Wilderness Wheelers Trail Updates

Wilderness Wheelers is an ATV club based  in Bigfork, Minnesota.  
We manage two grant in aid ATV trails. The Bigfork & Balsam Connection trail is 33 miles in length and the soon to be completed Wilderness trail will have 61 miles of designated ATV trail connecting the communities that make up the Edge of the Wilderness Area. Joining our club will provide you with the most up to date information on trail  openings, conditions, and volunteer opportunities to support ATV access in northern Itasca County. 
For Wilderness Wheeler's membership information click here.

Wilderness Trail
New to all of us is the Wilderness trail shown above. Connecting to our existing B&B trail to the east it will provide connections to Bigfork, Marcell, Talmoon, as well as many local establishments providing fuel, food, refreshments, lodging, and camping.   ​

 
​Trail Conditions and Alerts:
B&B Trail opens Monday, May 15th! Our club members have been out and cleared the trails. We have checked for safety issues and have marked a couple of minor washouts. Why can't we open for the weekend?  Our contract with our government sponsors requires us to open no earlier than May 15th annually, and later if the trail has not been cleared of obstructions or if spring soil conditions would create damage to the trail surface.

The new Wilderness Trail remains entirely closed until further notice. Several areas require initial construction and others significant repair before we can open portions of the Wilderness Trail. The late snowmelt and frost conditions that cause many trails to remain closed until Memorial day has delayed our construction improvements on the Wilderness Trail. 

​Trail Conditions: Bigfork to Balsam Connection Trail will open on Monday May 15th. The Wilderness Trail is closed until further notice. 

Special notes:  
WILDERNESS TRAIL UPDATE. 
Grant in Aid status has been awarded and start up funding has been received.  Parts of the trail will be open this summer as construction and repairs to existing roads and trail sections are completed.  As each section is ready for riding we will announce it here and on our Facebook page.

WE NEED HELP FUNDING THIS TRAIL - Please consider making a donation to this project by sending a check to Wilderness Wheelers, PO Box 319, Bigfork, MN. 566289  or donating on the Membership page. Unfortunately donations are not currently tax deductible. 

Because this is such a large project we are planning a two phase build of the trail occurring over a two year period. The trail will connect with the B&B trail and head west. Connections to Bigfork, the Timberwolf Inn, Marcell, Talmoon, and Riley's Junction will make this a popular trail. Falling completely on the Chippewa National Forest, it will consist of a loop of over 40 miles and spurs to many other favorite spots. Please consider joining our club and/or donating time and funds to help support the development of this new trail system. The more support we get the faster this project can happen!

Wilderness Wheelers Merchandise is available! We have partnered with Creek Bank Printing located in Bigfork MN to provide Wilderness Wheelers merchandise! Proceeds from these sales fund maintenance of existing trails and development of the Wilderness Trail. Check out our current merchandise collection here: https://www.creekbankprinting.com/product-category/wilderness-wheelers/ 
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Bigfork – Balsam Connection Trail Status:  https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ohv/trail_detail.html?id=104
Youth ATV Field Training: MNDNR ATV training has returned:  https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/vehicle/atv/index.html
 
Trail parking lot locations:
Click this link to find driving directions to the Trail Head parking lot in Bigfork - Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/WyUQj9XAYkN2 
Click this link to find driving directions to the Long Lake Rd parking lot  - Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/QokPZBGgAb82
County Hwy 7,  1 mile south of County Hwy 52 near Mile Marker 5 on the B&B trail. Watch for signs.

Reminder:  While riding on township and county roads the law requires us to stay to the right hand side of the roadway while using these corridors and obey all other traffic regulations.  On paved county roads please stay as far right as is safely possible.   We also ask you to avoid ditch riding  as we have to fix any damage caused by ATV use along our Bigfork to Balsam Trail corridor.  Stay The Trail! 

​Please check back regularly for current riding conditions throughout the riding season. 
Updated: 5/11/2023