Top 10 ATV Trails In Ohio
1) Wayne National Forest – Athens & Ironton OH
Overview
- Trail Miles: 145 miles
- Skill Level: Varied
- Usage: Heavy
- Fees (Trail Passes):
- Single Day Pass – not available
- 3 Day Pass – $20
- Seasonal Pass – $35
- Open: April 15 – December 15
- Closest Towns: Athens, Ironton
- Vehicles Allowed: Motorbikes, ATVs less than 50” wide
Wayne National Forest has some of the best ATV trails in Ohio.
You can ride 4 separate OHV trail systems with over 145 miles of trails. The trails are well marked and easy to follow.
Located just over an hour away from Columbus, this is a popular destination for off roading, hiking, horseback riding, kayaking and camping. The fact that it is so close to the city also means that you can expect company on the trails.
If you want to camp at one of the developed campsites, be sure to make reservations. Plenty of dispersed camping is available at the trailheads and also on the trails.
We like this area so much that we gave it an in depth write up with trail descriptions, trail maps and camping information. Check it here: Wayne National Forest – Ohio ATV Trails And Camping
Forest Service .gov site: Wayne National Forest Ohio ATV Trails
2) Tecumseh Trails – Hemlock OH
Overview
- Trail Miles: 45+
- Skill Level: Varied
- Usage: Moderate
- Fees (Trail Passes):
- Day Pass – $15
- All guests 12 and under – FREE
- Open:
- Friday: 12 pm for entry – Ride till dusk.
- Saturday 9AM for entry – 10:00 PM
- Sunday 9AM for entry – Out by 4pm
- Closest Town: Hemlock OH
- Vehicles Allowed: ATV, SxS, UTV, motorcycles. No Jeeps, full sized trucks or buggies.
Since this park is on private property, your ATV does not need to be registered.
Good option for SxS and UTVs as these trail have no width restrictions. This is a private park on 1,000+ acres with hills, valleys, streams and mud. Family friendly park for riders of all abilities.
Trails are rated according to difficultly and well marked so that they’re easy to follow.
Camping is free, but it’s primitive dry camping, there are no hook ups or amenities. Sometimes a food truck is onsite.
This park is in a ruralish area, so there aren’t a lot of restaurant close by, but if you don’t mind a 20 minute drive, you’ll have plenty of dining options.
Gas is not available onsite, but there’s a gas station in Shawnee 2 miles down the road.
3) Walhonding Hills Campground – Walhonding OH
Overview
- Trail Miles: Miles of trails on 60 acres
- Skill Level: Varied, but more on the moderate/advanced side
- Usage: Heavy
- Fees:
- RV Campsite – $45
- Tent Campsite – $30
- OHV Daily Fee – $5 (this is in addition to camping)
- Open: Weekends, summer – mid October
- Closest Town: Walhonding OH
- Vehicles Allowed: ATV, UTV, SxS, rail buggy, dirt bikes. No full size trucks.
Cash only! No ATM, no cc, no debit, no checks.
The trails are steep and rocky and best suited for more skilled riders.
All trail vehicles must be insured. You will be required to show proof of insurance.
Open weekends during the summer/fall season. The park closes for the season after the second weekend in October. In order to use the ATV trails, you are required to be registered camper.
This private campground is set on 254 acres on the Mohican River. This is a full service campground. They offer seasonal rates, RV sites with electric and water hook ups and 60 tree lined primitive sites along the river. Bath house with showers.
Onsite store with food, beer, and wine. Other amenities include a swimming pool, kiddie pool, volleyball, basketball and a playground.
Over 100 seasonal sites that allow you to keep your RV campsite all season and come and go as you like.
- Ohio requires ATVs and off road motorcycles to have a license plate and registration sticker or an Ohio decal.
- Ohio offers reciprocity. This means that if your ATV is registered in your home state, then you will not need to register it in Ohio.
