Where to ride
Where to ride in Iowa
Official riding areas and the permits Iowa asks for, each from the managing agency's own page, quoted and dated. Areas close for fire, weather, seasons and repairs, so check the page before you go.
- Public areas
- 7
- On the map
- 7
- Quoted facts
- 22
- Reviewed
- 2026-09-30
Areas
Public land the managing agency describes for off-highway riding. Each card quotes the place’s own page on the riding, vehicles, season, ride days, fees, camping and size; what the page does not print is named on a hatched line. The Forest Service and the BLM publish motor vehicle use maps for public land not listed here.
Show areas whose pages name
Showing all 7 areas.
-
1. Bluff Creek OVH Park
Located in Mahaska County southwest of Oskaloosa, this 350-acre park is an abandoned coal mine that has been developed into a riding area.
- Riding
There are approximately 20 miles of trails, steep hill climbs, deep pits, and four motocross tracks.
- Vehicles
Open to ATV and Off-road Motorcycle (ORM) Use.
- Season
The park is open year round, but is closed when weather or trail conditions do not permit riding.
- Camping
Thirteen non-electric camping sites
- —
- Not on the pages we checked: Ride days, Fees, Size
Address as printed: 1625 325th Street, Eddyville, IA 52553
Bluff Creek OVH Park, official pagechecked 2026-09-30
Map point: Coordinates in the directions link on the agency page, checked 2026-09-30. Back to the map
-
2. Gypsum City OHV Park
The Gypsum City OHV Park is located on the southeast corner of Fort Dodge.
- Riding
The park also includes a 1.5 mile motocross track, a .4 mile kids' track, and a beginner circle track.
- Vehicles
The park is approximately 800 acres in size and includes 60 miles of trails for use by all-terrain vehicles, off-road utility vehicles, and off-road motorcycles.
- Season
The campground will be open April 15 - October 15, annually.
- —
- Not on the pages we checked: Ride days, Fees, Camping, Size
Address as printed: 2390 Mill Road Fort Dodge, IA 50501
Gypsum City OHV Park, official pagechecked 2026-09-30
Map point: Coordinates in the directions link on the agency page, checked 2026-09-30. Back to the map
-
3. Lakeview OHV Park
The Lakeview OHV park offers something for everyone.
- Riding
There is also a very extensive trail network consisting of sand trails, mud trails, hard pack trails, some hill climbs, and single-track trails.
- Vehicles
The tracks are designed to be used by both motorcycles and ATVs.
- Season
The park is open year round, with the exception of when weather and trail conditions do not permit riding.
- Camping
No camping is permitted.
- Size
The Lakeview OHV park has 160 acres of varying terrain.
- —
- Not on the pages we checked: Ride days, Fees
Address as printed: 3877 140th St NE Solon, IA 52333
Lakeview OHV Park, official pagechecked 2026-09-30
Map point: Coordinates in the directions link on the agency page, checked 2026-09-30. Back to the map
-
4. Nicholson-Ford OHV Park
There are approximately 20 miles of tight, river-bottom, wooded trails for your enjoyment.
- Riding
- In the quote above
- Vehicles
120-acre off-highway vehicle park open to off-road motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and off-road utility vehicles
- —
- Not on the pages we checked: Season, Ride days, Fees, Camping, Size
Address as printed: 2002 Marion St Marshalltown, IA 50158
Nicholson-Ford OHV Park, official pagechecked 2026-09-30
Map point: Coordinates in the directions link on the agency page, checked 2026-09-30. Back to the map
-
5. Rathbun Off-Highway Vehicle Area (ROHVA)
Managed by the South Central Dirt Riders, the 125-acre Rathbun Off-Highway Vehicle Area (ROHVA) is located at 14230 Highway S70 in the northwest corner of Appanoose County.
- Riding
ROHVA also features a practice track and a tot lot, which is fenced as a separate area for safety and can be monitored by parents.
- Vehicles
Established in an abandoned rock quarry in 1993, the park provides riders of registered ATVs, UTVs, and dirt bikes an impeccable riding experience for novice and seasoned riders alike.
- Season
The park is open year-round except for closure due to weather or trail conditions that do not permit riding, particularly during wet periods and when the frost is coming out of the trails.
- —
- Not on the pages we checked: Ride days, Fees, Camping, Size
Address as printed: 14230 Highway S70 Plano, IA 52581
Rathbun Off-Highway Vehicle Area (ROHVA), official pagechecked 2026-09-30
Map point: Coordinates in the directions link on the agency page, checked 2026-09-30. Back to the map
-
6. Tama
This 300-acre park is located in Tama County which features tight, wooded trails with some hills, a 15-mile perimeter trail, a kids' track, and a motocross track.
- Riding
- In the quote above
- Season
Park is open year round, except when weather or trail conditions do not permit riding.
- Camping
Camping features 10 electric campsites and 13 primitive campsites.
- —
- Not on the pages we checked: Vehicles, Ride days, Fees, Size
Address as printed: 226 S State St Tama, IA 52339
Tama, official pagechecked 2026-09-30
Map point: Coordinates in the directions link on the agency page, checked 2026-09-30. Back to the map
-
7. Paul Huting Recreation Area
Managed by Trailblazers Off-road Club, this is a 180-acre park located in Black Hawk County along the Cedar River, which allows for scenic riverside trails.
- Riding
The park has two motocross tracks, a four-mile perimeter track, and a pee wee track.
- Season
Park is open year round, except when weather or trail conditions do not permit riding.
- —
- Not on the pages we checked: Vehicles, Ride days, Fees, Camping, Size
Address as printed: 2531 Kenyon Waterloo, IA 50701
Paul Huting Recreation Area, official pagechecked 2026-09-30
Map point: Coordinates in the directions link on the agency page, checked 2026-09-30. Back to the map
No area here matches every filter you picked.
Permits and stickers
What the state's own pages say riders need on public land, quoted word for word. Iowa Department of Natural Resources runs the program; its page is below. Private tracks set their own rules, entry forms and gear requirements.
-
Residents
Iowa DNR registration decal
Resident machines must display a valid, current Iowa DNR registration decal and the registration certificate must be on the operator or machine
Official pagechecked 2026-09-30
-
Non-residents
Iowa DNR nonresident user permit
Nonresident machines must display a valid Iowa DNR nonresident user permit on the machine.
Official pagechecked 2026-09-30
-
Everyone
OHV registration
Off-highway vehicles in Iowa operated on public land, public ice, or at a designated riding area must be registered with the DNR.
Official pagechecked 2026-09-30
The state program
Off-Highway Vehicles, run by Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
The State of Iowa administers a grant program for the acquisition, operation and development of all-terrain vehicles (ATV), off-road motorcycles (ORM), and off-road utility vehicles (ORV) trails
Off-Highway Vehicles, official pagechecked 2026-09-30
Before you go
Each place's own page has its current status, seasons, fees and which trails take which vehicles. Rules differ between places and change with fire danger, weather and race schedules, so read it on the day. Tracks set their own gear, age and entry rules.
Official maps
Near a state line? The nearest-places finder looks across every state.
Nothing on this page says anyone may ride anywhere: it points to the agencies that decide. A tag such as “Camping” means the quoted page says so, not that we have been there. Reviewed 2026-09-30.