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.

New bridge over Rice Creek on the Wilderness Trail. Construction on this section of trail starts in September!

Both trails are in very good condition! Enjoy your ride!​

 
​Trail Conditions and Alerts:
The Bigfork to Balsam Trail is currently in very good condition. We continue to add gravel as needed, grading and mowing are on a routine schedule for the remainder of the summer. Our volunteers get out after wind or rain events to clear the trails.

The Wilderness Trail is in very good condition as we continue to upgrade the open trail section. We have eliminated all the wet areas on the section from the south end of the Timberwolf spur east to Jack the Horse Rd. This is a beautiful section of trail that is a must see. You will note lots of large rocks along the trail that have been removed to make this a pleasant ride.

​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. 

The '24 summer season with the new loop option on the Wilderness Trail is very popular. No more detours! Download the newest map from our Trail Maps page.  Construction on the 4.5 miles shown on the map starts in September with a completion date of October 25, 2024! We plan to officially open this final section when construction is complete.  We also plan further enhancements  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 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/ 
​
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. Watch for signs: maps.app.goo.gl/j8KFj5BtJp7NKGnx7

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: 8/26/2024