Iowa ATV Trails

There are no National Forests in Iowa, but this great state features a lot of great riding for you and your ATV none the less. One of the best places to ride is Bluff Creek Park. This is a great example of a group effort. Grants combined with volunteers built this great ATV ridig area. Bluff Creek is owned and maintained by the Iowa Partners of the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council. This was a two year labor of love that became a reality for ATV riders everywhere in 1992.

This park is currently 300 acres of diverse and dense terrain with about 20 mileso trails. Yo will enjoy the challenges of twisting trails, the rolling hills thrown in to get you off your ATV seat! A perimeter trail that circles the entire area is designed for all skill levels of riders and will always bring you back to the large parking lot if you get turned around, which is perfect for beginning ATV riders. You will be sharing the trails with other ATV riders and motorcycles so be aware and drive defensively.

Currently the hours available to ride your ATV on the trails are dawn to dusk, and if you choose to stay overnight, there is primitive camping available. There are the most basic bathroom facilities but the Bluff Creek Park Service is currently in planning to build better bathroom and a shower facility.

Please be aware these trails may be closed after a heavy rain as riding on muddy trails seriously erodes them. There are no daily use fees for riding your ATV or camping fees but all ATV riders must display a valid Iowa OHV sticker. Out-of-state ATV riders can buy stickers from any outlet that sells Iowa hunting or fishing licenses or at the Wal-Mart in Oskaloosa.

ATV Riders under 18 must possess an OHV Safety Training Certificate and please note, riding double isn't allowed under any circumstances and helmets are required for all riders in all Iowa OHV parks.

If you are in the area for a long weekend and you have ridden all the trails to your heart's content, Lake Rathbun is only 35 miles away and has a smaller OHV area that is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and has various trails and interesting exploration awaiting you and your ATV.