Offroad Primer

Explore Minnesota’s Offroad Trails

Minnesota has a thriving offroad recreation community made up of enthusiasts who travel via all-terrain vehicles (ATV), offroad motorcycles (OHM) and offroad vehicles (ORV). There are more than 2,500 miles of official trails, and many more miles of accessible forest roads in state and national forests. And more is added every year. This season, try out the new Smoky Hills ATV Trail, Mississippi Northwoods and Miller Hills, and the East Range Multi-Use Trail.

Join the Club

Minnesota has active associations and clubs for ATV, off-highway motorcycles and offroad vehicles. Joining the associations and clubs provide access to insider information on trails and trail-building, events, vehicle information and people who enjoy the sports. To learn more, contact the All-Terrain Vehicle Association of Minnesota (ATVAM) at www. atvam.org; the Amateur Riders Motorcycle Association (ARMCA) at www. armca.org; or the Minnesota 4-Wheel Drive Association (MN4WDA) at www.mn4wda.com.

Safety Training Requirements

ATV

Safety training is mandatory for anyone born after July 1, 1987. Those 16 and older can complete an online safety class. Youth age 6 to 12 must complete both an online course and hands-on safety. Only youth 10 and older can legally operate an ATV on public trails. For more information, go to www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/vehicle/atv.

Off-Highway Motorcycle

OHM drivers between the ages of 6 and 16 years are required to have an OHM Certificate to operate on public lands, frozen waters, and state or Grant-in-Aid trails in Minnesota. A certificate is given upon completion of the ATV online class. For more information, go to www.dnr.state.mn.us/ safety/vehicle/ohm.

Offroad Vehicle

ORVs may not be operated by anyone under age 16. An ORV environmental and safety training course is available on a USB flash drive for persons 16 or older. The course covers ORV familiarization, operation procedures, laws, towing procedures, ethics, safety hazards and environmental considerations. For a flash drive, contact the DNR Information Center at 1-888-646-6367 or 651-296-6157.

STATE FORESTS ALPHABETICALLY BY NAME WITH CLASSIFICATION

Badoura- Limited Battleground- Closed Bear Island- Limited Beltrami Island- Managed Big Fork- Managed Birch Lakes- Closed Blackduck- Managed Bowstring- Limited/Managed Buena Vista - Limited/Managed/Closed Burntside- Limited/Closed Chengwanta- Limited Cloquet Valley- Closed/Limited/Managed Crow Wing- Limited D.A.R.- Limited Emily- Limited Finland- Closed/Limited/Managed Fond du Lac - Limited Foot Hills - Limited General C.C. Andrews - Limited George Washington- Closed/Limited/ Managed Golden Anniversary - Limited Grand Portage - Managed Hill River- Limited Huntersville - Limited Insula Lake- Closed Kabetogama- Managed Koochiching- Managed Lake Isabella- Closed Lake Jeanette - Limited/Closed Lake of the Woods- Managed Land O’Lakes - Limited Lost River- Managed Lyons - Limited Mississippi Headwaters – Limited Nemadji - Limited Northwest Angle- Managed Pat Bayle - Limited Paul Bunyan - Limited Pillsbury- Closed Pine Island-Managed RJD Memorial Hardwood - Limited Red Lake - Managed Remer - Limited Rum River - Limited Sand Dunes- Closed Savanna - Limited Smokey Bear- Managed Smoky Hills - Limited Snake River- Closed/Limited Solana - Limited St. Croix - Limited Sturgeon River- Limited/ Managed Two Inlets - Limited Waukenabo - Limited Wealthwood - Limited Welsh Lake- Closed White Earth - Limited Whiteface River- Closed

State Forest Lands

Off-highway vehicles are permitted in all but eight of the state’s 56 state forests. Some are generally permitted on state forest roads and trails, though vehicle drivers need to pay attention that their particular vehicle is allowed on each road and trail. Note that some forests can have multiple classifications.

Roads and access levels are classified as such: Managed: Off-highway vehicles (ATVs/ORVs/OHMs) are allowed on roads, routes and on designated trails. ATV travel off routes, roads and designated trail is prohibited except when hunter/trapper exception applies.

Limited: Off-highway vehicles (ATVs/ORVs/OHMs), may be operated on signed roads and trails designated for a vehicle type. ATV travel off of signed motor vehicles trails or forest roads is prohibited except when hunter/trapper exception applies.

Closed: Off-highway vehicles are prohibited in this forest.

ATV Classification

An ATV’s width determines how ATVs are classified and where they can be ridden.

Class I: an ATV with a total width of 50 inches or less.

Class II: an ATV with a total width that is greater than 50 inches but not more than 65 inches wide.

Vehicles not considered ATVs include golf carts, mini-trucks, dune buggies, go-carts or vehicles designed and used specifically for lawn maintenance, agriculture, logging or mining purposes.

Register Your Off-Highway Vehicle

Off-highway vehicles belonging to Minnesota residents must be registered with the DNR to operate in Minnesota, with very few exceptions. This includes offroad vehicles licensed for highway use, such as motorcycles and trucks, that are also operated on designated trails.

Machines can be registered at any DMV office, at the DNR office in St. Paul or online at www.mndnr.gov. The cost for registration varies.

Non-Resident Trail Passes

A trail pass is required for all non-Minnesota residents with vehicles registered in another state. The trail pass grants access to Minnesota’s state or Grant-in-Aid trails.

Non-resident passes may be purchased by phone, online or in-person. For 2018, the fee is $31 for an ATV pass and $21 for OHM and ORVs. ORVs have the option of a three-year pass for $31. Some processing fees may apply, and duplicate passes are available.

Purchase a pass online at www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/ohv; by calling 888-665-4236; or in person at the DNR central office, or at any place that sells DNR licenses (including many convenience stores).