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.
With the recent rains and heavy traffic you will find lots of wet areas on our trail systems. Please use caution while navigating wet areas, especially on hilly areas. Stay on the trail corridor to prevent trail braiding.
Trail Conditions and Alerts: The Bigfork to Balsam Trail has been open since May 15th. We have been doing maintenance projects but are having trouble keeping up because of wet weather, heavy traffic, and beaver issues. Areas that are of particular concern are: Mile Marker 2 (county road 336) to the first boardwalk. Standing water on trail and soft areas. Mile Marker 10 - 13 (County Hwy 7-Hwy 45). Standing water on trail, muddy areas, hills that need repair. Mile Markers 29-32 just south of Bigfork: Beaver have backed up a large flowage that has restricted water movement away from the trail. Several very muddy areas and water across trails is common. The first boardwalk south of Bigfork has a floating section. Please drive slowly through this entire section.
The Wilderness Trail has several muddy areas between Marcell and Jack the Horse Road to the north. With the constant rain it is making it difficult to get material in to these areas for repair. Please drive in the center of the trail to prevent trail braiding.
The Wilderness Trail opened on May 15th. Please check the Trail Map page for a downloadable map that shows the primary construction for this summer. Be aware that the bridge on that red/hashed section is being replaced and there is no way through at this point. One other area that we worked on last fall is too wet to cross now and we have detour signs with the alternate route. This section is 1/2 mile south of Jack The Horse Road (Timberwolf Inn), east to the connection Jack The Horse Rd. The temporary bypass uses Jack the Horse Road East to reconnect with the main trail near Jack The Horse Resort Rd.
The '24 summer season starts with a loop option on the Wilderness Trail. As described above, we will temporarily use Jack The Horse Rd & USFS Rd 2182 to complete a loop on the Wilderness trail to USFS Rd 2180. Download the newest map from our Trail Maps page. We plan to open the final section from the original alignment plan later this summer with enhancements planned for the summer of '25.
Special notes: WILDERNESS TRAIL UPDATE. WE STILL 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.
Wilderness Trail Parking: Little Turtle Lake Store -Talmoon Hayslips Corner - Talmoon Large parking area: maps.app.goo.gl/wegAwjYgx7xSpXYS6 Riley's Junction - Junction of County Rd 134 and State Hwy 6 -Bowstring area Marcell Snowdrifter's parking: maps.app.goo.gl/FHrJ1VR924ZuyMxv6 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. It is illegal to ride in any wetlands. Please stay out of wet areas adjacent to trails unless they are specially designated play areas. We also ask you to avoid ditch riding as we have to fix any damage caused by ATV use along our trails corridors. Stay The Trail!
Check back regularly for current riding conditions throughout the riding season. Updated: 6/1/2024