Best Off Road Trails
At Visit Grand Rapids we created the Grand Rapids ATV Thrills: Your Guide to the Best Off-Road Trails blog is the perfect ATV getaway inspiration. Grand Rapids, MN is the perfect ATV Fall Getaway because of the wide variety of ATV friendly lodging, hundreds of miles of well maintained ATV trails, and many bars and restaurants to enjoy a beverage and food.Â
There is something exhilarating about zipping through the mixed forests around Grand Rapids on an ATV/UTV that awakens the soul. Riding a side by side allows you to connect with Minnesota’s nature in a much deeper way. You can access very remote locations while staying on a designated trail system, so you don’t get lost.
Itasca County has over 300 miles of well-maintained ATV/UTV trails to ride. Each trail is unique and connects with area businesses like bars/restaurants, gas stations, and more. The beauty of the hardwood trees in the fall adds another dimension to the ATV ride. MORE GRAND RAPIDS, MN AREA ATV RESOURCES
Sample ATV Grand Rapids Getaway Itinerary
Grand Rapids, Minnesota is a regional hub for the Itasca County ATV Trail system. It has the largest amount of lodging properties with easy access to the Itasca County ATV trails. Whether you are looking to stay right on the ATV Trail system or you are looking for a centrally located lodging property that allows you with many options to trailer to trails, there is a lodging property for you! Below is a sample ATV Getaway itinerary that is meant to give you inspiration and tools to book your ATV Getaway Trip to Grand Rapids where you will get to ride some of the Best ATV Off-Road Trails in northern Minnesota.
Sample ATV Itinerary DAY 1:
Arrive at your lodging property, check in, and get settled. Most of the Grand Rapids Lodging Properties offer areas for trucks and trailers to unload and park. Make sure to check with your lodging property on those details.
BREAKFAST – The in town Hotels & Motels provide continental breakfast on site. If you are staying at a lodging property that does not provide breakfast, we suggest Forest Lake Restaurant for a great made to order breakfast. Their lower level parking lot located to the east of their building is perfect for trucks and trailers. Here are a lot of places to eat & drink, find more HERE.
MORNING RIDE – The UPM Blandin ATV Trail is a great morning ride option that you can access easily – only 9-miles south from Grand Rapids is the trailhead located on Smith Creek Drive with ample parking for trucks and trailers to unload that is located in a safe location. This ATV trail will take you south to Hill City, which offers a mixed hardwood and pine forest which is beautiful in the fall. The wooded parts of the trail have some hills and curves to enjoy. We suggest taking the forest and county roads versus taking the Rabey Line Trail (this trail is very rough – like riding a washboard). There is one bridge to cross a stream where the bridge at times can be under water. There are several places to eat lunch in Hill City, Minnesota. VIEW UPM Blandin ATV TRAIL MAP
LUNCH – In Hill City, Minnesota there are a couple of options for lunch: Cozy Cove, Harry’s Bar & Grill , Hill Lake Cafe, and Knuckleheads Bar & Grill. There are a lot of places to eat & drink, find more HERE.
AFTERNOON RIDE – Continuing on the Hill City Trail that will take you south out of Hill City around the Hill River State Forest, across the boardwalks in Swatara, and Corner Bar in Swatara, Minnesota (located right on Hwy 169) is a great place to stop for appetizers and drinks. They also have a pull tab vending machine. At this point you can decide if you want to ride back to Hill City, and then ride back to where you trailer is at Smith Creek Drive, or you can continue and ride on the Northwoods Trail on the Soo Line Trail down to Remer, Minnesota. There are bar/grill options in both Hill City and Remer. Just make sure to look at the map for how many miles back to your trailer at Smith Creek Drive which will determine if you arrive back in the light or dark.Â
DINNER – Depending on where you end up when done riding will determine your dinner options. In Remer there is the Woodsman Cafe, and Chopper’s Meats, Eats & Treats. In Hill City there is Harry’s Bar & Grill and Knuckleheads Bar & Grill for dinner. In Grand Rapids there is a wide variety of places to eat & drink from craft breweries: Klockow Brewing Co and Rapids Brewing Co, locally owned restaurants like Forest Lake Restaurant and Sammy’s (which are both favorites for the local residents), and then there are the places a little bit outside of the City center like Florio’s in Cohasset and Cedar Creek Tavern that is located up the Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway. There are a lot of places to eat & drink, find more HERE.
