Some Destinations to Consider As Summer Waves Goodbye
by Jason Giacchino

With summer turning into fall for most of the United States, it’s time to stop and consider some of the top ATV riding destinations to maximize views of changing leaves, purple clouds, and pumpkin fields. Here are our picks for the top fall riding destinations:

# 5: Mount Hood National Forest

When many people think of West Coast riding, it’s usually tree-less dunes that comes to mind. However Oregon’s Mount Hood National Forest provides incredible views and an extreme high-altitude experience. And ATVs get their own marked trail system to follow.

Mount Hood is incredibly diverse with a lot of forest and some above-the-clouds vistas. This wide variety makes for an incredible and scenic ATV destination.

Contact: Mount Hood National Forest
(541) 467-2291 http://www.mthood.info/

# 4: Black Mountain

Kentucky is a pretty darn beautiful place all times of the year, but it’s tough to imagine a more scenic experience than exploring the incredibly challenging trails of southeastern Kentucky’s Black Mountain Off-Road Adventure Park in Harlan County.

You’ll be hard pressed getting your machine over 30mph on a majority of the trails of the Black Mountain (the highest point in the state), but there is no shortage of wide-open sections to stretch the old throttle thumb out, should slow exploring on the formidable high-country trails get tiring.

Contact: Harlan County Outdoor Recreation Board Authority
(606) 573-4156 http://www.harlancountytrails.com/

# 3: Paiute Trail

South-Central Utah’s 275-mile long Paiute ATV Trail is a loop trail with no beginning and no end! It passes through several towns and has side trails leading to others. Among other accolades, Dirt Wheels magazine rated the Paiute ATV Trail as one of the 15 best trails in the country and ATV Illustrated magazine has called it one of the top 5 trails in the country. Many riders consider the Paiute Trail to be the top US trail.

The main loop of the trail takes approximately 25 riding hours to complete – but that doesn’t leave much time for stopping or taking pictures. For comfort and full enjoyment of the trail, the time should be spread out over three to four days. However, riders choosing to explore the thousands of miles of marked and unmarked side forest roads and trails may find themselves riding for weeks.

Riders are able to access the Paiute ATV Trail from a number of small towns throughout central Utah, including Marysvale, Richfield, Beaver, Fillmore and Salina. Each of these towns give riders the opportunity to get a good meal, gas up or stay the night at a local hotel or bed and breakfast. ATVs are allowed on designated streets in each town along the trail, allowing easy access to necessary services.

Contact: Millard County Tourism
(435) 896-1500 http://atvutah.com/southern/paiute.htm

# 2: Ouachita National Forest
Wolf Pen Gap ATV Riding Trail

Stretching from near the center of Arkansas to southeast Oklahoma, the Ouachita National Forest is the south’s oldest national forest. These 35 miles of loop trails feature high mountain vistas through an array of areas, including scenic Gap Creek and Board Camp Creek. The trail continues through a forest of large pines and hardwoods before passing the unique 2-foot tall oak tree and an abandoned mine shaft. The trail loops are connected to accommodate riders who want to vary the length of their trips.

Trail complex is open year-round except for deer-gun season, which lasts from mid-November until early December. The beautiful scenery along the Cossatot Scenic and Recreational River make this one of the best ATV trails in Arkansas.

Contact: Ouachita National Forest
(501) 321-5202 http://www.hotspringsar.com/info/forest/forest.htm

# 1: The Hatfield~McCoy Trail System

The Hatfield~McCoy Trail System is a statutory corporation created by the West Virginia Legislature to generate economic development through tourism in nine southern West Virginia counties. By mid-2009, the Hatfield~McCoy Trail System covered more than 500 miles of off-road trails in five of its nine project counties. Each of its six trail systems is open 365 days a year to ATVs, bikes, and utility vehicles (UTVs).

Many of the trail systems also offer community connecting trails that allow visitors to access “ATV-friendly towns” to experience the charm of southern West Virginia.

Contact: Hatfield-McCoy Regional Trail Authority
(800) 592-2217 http://www.trailsheaven.com/about/hatfield_mccoy_trails_is.aspx

What fall rides did we snub? Let us know here:
http://forums.atvconnection.com/where-ride/340196-top-5-fall-rides.html#post3066917