Nemadji State Forest OHV Trails
Nemadji State Forest in Carlton and Douglas counties of northeastern Minnesota is one of the state's most expansive OHV riding areas, 200+ miles of designated trails within a 92,000-acre forest that stretches from the outskirts of Duluth southwest toward the Wisconsin border near Nickerson. The scale separates Nemadji from most Minnesota OHV options: riders can explore for days without repeating ground, moving through the forest's two primary landscape zones, gently rolling glacial upland in the south, and steeper stream-valley terrain in the northeast where creeks draining toward the Nemadji River create genuine topographic challenge. The trail system is divided by vehicle class. Class II ATVs and ORVs have access to the main trail network year-round; dedicated off-highway motorcycle single-track trails open May 1 through November 1 and are among the most technically demanding in Minnesota, threading tight lines through second-growth aspen, birch, and mixed-conifer forest. Trail surfaces alternate between compact gravel, sandy loam, and seasonal mud in the bottomlands. Multiple trailheads with parking and basic facilities are distributed across the forest. Minnesota OHV registration and trail pass are required for non-residents. The Minnesota DNR's Carlton Area Forestry office in Moose Lake (218-460-7021) handles condition reports and trail closure notices. Dispersed camping is available within the state forest under the standard 14-night limit.