treasured places secluded from the public. The Railroad Right of Way Trail has a historical significance, being a former railroad corridor that was once used to gain access to West Yellowstone, Montana, through the Idaho Falls.

Hit the trail from the Warm River Campground to the Warm River Fish Hatchery. You get to experience a few moments of rocky rides, but it is a reasonably smooth trail extending 17.9 miles.

If you’re lucky, you can find some bear tracks on the trail.

3. Canfield Mountain Trail

The Canfield Mountain Trail System offers miles of forested access to trails suitable for beginners and advanced riders in the beautiful Coeur d’Alene area. Explore over 32 miles as you maneuver around ruts, rocks, and other obstacles.

4. Danskin Mountains OHV Area

With over 160 miles, this area offers a beautiful variety of terrain with breathtaking views. Located near Boise, Idaho, it features a river and a 45-mile loop trail primarily used for off-road driving.

The train consists mostly of hard-packed, sandy trails that wind through the high desert scrub brush. It has a few areas of trees, shallow water crossings, large canyons, and sand washes. Make sure to bring an Idaho ATV trails map for your ride.

5. Idaho Centennial Trail

The 900-mile Idaho Centennial Trail (ICT) weaves through the most scenic portions of Idaho’s wild country, from Southern desert canyonlands into wet mountain forests in the northern part of the state.

It not only features fantastic views but also offers an incredible OHV driving experience. You are in for a fun ride with the trail’s spectacular scenery.

6. Baumgartner Trail

This part of the sawtooth national forest offers hundreds of miles of single track and ATV trails. Most of the trails are best for more advanced riders because of steep and narrow switchbacks.

But there’s also something for new riders at the Kelly Flat staging area. It features a loop for less experienced riders who can choose from the multiple staging locations.

7. ClayPeak Recreation Area

In Payette, Idaho, the Claypeak Recreation area features 200-acres of OHV park. It opens daily from dusk to dawn and offers excellent desert trail views and spectacular challenges with its makeshift motocross tracks.

Both new and experienced riders are welcome. Most of the trails are hard-packed, but some parts are very sandy.

8. Elk City Wagon Road

Go back in time when you experience the Clearwater to Elk City wagon road adventure trip. This historic trail was once an old mining and wagon road that was used around the mid-19th century.

With Elk City Wagon Road, you can ride all year-round, though snowmobiles are the best when exploring during the winter months.

9. Fourth of July Pass ATV Trails

Ride the 35-mile Fourth of July Pass ATV trails found in Coeur d’Alene National Forest. It features multiple loop options and a large gravel staging area designed for ATV driving.

If you are ready to test your driving skills in different elevations, then the Fourth of July Pass ATV trails is the way to go. This is one of the ATV trails in Idaho that offer scenic views of several magnificent landforms from the Copper Mountain to Curren Saddle.

10. Cottonwood Creek

The Cottonwood Creek trail is perfect for thrill-seekers. Riders rated the trail as difficult, featuring a 15.6 miles of lightly trafficked out and back trails near Boise, Idaho. Most consider it a lovely route with plenty of diversity, stretches of shade, and gorgeous wildflowers.

11. St Anthony Sand Dunes

Get to Eastern Idaho, where you have over 10,600 acres of white quartz dunes extending from 10 feet to 300 feet high.

The smaller and manageable firm rolling dunes to the east is suitable for beginner riders. In contrast, the western part’s dunes are excellent for riders who want a more exciting ATV experience.

12. Devil’s Corral

Devil’s Corral offers several acres of wide 4×4 dirt roads if you are looking to test your riding skills. Riders can expect trails that get almost close to the rime of the canyon.

Vegetation around this place is limited to a few shrubs, but it’s still a fantastic place for a quick ride.

13. Graham Mountain

You should plan and experience a ride in Graham Mountain. The trail comprises rough terrains, but the most exciting part is crossing creeks several times during the ride. While most would not recommend large vehicles, the trail is open to motorcycles and mountain bikes.

14. Greenhorn

Greenhorn features miles of smooth trail that leads you to a breathtaking view of grassy fields and trees. The track is a combination of hard-packed and even terrain, which is perfect for many riders.

