North Dakota Weekend Riding Itineraries
A North Dakota ATV weekend can go sideways when you arrive at a trailhead only to find wet-weather closures, a width restriction your side-by-side can’t meet, or a long drive between riding areas. These itineraries help you plan around the state’s different terrain, choose a practical base, and leave room for weather, permits, and local riding rules.
Choose a Weekend That Fits Your Riding Style
North Dakota’s riding areas are spread across the state, and they offer very different experiences. Before you book a place to stay or load the trailer, decide whether you want a mapped trail ride, open-area play, or a more relaxed weekend with a mix of riding and sightseeing.
Start with the kind of ride you want
For a clearly defined route, consider Pembina Gorge or the Roughrider OHV Trail. Pembina Gorge, northwest of Walhalla, offers wooded terrain and marked loops. Roughrider follows the Missouri River corridor between Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park and Fort Rice. Both are better choices if your group prefers to follow a trail rather than explore a broad open riding area.
Turtle Mountain near Bottineau brings forested scenery and a different feel from the open prairie. Its riding area is shared with other visitors, including horseback riders, so a patient pace and awareness of who else is on the trail matter. If your group prefers open terrain, Kimball Bottoms near the Missouri River offers a different kind of outing; expect to pay close attention to changing conditions and to stay within the area’s permitted riding boundaries.
Think about your group’s experience as well as the terrain. A first-time rider may be more comfortable on a short, easy-to-follow route than on an unfamiliar trail with frequent turns. A group with mixed ages and machine types should choose an area where everyone can ride legally and comfortably, then agree on regrouping points before setting out.
For an overview of the state’s main options, start with [North Dakota OHV Trails: All Four Riding Areas]. To compare destinations by experience level, [Best North Dakota OHV Trails for Beginners] can help narrow the choices.
Check machine fit, access, and paperwork
A destination can be a poor fit even if the scenery looks perfect. Trail width limits matter for side-by-sides, and some areas or routes may not accommodate every machine. Pembina Gorge has a 60-inch width cap, so measure your machine as configured, including any accessories that affect its width, before making it your weekend centerpiece. The guide to [The 60-Inch Gate at Pembina Gorge] explains why that detail deserves attention.
Check your registration or permit requirements before leaving home. North Dakota residents and visitors may have different requirements, and a home-state sticker should not be assumed to provide access on its own. Review [North Dakota Permits for Visiting Riders] if you are coming from outside the state, and check [North Dakota Has No Reciprocity With Any State] before relying on another state’s registration or permit.
Also check whether you need a separate entrance permit for the vehicle you use to reach a state park. An OHV permit and a park entrance permit are not necessarily the same thing. Confirm the rules for your planned destination, the trail system, and your support vehicle before you travel.
Use a map, but keep a backup plan
A mapping app such as onX Offroad can help you review routes and identify the area you intend to ride. Download maps before you leave town, especially if you are heading toward places where cell service may be limited. Do not treat a line on a screen as permission to ride: posted restrictions, closures, and official route signs still matter.
Carry a paper map or a saved offline map as a backup. Before unloading, compare your planned route with the information posted at the trailhead. If directions, boundaries, or closures are unclear, pause and check with the relevant park office or land manager rather than guessing.
Weather can change the right plan quickly. Rain may make clay and gumbo surfaces difficult to ride and can lead to trail closures. A flexible itinerary should include an alternate activity or a different riding day, not just a second route through the same wet area. See [North Dakota Trails Closed by Wet Weather] and [Checking Pembina Gorge Trail Status by Phone] when planning around changing conditions.
Two-Day Itineraries for a North Dakota Weekend
A useful weekend itinerary leaves space for trailhead checks, unloading, meals, and unexpected delays. These plans are starting points, not promises about operating hours or trail conditions. Confirm access and status before you set out.
Pembina Gorge for wooded trails and a small-town base
Day one: Travel to the Walhalla area and settle in before riding. Use the afternoon for a shorter loop rather than trying to cover every route on arrival day. That gives your group time to check machine width, review trailhead information, and get used to the terrain. If you are arriving after a long drive, a conservative first ride is often more enjoyable than pushing everyone into a full day before they have unpacked.
Day two: Make the main ride the focus of the weekend. Choose a route that matches the least experienced rider in the group, and agree on where to regroup if riders become separated. Take breaks, watch for changing trail conditions, and be considerate around other visitors. Pembina Gorge’s wooded setting can feel very different from riding across open prairie, so keep speed appropriate for visibility and trail conditions.
The area’s proximity to Walhalla makes it a practical base for a weekend, but check lodging, food, fuel, and trail access arrangements before you commit. Do not assume every service will be open when you need it or that a nearby business has space for a long trailer. The destination guide [Pembina Gorge: North Dakota's OHV Trail Park] offers more detail for building a visit around the area.
If a trail is too wet or a route is closed, do not try to work around the restriction by riding off-route. Keep a backup plan, and check the trail status again before each riding day.
Roughrider for a point-to-point river corridor ride
Day one: Stage near Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park and review the route and logistics before unloading. Roughrider is a linear trail, so think through how your group will handle the far end of the ride. Decide whether you are arranging a shuttle, riding a section and returning the way you came, or planning a separate vehicle pickup. A group that overlooks the return plan may end up rushing the ride or leaving a vehicle in the wrong place.
Day two: Ride the section that suits your available time and experience. The trail corridor connects Fort Abraham Lincoln and Fort Rice, passing through scenery along the Missouri River. Bring water, basic tools, and a communication plan. Do not assume that everyone will have reliable cell service throughout the route, and make sure each rider knows the meeting point if the group gets separated.
