Hot Fun In The Summertime: ATVC’s Warm Weather Trail Guide
Comprised of 50 States and 9 Territories, the good ol US of A is rife with riding opportunities around just about every corner- regardless of where you consider home. We often talk about the super popular areas (Glamis, Hatfield-McCoy and so on), but you don’t need to live in a designated off-road hot spot to make the best of what this great sport offers.
Summer’s here and with it comes ample opportunity to get out and explore, cruise, shred, climb or bog and your ATV Connection editors have done the legwork for you in selecting some of the most underrated riding spots throughout the nation.
Imagine over a quarter of a million acres of beautiful Appalachian foothill forest of which approximately 129-miles are dedicated ATV trails! Now stop imagining and grab the GPS. Wayne is open from April 15 through December 15 24-hours a day.
Michigan- Silver Lake State Park
Silver Lake boasts the unique distinction of being the only State Park in all of Michigan that allows off-road vehicles. And allow them they do with over 450-acres of sand and trails available to the ATV scene. Open: April 1 to October 31.
Oregon- Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
The Oregon Dunes are one of the most visited riding areas in the country as the Forest Service reports more than 350,000 ATV users visit annually! There are 5,930 open sand riding acres and more than 6,100 acres of designated trail routes. If you’ve ever had a hankering to slap on some sand paddles and shred some dune, put this place on your short-list.
Washington- Tahuya State Forest
Here’s something you don’t hear everyday: The best riding of the year takes place in the heart of the rainy season. The area is covered by glacial till and out-wash gravel, absolutely perfect for exploring as the rain comes down. Its specialty is offering challenges for 4x4s and thus there really is no off-season.
California- Hungry Valley SVRA
California’s second largest off-highway vehicular (OHV) recreation area, Hungry Valley boats hills and valleys, grassland, coastal sage scrub and oak woodland. There are roughly 130-miles of marked trails for all levels of OHV operators from flat and level trails to steep and narrow as well as over 150-miles of National Forest off-road routes at hand.
Indiana- Badlands Off Road Park
A former quarry mine, Badlands is now 700-acres of sand dunes, wooded trails, pea gravel hills, mud pits and more. Flags and helmets are required and the park is open year round 9am-5pm.
Located in the picturesque Adirondack region, Tug Hill is a heavily forested 35-mile wide plateau laced with dirt roads leading to some 600-miles of OHV riding that passes numerous inns, taverns and other businesses provide trail-side gas, food and accommodations for riders. Open anytime weather and surface conditions permit.
Located in the beautiful Northwest GA mountains, Highland Park has roughly 65-miles of awesome one-way trails, plus a PeeWee track to keep the kids busy. The terrain is mountainous with plenty of hills and elevation changes (plus and little mud). Open year round, 7-days a week from 9am to 5:30pm.
Pennsylvania- Allegheny National Forest
106-miles of ATV trails distributed across four counties of northwest Pennsylvania, Allegheny National Forest offer difficulty varying from easy to fairly challenging and the scenery includes numerous small oil wells pumping away and 11,000 acres covered by water (primarily the Allegheny Reservoir). Open: 24 hours a day from Friday preceding Memorial Day through the last Sunday in September.
Colorado- North Sand Hills OHV Area
800-acres of dunes and 1,400-acres total, the North Sand Hills are the only sand recreation area in all of Colorado. Consisting of sand then aspen and sagebrush, that ultimately leads up into the Colorado State Forest, North is open in the spring, summer and fall. This is one of few parks that doesn’t even charge a fee.
Kentucky- Black Mountain OHV Adventure Park
Over 8,000 acres of trails mapped/marked for ATVs and over 40,000 acres of off park trails make Black Rock one of the country’s best kept secrets. Approximately 8,000 acres of Mountainous terrain (beginner, intermediate and extreme trail designations), elevations up to 3,300 feet high, detailed trail maps available and Levels 1-5 4×4 trails and obstacles courses.
We’ve also discussed our top five riding destinations as the greenery of summer turns into the reds and oranges of fall. That article can be found here.