15. Independence Creek Trail System

Another favorite ATV trail in Idaho is the Independence Creek National Recreation Trail. It is a 19-mile single track, lightly trafficked trail near Bayview, Idaho. OHV drivers rated it as moderate, with trails that are mostly smooth with several bridge crossings.

This trail is open for riding in April, lasting up to the first snowfall around September. It also offers several other activities such as boating, swimming, and hiking in its nearby lakes.

ATV Trails in McCall, Idaho

McCall is more than a resort town in the western part of Valley County, Idaho. It offers trails that are the dream ride of hardcore riders wanting to test their riding prowess in the area’s rugged terrain.

Some of the recommended ATV trails in McCall include Yellow Pine, War Eagle Lookout, West Mountain, and Riddler Mine OHV Trail.

ATV Trails Stanley Idaho

A ride at the Stanley backroads is one for the record. With its generous share of dirt roads, Stanley offers an escape for people looking for adventures in the trail’s dusty tracks.

Stanley has at least 20 trails within its immediate area. There are ATV/UTV rentals nearby, so you have every reason to enjoy backroads ride with your family and friends in Stanley.

ATV Trails in Cascade Idaho

Cascade Idaho is a significant starting point for people looking to explore the great outdoors with their ATV. The city’s backyard offers unique trails for exciting ATV rides. You can check the Cascade Chamber website to get familiar with the Cascade area and its ATV trails.

ATV Trails near Twin Falls, Idaho

Twin Falls Idaho features the best-rated trails in Idaho. Snake River Canyon Rim Trail, for instance, offers impressive views and superb park amenities. The trail is an excellent place for beginner riders where you can get your kids off to a safe start in riding ATV’s.

Kellogg Idaho ATV Trails

Idaho is considered as an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. The state earned this reputation for its enormous natural spaces featuring lakes, canyons, and mountain ranges.

Nothing compares to immersing yourself with these natural beauties while freewheeling with your ATV.

Idaho ATV Trails Guide

Idaho offers a lot of opportunities for families to explore its numerous ATV trails and riding parks. If you are venturing out with your kids, try riding in smaller parks to get your little ones a handle on the basics of riding in trails.

Make sure to pack the necessities:

• Helmet and protective clothing/gears
• Mobile phones
• Water
• Snacks and lunch
• First-aid kit
• Extra gas

Remember to take the trails categorized as easy for navigation. You can check out the Idaho ATV trail maps for routes with less challenging terrain. This can help you determine the difficulty of the terrain.

If your family had been riding for some time, you would most likely be familiar with manageable trail features. The terrain is effortless when it has minimal steep inclines, a negligible amount of rocks, and firm dirt.

Off-Road Safety

Always wear safety gear and familiarize yourself with the terrain. Make sure your kids have completed the relevant safety courses before letting them drive. In Idaho, drivers under sixteen years of age have to complete a motorbike safety course. Also, keep your vehicles on designated off-road areas.

Idaho ATV Trail Width

ATVs are recreational vehicles with three or more tires that weigh under 900 pounds. These vehicles are 50 inches or less and have a wheelbase of 61 inches or less.

Officials require ATV riders to register their vehicles at Idaho Parks and Recreation and display their registration sticker on the rear fender.

Conclusion – 15 Best Idaho ATV Trails

So, what are the 15 best ATV trails in Idaho? To summarize, here they are once again:

1. Rocky Bar Mine and Trinity Mountain Lookout OHV Trail
2. Railroad Right Of Way Trail
3. Canfield Mountain ATV Trail System
4. Danskin Mountains OHV Area
5. Idaho Centennial Trail
6. Baumgartner Trails
7. Clay Peak Recreation Area
8. Elk City Wagon Road
9. Fourth of July Pass ATV Trails
10. Cottonwood Creek
11. St Anthony Sand Dunes
12. Devil’s Corral
13. Graham Mountain
14. Greenhorn
15. Independence Creek Trail System

All in all, Idaho offers lots of opportunities to ride your ATV. Their trails provide a rich network of beautiful scenery, sprawling forests, and challenging terrain. Whether you’re looking to test your off-road prowess at Cottonwood Creek, or more relaxing trails near Twin Falls, there’s something for everyone in Idaho.