Ride the Top rated ATVing Wilderness Trails in Northern MN
The Dense Forests, Backwoods trails, and wide open wilderness surrounding the Roseau area provide more ATV trails than you can imagine.
There are over 1,400 miles of ATV-accessible roads and trails within the greater Beltrami Island State Forest area.
The Bemis Hill Trails, located in Beltrami Island State Forest, offers more than 96 miles of riding. The trails travel along pine-covered sand ridges, large areas of low flatland, and near peat bogs. Trails are provided by Roseau County and maintained by the NorthStar ATV Club and the Lake of The Woods Sportsmans Club. The riding trails are well-marked for newcomers and very well-maintained. Having the Polaris Ride Command App on your phone is encouraged. Keep in mind those designing the trails and maps are test drivers for Polaris or local ATV enthusiasts and they know these roads.
RIDE COMMAND+:Â
Making its debut last fall, Polaris RIDE COMMAND+, the industry’s first connected-vehicle technology, continues to roll out new enhancements to its service for 2024. With new features like Location Alerts, that will notify the owner if its vehicle has been bumped or moved from its last location, owners can now protect their vehicle more than ever before. RIDE COMMAND+ is now available as a factory option for 2024 RZR Pro R Ultimate, RANGER XD 1500 NorthStar, RANGER XP 1000 NorthStar, Polaris XPEDITION NorthStar and Sportsman XP 1000 RIDE COMMAND Edition. This service is also available on most 2024 RZR, RANGER, Sportsman and Polaris XPEDITION models as an accessory install.Â
Once in the forest, you will drive by or through some of the first homesteaded parts of Roseau County. Wooden signs mark the family names and dates of their settlement in the area. A ride into the Beltrami Forest would not be complete without making a stop at the Penturen Church which dates back to 1916. Find out more about the church here: https://goroseau.com/historic-site-penturen-church/
Take a break from riding for a picnic lunch under the pines. Wash off the dust from the old hand pump well and stroll through the church graveyard. Then pack up and hit the open road, you still have much to explore.
                                      You could ride for days in the area and not take the same trail twice.
 If you head east of Roseau about 17 miles you can encounter some tribal land in and around Warroad. For the Red Lake Wildlife Management Area, contact Norris Camp for a free permit. You can always pick up a free ATV map at area gas stations and the Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit the club’s Facebook page or contact trail administrator Myles Hogenson, (218)689-6889
Club volunteers play a crucial role in the maintenance and mapping of the trails in Roseau County. Just south of Roosevelt is a rider’s paradise, Roseau/LOW (aka Carp’s Pit) Recreational Area which marks the trail hub for 10 acres of land and includes a pavilion for picnics, restrooms, a warming shack, shooting range, and camping. There are also campgrounds at Bemis Hill and Blueberry Hill with minimal facilities. You will find outhouses, picnic areas including campfire rings, and a shelter. If you’re really looking to rough it, however, you can pretty much camp anywhere as long as you’re not on private only land.
Besides unlimited trails, Roseau County has screened pavillians, walkig trails, swim beaches, gravel pits and wayside rest areas free for riders to use.
Hayes Lake State Park also has beautiful campsites, a nice swim beach, a screened pavilion, walking trails, and small boat rentals. You are required to trailer an ATV into the park. ATVing in the campground is not allowed.
If you have a few extra hours and you’re looking for something to do in town, check out Riverview Outdoors and Recreation https://riverviewoutdoors.com/ right on the Roseau River. You can rent paddleboards, canoes, and kayaks on an hourly, half-day or full-day basis.Â
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Today, Polaris sells more ATV/UTV Side by Sides than snowmobiles.
Stop by the Polaris Experience Center https://www.polaris.com/en-us/polaris-experience-center/ and see the snowmobile that started it all and learn. You can also watch the documentary made by the founder’s sons Mitchell Johnson and Mike Hetteen. Mitchell shares the funny story of how the first side-by-side was developed. An idea that was generated during a spending freeze. A brave move when Roseau Research and Development secretly built a machine prototype. This design changed riding and made a unit that functioned equally as a utility and recreational machine.
Meet the Polaris Off-Road 2024 Side-by-Sides Lineup
Polaris has a make and model to fit your riding style from the Expedition that will take you wherever you want to go and set up base to the rugged and fierce RZR created for the thrill of the ride. The 2024 lineup has it all so “Think Outside” on a Polaris.Â
Come Celebrate Polaris 70 Year Anniversary in Roseau, MN
