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 on the Wilderness Trail

Wilderness and Bigfork to Balsam Trails Open May 15, 2025!​

 
​Trail Conditions and Alerts:
TRAILS OPEN SATURDAY MAY 15TH! 
Both the B&B Trail and the Wilderness Trails are in great shape for the opener. Crews have been out picking up litter, grading trails and removing down trees and other maintenance in preparation for use.

Fuel stops are available in Marcell, Talmoon, Bigfork, and at Antler Lodge. Food is available at many locations on the trail as well. 

The Bigfork to Balsam and the Wilderness Trails open each year on May 15th and fall closures are on  November 1st.

VISITOR ALERT! Please watch for active logging on all trails and ride with caution through these areas.  

A large parking has been added  in Marcell and offers both snowmobile parking in the winter and ATV parking in the summer.  See Parking areas below for specific location information

In other news, the Swampsiders Snowmobile and ATV Club have opened the portions of the Herb Brandstrom trail to ATV use. Connections can be made a both Antler Lodge and the south end of the Bigfork to Balsam trail creating a loop option by using both club trails sections in that area. The former Scenic Pines Restaurant is under new ownership and is now the Trailside Restaurant and Bar. With Antler Lodge dinning and the Antler Store for gas, the are plenty of opportunities for a good ride.

New maps will be uploaded to our website as they become available.  

Special notes:  
DONATIONS WELCOME! WE ARE NOW A  NON-PROFIT 401(c)3 organization and all donations are tax deductible! 
 Please consider making a donation to the Wilderness Wheeler Club  by sending a check to Wilderness Wheelers, PO Box 319, Bigfork, MN. 566289  or donating on the Membership page.  

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
Wilderness 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
NEW: Marcell Snowdrifter's parking:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/EuFVS85in5AuRKC89
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 and keep those lights on! 

​Check back regularly for current riding conditions throughout the riding season. 
Updated: 5/13/2026