9 Best North Dakota ATV Trails (Off-Road Riding)

North Dakota, The Peace Garden State, is known for its beautiful nature and endless landscapes. With plenty of hills, lakes, and valleys, there’s no better place to explore on your ATV.

Head to Kimball Bottoms OHV Area, a popular destination for ATV riders. Its 400 acres of exciting trails are open year-round. Pembina Gorge State Recreation Area is another great option with plenty of beautiful trails to explore. Make sure to check trail conditions and regulations before heading out.

Our top 9 North Dakota ATV trails are as follows:

1. Roughrider OHV Trail
2. Kimball Bottoms OHV Area
3. Pembina Gorge State Recreation Area Trailhead
4. Sheyenne National Grassland
5. Turtle Mountain State Recreation Area
6. Airborne Alley MX Park
7. Bismark Motocross Association
8. Turtle River Motocross Park
9. Deep Creek Adventures

You can’t go wrong picking North Dakota for your next ATV adventure. There are plenty of trails to explore, parks to ride, and nature to enjoy. Let’s go through the various North Dakota trails on our list.

9 Best North Dakota ATV Trails

1. Roughrider OHV Trail

Roughrider is one of the most popular North Dakota off road trails. It consists of the old railroad track’s repurposed bed that is now used as an OHV trail and is open all year. This North Dakota trail is for novices and intermediate users and very popular with enthusiasts.

The 16.5-mile trail begins from the Fort Rice Campground and ends at Little Heart Bottoms. It is on Highway 1806, about 30 miles south of Mandan, and winds along the idyllic Missouri River.

The trail consists mainly of gravel and surface dirt with a few water crossings and moderate slopes. The average trail width is 50-55 inches. There are places where you can rest, admire the view, and take pictures on the trail. Campground facilities are available with restrooms, telephones, water, and parking. The Fort Rice Campground has ten campsites. There is a small campground fee.

Motorcycles and dirt bikes, ATVs, UTVs, and SXS, are all allowed. However, all vehicles need to have spark arresting silencers or end caps installed. Also, all machines should have a current North Dakota Trail Access Permit. There are no charges for riding the trail. Riders must stay on the main path since trailblazing is not allowed.

2. Kimball Bottoms OHV Area

Kimball Bottoms offers more than 400 acres of trails to explore and two islands that are accessible when water levels are low. Flooding may occur, so be sure to check the conditions before heading out.

Fishing, boating, and swimming are popular in the area. At the primitive campsites, they have a boat ramp.

Kimball Bottoms is open to motorcycles and dirt bikes, ATVs, UTVs, SXS, SUVs, Jeeps, dune buggy’s, and sand rail 4x4s. All vehicles need to have a spark arresting silencer or end cap installed. Riders under 18 must wear an MX helmet; however, all riders should use one. Trailblazing is permitted, but do check before trying it out.

Kimball Bottoms has lots of good reviews. One rider suggested bringing 4-wheel trucks to get to exciting places. Another reviewer said that he liked messing around the area, especially during the muddy season. Others loved the view and the overall off-road experience.

3. Pembina Gorge State Recreation Area Trailhead

Pembina is another popular North Dakota trail for those seeking adventure. It has over 30 miles of hard-packed and smooth trails. They’re only open from the third week of May until mid-October. It remains closed due to the heavy rainfall.

The scenic trail winds through the forest but provides panoramic views of Three Sister Hills, valleys, and rivers. All vehicles should have valid registration and permits, and everyone should wear helmets. Trailblazing is prohibited, so make sure you stay on marked trails.

Most reviewers love the place, the view, and the trails. Visitors love the number of routes, but there could be more signage. Go here for more information.

4. Sheyenne National Grassland

The Sheyenne National Grassland offers riders miles of trails to ride on. The grasslands are home to antelope, elk, whitetail and mule deer, coyotes, prairie dogs, and bighorn sheep. You can also find wild turkey, prairie chicken, sharp-tail grouse, pheasant, eagles, and falcons.

The area offers excellent opportunities for camping, hiking, canoeing, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, photography, backpacking, and OHV riding. Most riders love its vast open spaces and friendly neighbors, and picturesque trails.

5. Turtle Mountain State Recreation Area

This recreation area is 6 miles northwest of Bottineau and offers a 12-mile intermediate-level trail. The single-track trail allows traffic in both directions. Even though small in size, it can still be a lot of fun for novices.

Visitors generally enjoy the experience of visiting the area. The trails wind through the trees, and most riders love that it is not a challenging track.

6. Airborne Alley MX Park

Airborne Alley is an MX track on city land. It is generally open every day unless there is flooding. Occasionally, the park conducts races. Motorcycles, dirt bikes, and ATVs are allowed.

The track requires novice to intermediate riding skill levels. The terrain is mainly loose dirt, with patches of hard-packed soil, sandy areas, and some rocks. The cost is $10 per rider. Besides this, annual membership fees are $35 per rider, $60 per family, and $100 for a business membership. Most reviewers gave the park five stars.

7. Bismark Motocross Association

Bismark is another privately-owned commercial MX track that you can find on the northeast side of the Upper Missouri Valley Fairgrounds. It is a well-maintained area for motorcycles, dirt bikes, ATVs, UTVs, and SXS.

The fee is $10 per rider. The track is loose dirt with a few short and long jumps and berms. To ride around this track, you need intermediate to expert level skills.

8. Turtle River Motocross Park

This privately-owned commercial track is usually open on Wednesdays and weekends, and ATV riders can use the park on Sundays. But make sure you call to see if they are open before heading out.

The track is loose dirt and gravel. It has a few small and big jumps and a few berms. The skill level to navigate the route is a mix of novice, intermediate, and expert. The fees are $20 per rider, $10 for kids. The site offers primitive camping facilities.

9. Deep Creek Adventures

Deep Creek Adventures is a privately owned property that offers cabin stays and ATV riding. They offer pristine trails and excitement for all types of riders: beginners to veterans.

Promising 8,000 acres of land, Deep Creek Adventures offers diverse, rugged terrain. You can go from prairie fields with wildflowers to summits with oaks and cedars to desert lands with cactus. All this requires different skills, which makes it exciting.

The cabins are $40 per person per day and offer electric heat, bathrooms with hot and cold running water, and showers. Each can house 4 to 9 people. Besides this, the cabins have a gas grill, refrigerator, and microwave. You need to bring your supplies.

Conclusion – North Dakota ATV Trails

For your next adventure, head to one of our North Dakota off road trails. Here is our list once more.

1. Roughrider OHV Trail
2. Kimball Bottoms OHV Area
3. Pembina Gorge State Recreation Area Trailhead
4. Sheyenne National Grassland
5. Turtle Mountain State Recreation Area
6. Airborne Alley MX Park
7. Bismark Motocross Association
8. Turtle River Motocross Park
9. Deep Creek Adventures

Even though most of the sites are open throughout the year, some may experience flooding during certain times. So, before heading out, it is recommended to check if the trails are open. Also, ensure that you have the necessary permissions and permits for off-roading in North Dakota.

All in all, North Dakota is a fantastic place for off-road ATV riding. We hope that you have an adrenaline-filled ATV adventure in North Dakota!