So....where IS there to ride??

[R1150RTMark]

I have a dilemma.  I live in a semi-rural area, with literally an 80-acre or so field RIGHT behind our house.  Trouble is, it's a dedicated farm field - and I doubt the farmer would look too kindly to knobby tires tearing up the pasture, even off-season.  And I'm jonesing for a dirtbike.  

So my dilemma is this - I live in an area with lots of wide open spaces and I see a lot of folks (kids mainly) riding in the dirt here-and-there.  So do these people have permission of the land owners to ride?  Or are they simply taking the chance no one will complain for trespassing on their property?  There really aren't any rider-dedicated areas - at least none of which I know.  I can't believe my situation is unique.

So where to YOU ride??

[garry]

That is a serious problem in southwestern PA too. State game lands are open, but there many thousands of acres of woods and stuff, complete with trails, that are posted. I'm a bit old to be getting chased by the cops or a pissed off landowner with a shotgun. That's part of the reason I sold my DRZ400 last winter (dumb move). Everywhere locally that I *thought* I could ride turned out to be posted, no trespassing, no motor vehicles, cables/chains across the dirt road, locked access gates, yadda yadda. I finding there are areas to ride about 50 miles away, but all the stuff within 10 or 15 miles of the house appears to be off limits. Note that I never see anyone riding there, despite the trails. One field even has bona fide MX track in it that I've never seen used despite commuting past it a few days a week last summer.

[marc11]

I've only had my off road bike for a little over a month and in that time I have found a ton of places to ride.  Most legal, some locally not actually legal, but not posted either.  One spot I found is an ATV/MX track someone has built on a large parcel of vacant land.  I too never see anyone riding there, but the jumps, berms and tracks are always fresh, so, someone has been there.

I also found some fire roads and power line access roads that, while not legal, are well used by many off road riders.  The key is to look around, there are a ton of legal places to ride, and it never hurts to knock on a door or join a trail association.

[JamesG]

Fire breaks and under power line routes, while technically private property, are either open or the easment leaves them unoccupied. At least down here in GA.

[Johnny Monsoon]

This is truly the beauty of a dual sport bike (like the KLX250S or the KTM offerings that favor more dirt).  

I have an ORV park near enough to me to keep me happy, though I do wish I could find more places.  This is an issue all over the country; and it comes mostly from A-holes screwing up nice places.  Pack in- pack out.  Respect the environment, and most of all... BUY A 4 STROKER!  

[marc11]

Amen, and how about leaving the stock exhaust on?  These thumpers are stoooooooopid loud with a pipe.  My bike, stock, you can hardly hear it running in the garage, let alone at speed.

[Stargzrgrl]

This is truly the beauty of a dual sport bike (like the KLX250S or the KTM offerings that favor more dirt).  

I have an ORV park near enough to me to keep me happy, though I do wish I could find more places.  This is an issue all over the country; and it comes mostly from A-holes screwing up nice places.  Pack in- pack out.  Respect the environment, and most of all... BUY A 4 STROKER!  

+1.  The Munchkin and I have to load up the bikes in the truck and go to a place that is about 20 miles from here.  I love supporting the owner of this particular off road riding center where the kids can ride without having to worry about getting in over their heads but I really wish there were more places like it so that the Munchkin and I can explore some different terrain that is kid friendly.

[T.RexRacing]

Ask about the 80 acre field you may be surprised what a polite "may I?" will get you.I have access to 250 acres local to me as long as I call and ask first.I've been told no a couple time 'cause of family stuff or harvesting but that's just fine.Offer to help out fixing stuff or maybe some manual labor come harvest time.And for gods sake don't screw it up by telling everyone and having morons invade.There's always pay per ride spots or some state/federal lands to ride on.I'm looking for some land to open an off road park.'Taint easy.

And to you guys who ride illegal.You suck and may your shit be impounded 'til the end of time.

[SWriverstone]

I've been looking into this myself. Aside from what Mike said, in the VA/WV/MD/PA area, the state and national forests usually have plenty of places to ride. For example, George Washington, Jefferson, and Monongahela National Forests have hundreds of miles of dirt forest roads to ride...and don't make the mistake of thinking they're all "boring." LOL There are plenty that will start off as smooth, graded dirt roads...but will rapidly devolve into rough double-track with sloping bedrock ledges, steep climbs, stream crossings, etc.

The Taskers Gap/Peters Mill Run area behind the ridge at Woodstock, VA (GW Natl Forest) offers many miles of trails expressly for ORVs. In PA, there are some ORV trails in Michaux State Forest (for starters).

I've also discovered there are plenty of county roads where the asphalt ends...but the dirt roads continue for miles, often through some crazy topographical hijinks (and often get pretty rough). The problem is there's no way to tell from looking at maps which of these roads are dirt vs. paved.

Generally speaking, tiny county roads that climb up and over mountains in remote areas are great to ride, because many of them aren't paved.

I think there are plenty of great places to ride...but most aren't well-known or easily found on a map...you just have to get out there and explore! That's why I have a KLR, so I can ride miles of pavement (legally and comfortably) to find the good offroad stuff.

Scott

[bluepoof]

Off-roading in the Bay Area sucks ass.  Everything's either paved or gated off as a hippie walking trail.  Best I can do is to ride the XT on pavement for 50 miles to get to some dirt roads near Hollister.

