SOUTHERN
Appleton Area Recreational Park• Chatfield Trail• Elm Creek Trail • Snake Creek Trail• Southeast Minnesota Trail• Tri-County Park • Trout Valley Trail
Appleton Area Recreational Park
Elm Creek Trail
The 330-acre Appleton Area Recreational Park is located in a former gravel mine, which makes it a perfect playground for ORV enthusiasts. The park includes 20 miles of trails, many technical, as well as a motocross practice track, a training course and dunes, rock climbs and a water pit for muddy fun. The city of Appleton also allows ATVs to travel on posted roads within city limits.
The Elm Creek Trail offers a combination of five miles of gentle rural trails and an extensive open field practice area. Situated on 52 acres of private land in the prairies of southwestern Minnesota, the Elm Creek ATV Trail is suitable for riders of all levels in a picturesque setting that includes multiple crossings over Elm Creek.
way 59.
Season: Year-round Vehicles Allowed: Facilities: Appleton: Food, fuel, restrooms, lodging More Information: Michael Johnson, 320-843-5341
Chatfield Trail
The 19-mile Chatfield ATV Trail is entirely on private land within the southeast corner of the state. This easy rural trail travels through farming landscapes, along streams and through hardwood forests. Please respect the local landowners who allow trails to pass through their property by riding only on the marked trails. A scramble area in an active sand quarry along the way offers additional challenges. Distance: 19 miles Difficulty: Easiest to More Difficult Parking/Trailhead Location(s): One mile north of Chatfield on State
TRAIL HEAD
10thAve.
Distance: 20 miles Difficulty: Easiest, More Difficult and Most Difficult Parking/Trailhead Location(s): From Appleton, go one mile east on High-
SCRAMBLE AREA
Distance: 5 miles, 52 acres Difficulty: Easiest TO TRIMONT 190thSt. Parking/Trailhead Location(s): From I-90, take Alpha exit 80 and go 8.5 miles north on
County Road 29. Then turn right on County Road 28 for 1 mile, then right on Township Road for half a mile. Season: December 22 to September 30 Vehicles Allowed:
Facilities: Trimont/Sherburn: food, fuel, restrooms; Jackson: food, restrooms, fuel, lodging More Information: Pat Murphy, 507-363-3151
Season: May 1 to October 31 Vehicles Allowed:
Snake Creek and Trout Valley Trails
Facilities: Chatfield: food, fuel, restrooms; Rochester: food, fuel, restrooms, lodging More Information: Bernie Hammell, 507-867-4410
These trails, located in the section of Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood Forest that extends along the Mississippi River Valley, offer some of the state’s best off-road overlooks, with some of southern Minnesota’s most scenic high points along the trail. Outcroppings, rubble and a 300foot climb make this a challenging day out for more experienced riders.
Highways 74 and 30. Parking is on the right side.
ATVentures 2017 • 25