- If your state does not have ATV registration then you will be required to register it in Ohio. Ohio ATV registration
4) Scenic Trails Recreational Land – Corning OH
Overview
- Trail Miles: Miles of trails on 140 acres
- Skill Level: Varied
- Usage: Moderate
- Fees (Trail Passes):
- Per person – $10 a day (includes camping)
- Per person 3 day weekend – $25 (includes camping)
- Children 12 and Under – Free
- Open: Only open for scheduled holiday weekends, events and private parties
- Closest Town: Corning OH
- Vehicles Allowed: ATV, UTV, SxS and dirt bikes. No width restrictions.
Currently they’re open only weekends, but they’re planning on adding more days.
Open year round, but call before you drive as this is a small family run operation.
This private campground on 140 acres has many miles of ATV trails. Most of the trails are one direction which makes them safer. Trails run primarily through the woods with some hills.
For extra fun there’s a mud pit and a creek trail for some wet riding. Occasionally they host events and fund raisers for local charities. During events they sometimes have an inexpensive food truck on site.
You can primitive camp. No hookups or amenities, but there are 2 portable toilets.
In addition to the off roading they have a catch and release fishing pond and a couple paddle boats for renting. There are a couple caves on the property for some fun exploration with the kids.
No need for Ohio ATV registration or a fishing license as this is private property.
Scenic Trails Recreational Land
5) Bear Creek Ranch KOA – East Sparta OH
Overview
- Trail Miles: 26 miles
- Skill Level: Varied
- Usage: Heavy
- Fees (Trail Passes):
- Per person – $25
- Children 8 – 10 – $10
- Children Under 8 – Not allowed to operate a vehicle
- Open:
- Friday/Saturday/Sunday/Holiday – 8am to 7pm (May 1 to Sep 30)
- Saturday – Sunday – 8am to 5pm (Oct 1 to Apr 30)
- Monday – Friday – with one day in advance reservation for 3 or more riders.
- Closest Town: East Sparta OH
- Vehicles Allowed: ATV, UTV, SxS and dirt bikes. No width restrictions.
The riding area is 1 mile from the campground.
Large KOA campgound with 26 miles of marked trails on 180 acres. The property is forested with some creeks and hills. There is a 250 foot hill climb for riders looking to test their skills.
Bear Creek Ranch KOA is a full service campground with all the bells and whistles. For overnight accommodations they offer full hookups, tent camping and cabin rentals. All full hook up sites include HD TV. Campground also has Wi-Fi throughout. Monthly discount rates are available.
Camping Rates (for 2 people):
- Tent Sites: $31 – $40
- Electric & Water: $40 – $48
- Electric, Water & Sewer: $46 – $56
- Electric, Water & Sewer Patio Site: $72 – $78
- Each Additional Child (age 3-17 years): $5
- Each Additional Adult (age 18+ years): $10
Other amenities include a pool, game room, playground, stables, laundry, dump station, ADA sites and restrooms, showers, horseback riding, catch and release fishing pond and mini golf.
6) Buds (Hidden Springs Ranch) – Springfield OH
Overview
- Trail Miles: Miles of trails on 150 acres
- Skill Level: Varied
- Usage: Light
- Fees (Trail Passes):
- Per person 15 and up – $20
- Children 10 – 14 – $10
- Open: Weekends. Call before you drive
- Closest Town: Springfield, OH
- Vehicles Allowed: ATV, UTV, SxS and dirt bikes.
This is a locals hidden gem – it’s low key off the radar. You need to call and let them know you’re coming.
It’s not exactly a secret, but you kind of have to know the secret handshake to get the skinny.
Some days they only allow ATVs <50″ and dirt bikes, but they do allow >50″ on certain days. Their Facebook page has info about upcoming ride days.
This is a very family friendly park and they weed out the bad apples. No drinking or nonsense. Helmets are required.
Trails run through 150 acres of private forest. You’ll find mostly hard packed dirt trails that are primarily flat with a few hills. But there are ruts, rocks and obstacles to mix it up a bit. In the spring or after heavy rains, expect mud. A LOT OF MUD!
There is also a wide open riding area with some tracks for kids to improve their riding skills.
