Minnesota, land of a thousand lakes, is a beautiful state with many terrific places to ride your ATV. In an effort to protect the environment, the state has enacted the following rules and regulations. Following these guidelines will help assure that you have a safe and happy time out on the ATV trails, and that the trails will remain open for future ATV enthusiasts.
* No riding on any trails unless they are specifically posted for use by ATVs or any other motorized vehicle.
* Absolutely no operation of any ATV over lakes, rivers or streams unless:
The body of water is frozen.
You are crossing by bridge.
You are at a designated low-water crossing.
* ATVs and snowmobiles may not cause rutting or erosion on forest land. The only exemption to this rule is a designated motorized trail.
* No riding in areas posted as closed to motor vehicle use.
* All riders must abide by posted speed limits, parking and traffic regulation signs, respect posted road closures.
* Riders may not ride in a reckless manner that causes damage to the trails and other natural resources.
* Absolutely no construction of unauthorized ATV trails on forest lands.
While Minnesota's rules may seem a little restrictive, they really do serve a good purpose. If we, as ATV enthusiasts, don't respect these wonderful woodlands and lakes, the areas could quickly be spoiled. Isn't it worth some caution to keep these areas open to ATVers and all off highway motoring for future generations? Of course it is. If you would like more information about ATVing in Minnesota, check out the Division of Natural Resources webpage at: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ohv/index.html.
