4 Best Off-Road Parks in Idaho
Idaho is well-known for its production of potatoes, but the Gem State is also a veritable paradise for off-road enthusiasts. Teeming with trails that beg to be explored, Idaho’s wilderness offers plenty of opportunities to get out in your ATV and enjoy nature. Whether you live in Idaho or are just passing through, you need to check these top four off-road parks off your bucket list.
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[wptab name=”Historic Wagon Road”]
Elk City Historic Wagon Road
Hours of Operation: Late June through September due to snow at higher elevations
Location: Between Harpster and Elk City
Cost of Admission: No charge
Types of Vehicles Allowed: Street-legal ATVs, motorbikes, UTVs, full-size vehicles
If you’re interested in learning more about Idaho’s history while exploring off-road, check out the Elk City Historic Wagon Road. Along the way, you’ll see 29 historic points of interest that will educate you about early Idaho’s mining pioneers. There are no campgrounds along the route, though there are plenty of places to pull off and pitch a tent. Make sure you take plenty of food, water, bug spray, a map, and a camera—and, of course, make sure you have enough gas to get you to your destination!
[wptab name=”Sand Dunes”]
St. Anthony Sand Dunes
Hours of Operation: None specified
Location: St. Anthony, Idaho
Cost of Admission: Free, though you need a safety flag and an Idaho OHV sticker
Types of Vehicles Allowed: ATVs, dune buggies, motorcycles
St. Anthony Sand Dunes rise up to 400 feet above the valley floor in St. Anthony, 50 miles northwest of Idaho Falls. The dunes are extremely popular with off-roading enthusiasts, who like to take ATVs and dune buggies across the dunes for the ultimate adventure. There are plenty of camping and lodging facilities in the area, as well as places to find food. Leave glass containers at home, as they are not allowed on the dunes, and make sure you stick to marked roads and trails.
[wptab name=”Mackay’s Mine”]
Mackay’s Mine Hill Tour
Hours of Operation: None specified
Location: Mackay, Iadho
Cost of Admission: Free
Types of Vehicles Allowed: ATVs, motorcycles
Idaho was a great mining state back in the day, and this off-road trail helps you discover the rich history of the Gem State’s mining industry. Mackay’s Mine Hill Tour combines history with off-road fun in a forested environment. This self-guided tour travels by historically productive gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc mines and has three loops totaling approximately 30 miles. There are no services, so make sure you pack everything you will need before you head out.
[wptab name=”Big Southern Butte”]
Big Southern Butte
Hours of Operation: None specified
Location: Arco, Idaho
Cost of Admission: Free
Types of Vehicles Allowed: ATVs
The Craters of the Moon National Monument offers some of the most breathtaking landscapes in all of Idaho. Big Southern Butte is a mountain slap bang in the middle of the desert and features one of the largest volcanic domes in the world. Naturally, it’s the ideal place for an off-road park that comprises 68 miles through terrain owned by the Bureau of Land Management and adjacent to Craters of the Moon. This long route might require you to refuel along the way, so make sure you take spare gas to avoid getting stuck in the middle of nowhere.
[end_wptabset]
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