7) Renegade Ridge – Bloomingdale OH
Overview
- Trail Miles: 25+ miles
- Skill Level: Varied
- Usage: Heavy
- Fees (Trail Passes):
- Per person Saturday – $25
- Per person Sunday – $20
- Per person weekend – $35
- Children 12 and Under – Free
- Open: Year round, but only on posted dates
- Closest Town: Bloomingdale OH
- Vehicles Allowed: ATV, UTV, SxS and dirt bikes.
This is one of the most popular ATV Parks in Ohio. It’s open all year round, but with very limited dates, generally one weekend a month. Open dates are posted well in advance on their website.
Trails vary from family friendly all the way up to advanced. Most of the trails are easy, but there are a few small sections that offer up some challenges to more advanced riders. Trails are well marked and easy to follow.
There is a large mud pit as well as a few other smaller mud areas for some dirty fun. There’s a good sized hill with several different tracks you can race up to the top.
Gates open at 5pm on Friday for weekend camping. Free primitive camping is included in the admission price.
8) Perry State Forest – Blue Rock OH
Overview
- Trail Miles: 16
- Skill Level: Varied
- Usage: Heavy
- Fees (Trail Passes): Free, but ATVs must be registered
- Open: April 2 – November 30
- Closest Town: Blue Rock OH
- Vehicles Allowed: ATV, UTV, SxS and dirt bikes. Open to vehicle up to 62” wide
Billed as the most popular public ATV trails in Ohio.
One nice thing about these trails is that they’re open to vehicles up to 62 inches wide. Wayne National Forest has a lot more miles of trails, but they’re only open to vehicles under 50” wide.
A good mix of terrain. Mostly wooded trails with hard park, but you will also find some hills, ridges, hollows and mud.
Picnic table and vault toilets are available at the trailheads. There is no camping available in Perry State Forest, it’s not allowed at the trailheads or on the trails. However there is a very nice private campground just outside the forest that has direct trail access: Perry Backwoods Campgrounds.
Since this riding in on state land, you are required to have your vehicle registered in Ohio or your home state. All vehicles must display a valid registration sticker and you are required to carry a copy of your registration with you.
9) Pike State Forest – Latham OH
Overview
- Trail Miles: 20 miles
- Skill Level: Varied, mostly easy
- Usage: Moderate
- Fees (Trail Passes): Free, but ATVs must be registered
- Open: April 2 – November 30
- Closest Town: Latham OH
- Vehicles Allowed: ATV, UTV, SxS and dirt bikes. Open to vehicle up to 62” wide
Trails wind through the woods, over ridges and into hollows. Most of the trails are easy but there are a few intermediate/challenging sections.
The trailhead has parking, vault toilets and a beginners riding area.
No camping is available in Pike State Forest, but it is available 10 miles up the road at Pike Lake State Park.
This is state land, so you are required to have your vehicle registered in Ohio or your home state. All vehicles must display a valid registration sticker and you are required to carry a copy of your registration with you.
10) Pine Lake Raceway And Trails
Overview
- Trail Miles: Large racetrack and trails on 150 acres
- Skill Level: Varied
- Usage: Heavy
- Fees (Trail Passes):
- Per person –
- Children 12 and Under – Free
- Open: Daily 10 – 6, but you must make an appointment to ride
- Closest Town: Jefferson OH
- Vehicles Allowed: ATV and dirt bikes
Pine Lake is a popular well established off roading racetrack, they’ve been in business since 1969!
You must reserve an appointment time to ride on Facebook.
They host a wide variety of events throughout the year including 6×6 events, tractor pulls and vintage motorcycle woods races. They also host weddings and private events.
Pine Lake has tracks and trails for all ages and skill. They promote a safe environment for families with new riders.
Good variety of trail terrain with fast flat trails, hill climbs and step ups. The big main track has long straightaways with sweeping turns, a table top and a split lane for passing.
For MX riders there’s an MX track where you can really open it up. Track has everything you’d hope to find: whoops, bowl turns and table tops.
There are also mud bogs and an obstacle coarse.
Dry camping and concessions available.
Ohio ATV Trails