There IS an offroad park about 20 miles from our house that we go to from time to time.

[forester]

I would recommend asking the landowners.  In Ohio, it's the easiest thing to do since the plat books are supplied by the County.  The folks I've managed timberland for in Ohio have been the coolest folks I've ever managed lands for, bar none.  I'll bet you can find someone that might let you ride on their acreage!  

Edited to add the following pic.  The yellow numbers show state singletracks, the red are state shared ATV/moto-x trails and the blue are USFS trails.  #45 is the Evart block singletrack.  20+ miles of fairly gnarly dirt with water crossings, nasty rocks, sand inclines and narry enough room to get your bars through in some places.  It's 5 miles from here.  

[mxvet57]

there are a lot of places to ride here but the problem is it's a 1 1/2 to 2 hour drive to get there. plenty of open riding areas and MX tracks.

when i go to Florida there is a place to ride called "crooms" located brooksville fl. it is a 2600 acre state forest. it has a dry lake bed (around 25 acre's) and the rest of the land is all wooded. if you don't know where your going you can get lost very easy.

another place i would like to go is the "hatfield-McCoy trails" in west VA. had friends go there last year and they said it was some of the best and hardest riding they have ever done.

[hig4s]

I have a dilemma.  I live in a semi-rural area, with literally an 80-acre or so field RIGHT behind our house.  Trouble is, it's a dedicated farm field - and I doubt the farmer would look too kindly to knobby tires tearing up the pasture, even off-season.  And I'm jonesing for a dirtbike.  

So my dilemma is this - I live in an area with lots of wide open spaces and I see a lot of folks (kids mainly) riding in the dirt here-and-there.  So do these people have permission of the land owners to ride?  Or are they simply taking the chance no one will complain for trespassing on their property?  There really aren't any rider-dedicated areas - at least none of which I know.  I can't believe my situation is unique.

So where to YOU ride??

They won't give you the actual addresses (they charge for that) but you can get a general idea of where there are some tracks and trails from this site.

www.trailsource.com/scripts/three.asp?STATE=16725&TYPE=DIRT

this one lists a few in Ohio
www.motocrosstracks.com/trackdb/browse.php?stateselected=oh

The www.dirtrider.net and www.woodsracer.com have nationwide members that could help you find local tracks.

[johne]

I have sort of the same dilemma here in Texas. We have posted land right next to our sub-division that comprises about 80 acres. 2 weeks ago I found a place about 70 miles from here that my son and I went to check out. It's 1100+ acres that's full of trails and open areas. The open areas were great for my son since he's fairly new to riding. I found this place on the internet. Remember, the internet is your friend. Good luck with your search.

[black hills]

Check for forest service, and BLM land. That is where I do 90% of my riding. Also local clubs may have a track. In my hometown the local club has a nice track. $10 membership get's you a key to the track, not a bad deal at all.

[falcofred]

My son and I ride the Hatfield McCoy areas in WV
http://www.durhamtown.com/

I have a DRZ400S dual sport that I have modified with full knobies, rim locks, bark busters, skid plate, etc. I ride some dual sport events, and off road with my son.

[McRider]

I've been riding dirt bikes for 40 years, first in Southern California and now in Washington, and I've seen so many riding areas dissappear that I'm about to give up.  I would tell anybody thinking about it that there is no future in it unless you want to race motocross.  As a consequence, I've gotten more and more into street riding.  It's hard to beat riding right out of your garage and not having to haul a bike for many more miles than you are going to be able to ride.  But as far as thrills per minute, its hard to beat a dirt bike.  

[hig4s]

I've been riding dirt bikes for 40 years, first in Southern California and now in Washington, and I've seen so many riding areas dissappear that I'm about to give up.  I would tell anybody thinking about it that there is no future in it unless you want to race motocross.  As a consequence, I've gotten more and more into street riding.  It's hard to beat riding right out of your garage and not having to haul a bike for many more miles than you are going to be able to ride.  But as far as thrills per minute, its hard to beat a dirt bike.  

I know what you mean, it is not like back in the 70s in Michigan where any state frorest trail unless specifically marked "no motor vehicles" you were allowed to ride on. Back then there was over a million miles of trails in Michigan.

The number of places to ride have dwindled, but Michigan still has a decent trail system (but less than 10% of what it use to be, WV has Hatfield/McCoy, Florida has a ton of practice MX tracks that also have trails, Plus there is Ocala National park trails and Croom in Florida.  It is harder to find places but they are still around. Don't give up yet.. and there are still lots of oppertunity to dualsport around and with Husqvarna and KTM making there full blown enduro racers DOT street legal it helps.

[bluepoof]

Also, consider joining the Blue Ribbon Coalition.  It's not very expensive and the group is very active in trying to keep trails open and promote responsibile offroading.

[bluesurf]

This is truly the beauty of a dual sport bike (like the KLX250S or the KTM offerings that favor more dirt).  

I have an ORV park near enough to me to keep me happy, though I do wish I could find more places.  This is an issue all over the country; and it comes mostly from A-holes screwing up nice places.  Pack in- pack out.  Respect the environment, and most of all... BUY A 4 STROKER!  

The KTM 300exc 2-stroke exhaust note is less loud, and at a higher frequency/less distance-traveling bass brap than the one on the 450exc 4-stroke....perhaps there was another issue beside the exhaust one?