Sample ATV Itinerary Day 2:
Now that you are more familiar with the area, and probably have had a chance to look at the Itasca ATV Trail Map more; you will see that there a lot of places to ride and lots of different terrain in the Grand Rapids, MN area. On Day 2, we suggest you head north on the B&B ATV Trail.Â
BREAKFAST – If you are lodging in town, you most likely receive continental breakfast. If you are staying at a Resort, Vacation Lake Rental or at an in town Vacation Rental you either can cook breakfast at your own rental, or you can choose to eat out (which lets be honest is the best part of being on vacation – eating at new places). Today we suggest trying Timberwolf Inn for a homestyle breakfast. Just be prepared to share because their stuffed hashbrowns are amazing but even the small is enough for two people.
MORNING RIDE – Today we suggest that you ride the B&B ATV Trail which stands for Bigfork and Balsam Trail (two towns that the trail connects to). The Wilderness Riders Club has expanded this trail with spur trails that you can ride along this trail all day. If you had breakfast at Timberwolf Inn, we suggest that you start in Marcell at the ATV Club parking lot behind the Frontier Sports & Convenience Store which is a great place to get gas, snacks, and has a public restroom.Â
LUNCH This section of the B&B will take you around area lakes, through mixed hardwood and pine forests, and a wonderful overlook closer to Antler Store and Antler Lodge for lunch.
AFTERNOON RIDE – From Antler Lodge, you can ride back on the B&B ATV Trail to your parking area in Marcell, Minnesota behind Frontier Sports & Convenience Store. Or you can continue riding on the B&B ATV Trail and ride over to Trailside Restaurant & Bar for appetizers and beverages. And then you car ride back to Marcell on the B&B ATV Trail.
DINNER – Since you are back in Marcell to load your ATV’s onto the trailers; we suggest you head to Timberwolf Inn for dinner and drinks which is just south on Hwy 38 (aka Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway).
Sample ATV Itinerary Day 3:
Sometimes on Day 3, only a morning ride is what the ATV Trail Group is interested in before they head home.Â
BREAKFAST – If you do not receive continental breakfast at your lodging property then we suggest Dottie’s Hometown Cafe in Grand Rapids for cook to order homestyle breakfasts.
MORNING RIDE – A good half day ride is the Pengilly-Alborn ATV Trail is approximately 10 miles in length, and the Goodland ATV Trail is approximately 20 miles in length. Parking is located right off of Hwy 169E in Pengilly. On this route you will ride around reclaimed iron ore land, beautiful area lakes, and through mixed hardwood and pine forests, as well as in town trails that run around gas stations, restaurants and bars.Â
LUNCH – And MJ’s Lodge and Resort is a great place to have lunch. Located on the ATV Trail, and on beautiful Swan Lake in Pengilly. They have a wide menu that is perfect for everyone whether you are looking for appetizers or full meals and beverages.
AFTERNOONÂ – Riding back to the Pengilly-Alborn ATV Trail parking lot will be approximately 10 miles. This is an opportunity for you to load your ATV onto trailers and head home, until next time.
Ideas for your next time to ride ATV in the greater Grand Rapids, Minnesota area is to ride in the Chippewa National Forest on the Squaw Lake/Alvwood ATV Trails and the Blue Ox ATV Trails north in Northome, Minnesota. These ATV trails are a combination of forest trails, county roads, and ATV trails that are in mixed hardwood and pine forests, around the big Lake Winnibigoshish and other smaller lakes. There are lots of places to get gas, restaurants and bars to enjoy places to eat & drink, and ATV friendly lodging properties.
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Additional Resources
`Download the Interactive Grand Rapids Visitor’s Guide, and view potential Grand Rapids Lodging Properties. Because the Fall Season is short for ATV riding (September and October) ATV Trails close on October 31st each year; you will want to BOOK YOUR LODGING EARLY to ensure that you get the lodging that works the best for you and your friends and family, and the ideal location to where you are going to ride.
