Huntersville State Forest

Huntersville State Forest is one of Minnesota's best-known off-highway motorcycle (OHM) destinations: a maze of narrow, flowing singletrack twisting through pine and hardwood forest on sandy soil that drains well. Most of the trail is motorcycle-only singletrack, with some two-track and service-road loops that give newer riders a gentler way in. Trails are marked and range from easy to more difficult, so a mixed group can ride together. The state describes it as a friendlier alternative to the more technical Martineau Recreational Trails.

Mileage depends on who is counting. The DNR trail page text says 59 miles of OHM trail, its own trail-detail summary lists 73 miles of OHM (plus about 4 miles that ATVs may also use), and the club that maintains the system says roughly 80 miles of singletrack and close to 100 miles in all. The club has been adding new loops in recent years, so the numbers keep growing. Dual-sport riders also get some forest-road sections that only street-legal machines can use.

Getting there

The forest is in Wadena County, southeast of Park Rapids and a short drive from Menahga, the nearest town for food, gas, and lodging. There are two trailheads. The east trailhead is reached off County Road 18 and the west trailhead off County Road 24, and the two are linked by an ATV trail running along the highway. The village of Huntersville sits between them, and the DNR notes food, phones, and parking just south of County Road 18 at the river crossing. Huntersville Forest Campground and Shell City Landing offer developed camping within the forest.

Fees, permits, and rules

There is no entry or parking fee listed. Minnesota law requires the machine to be registered with the DNR as an off-highway motorcycle, or the rider to carry a trail pass if they are riding state or grant-in-aid trails. Non-residents whose machine is not registered in Minnesota need a non-resident OHM trail pass, which the DNR lists at $21 for a calendar year. It does not have to be displayed on the bike but must be available if an officer asks. Passes are sold online (with a service fee) and at license agents and deputy registrars. RiderPlanet also lists a spark arrestor requirement, so plan to have one. Stay on the marked trail.

The trails are provided by Huntersville Township and maintained by the Twin Cities Trail Riders club under a state grant-in-aid agreement. Rustic toilets are provided by the club from late March or April until the week before hunting season, weather permitting. The club also hosts occasional enduro and group rides here.

When to ride

The normal season is year-round except during the firearms deer season, when the trails are closed. The local DNR forestry office also closes the trails when they get too soft during spring thaw, although the sandy soil means they are usually closed for a shorter time than other Minnesota trails. Check the DNR trail closures page before you go. The trails are not groomed in winter, and the trailheads and their entrance roads are not plowed, so winter access is limited.