The trail is often discussed as a 22-mile route, but your actual ride may be shorter or longer depending on access, closures, and how you handle transportation. Review [Roughrider OHV Trail's 22 Miles Along the Missouri River] and [Roughrider's New Trailhead at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park] as you plan your staging details.
This itinerary works best for riders who enjoy route planning as much as riding. If your group dislikes coordinating vehicles or managing a point-to-point trip, consider a destination where you can make a simpler out-and-back ride instead.
Turtle Mountain or Kimball Bottoms for a different kind of weekend
For a quieter, forested weekend, use Bottineau as a base for exploring Turtle Mountain. Make the first ride short enough to learn the area and its shared-use expectations. Keep an eye out for horseback riders and other visitors, and slow down where visibility is limited. The route information in [Turtle Mountain's 12 Miles in North Dakota] and [Finding the Sjule Road Entrance to Turtle Mountain] can help you think through access and the area’s scale.
Kimball Bottoms suits a group looking for open-area riding rather than a loop-focused trail weekend. Plan for changing river-area conditions, follow posted boundaries, and avoid assuming that every visible track is an authorized route. A mapping tool such as onX Offroad may help you orient yourself, but confirm boundaries on-site and respect closures. For context on the area, see [Kimball Bottoms' 400 Acres in North Dakota].
Neither destination should be treated as a guaranteed backup for the other. They are in different parts of the state and have different terrain and access considerations. Pick one as your primary destination, then decide in advance what you will do if weather or a closure makes riding impractical.
Compare the Main Riding Areas Before You Book
A little comparison can prevent a weekend mismatch, especially when your group includes different machines or riders with different experience levels.
| Riding area | Best fit | Planning detail to check | Weekend planning idea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pembina Gorge near Walhalla | Riders who want wooded, mapped trails | The 60-inch machine width restriction and current trail conditions | Use Walhalla as a base and plan one shorter ride followed by a main ride |
| Roughrider OHV Trail between Fort Abraham Lincoln and Fort Rice | Riders who enjoy a defined route and Missouri River scenery | Trail status, staging, and how the group will return from a point-to-point ride | Plan transportation before unloading |
| Turtle Mountain near Bottineau | Riders seeking forested scenery | Access details and shared use with other visitors | Keep the first ride relaxed and allow time to learn the area |
| Kimball Bottoms near the Missouri River | Riders who prefer open-area riding | Current access, boundaries, and river-area conditions | Check conditions before travel and avoid treating unmarked tracks as routes |
Use this table to make a shortlist, then check the details that can change your decision. A wide side-by-side may rule out a destination with a restrictive trail gate. A group that wants to ride together and return to the same parking area may prefer a route plan that does not require a shuttle. And riders who are unfamiliar with prairie weather should be especially cautious about basing the whole trip on a single exposed riding area.
For practical trip planning, onX Offroad can be useful for reviewing the general layout and saving maps for offline use. It should complement—not replace—trailhead signs, posted closures, and information from the land manager. If your phone battery is likely to be a problem, bring a power bank and keep a paper map in the vehicle.
Make the Weekend Safer and Less Stressful
The best itinerary is one your group can adapt. A little preparation helps avoid the common frustrations: discovering a machine does not fit the trail, running low on fuel far from town, or having no alternate plan when a storm rolls through.
Prepare your machines and group
Before loading, inspect tires, brakes, lights, belts, and fluid levels. Secure machines properly in the trailer and bring basic tools suited to the equipment you are riding. A tow strap, tire repair supplies, and a first-aid kit can be useful on remote rides. Carry drinking water and food even if you expect to be back in town for a meal; delays happen.
Make sure each rider understands the plan. Choose a lead rider and a sweep rider, agree on a pace, and set a regrouping point before starting. If a rider is new to the machine or the terrain, give them the option to turn around without making the rest of the group feel rushed.
Check the relevant rules for road riding, passengers, helmets, and insurance before the trip. Trail access does not automatically mean a machine can use a nearby public road to reach another route. [North Dakota ATV Road Rules by Surface Type] is a useful starting point for understanding why riding rules can differ by road and surface.
Build in weather and access alternatives
North Dakota’s weather can turn a promising weekend into a frustrating one if you have no flexibility. Check conditions before leaving and again before unloading. If a trail is muddy or closed, do not make the mistake of riding around the closure or cutting a new route. Wet ground can rut easily, and avoiding damage helps keep riding areas open.
Choose an alternate plan that does not depend on riding the same closed trail. That might mean shifting the riding day, exploring a nearby town, or shortening the trip. If your group is traveling a long distance, confirm accommodation and trailer parking before departure rather than assuming space will be available.
Keep the plan simple enough that it can change. A weekend with one primary destination, one alternate activity, and a clear return plan is usually less stressful than trying to fit multiple far-apart riding areas into two days.
Respect local rules and other trail users
Stay on authorized routes and within marked riding boundaries. Give horses, hikers, and other riders room, and slow down when dust, brush, or terrain limits visibility. Do not assume private land is open because it appears unused; check signs and obtain permission where required. For a broader understanding of where riding is allowed, review [North Dakota Posted Land Rules for Riders].
At the end of the day, inspect your machine and trailer before driving home. Remove mud where it could hide damage, check straps, and account for everyone’s equipment. If you used a navigation app such as onX Offroad, save notes about confusing intersections or useful regrouping points for your next trip, while remembering to verify those details against current signs and access information.
A weekend does not need to cover every mile to be worthwhile. Choose the riding area that suits your machine and group, confirm access before you go, and leave enough time to enjoy the ride without turning the trip into a race.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
