The Best Off-Road Trails in Iowa For ATVs and Jeeps

Iowa is a land of rolling hills, dense forests, and wide open plains that stretch as far as the eye can see. While it makes for a gorgeous aesthetic, there are plenty of hidden and open trails throughout the countryside of Iowa, perfect for ATVs, Jeeps, and general offroading. 

It’s not just the locals that get into all of the off-roading fun either. Iowa enjoys a fairly large tourism industry, with people flocking in from out of state to participate in tournaments or just to do a little recreational off-roading. 

Those who live the RV lifestyle also take part, so Iowa gets its fair share from all over the country. This is especially true in Des Moines, Iowa, another popular tourist destination and the capital of the state. Since Iowa is a great destination for off-roading fun, what are the best locations to get started?

Table of Contents

• Lakeview OHV Park
• Timber Ridge Ranch
• Gypsum City OHV Park
• Tama County OHV Park
• River Valley OHV Park
• All Things Considered

Lakeview OHV Park

Lakeview often tops the list as one of Iowa’s most popular off-roading destinations all year long. Anyone who owns an ATV, OTV, or even a dirt bike is welcome. Lakeview sits on 160 acres of land near Johnson County, Iowa, and it includes a wide variety of off-roading options. 

These include sandy areas, deep woods, and wide open areas. There are also plenty of muddy areas that refuse to dry up throughout the year. Lakeview offers a couple of beginner trails that are specially designed for kids learning the ropes on smaller ATVs and dirt bikes. 

Experienced riders get the best of both worlds if they want, including the above-mentioned mud bogs and sandy areas. Just outside of the park, the towns of Solon and Ely have plenty of gas stations when you cycle through all of that fuel. 

Unfortunately, there is a lack of camping options. In fact, you can’t camp anywhere at Lakeview and will have to pitch a tent or park your RV somewhere else. 

Timber Ridge Ranch

Compared to Lakeview, Timber Ridge Ranch is absolutely enormous, with 3,000 acres of off-roading real estate located just outside of Castana, Iowa. Unfortunately, you have to jump on a membership to get everything you want out of the park.

The memberships also come with a lengthy waiting list. Timber Ridge Ranch holds multiple events every year and is a popular destination for Iowa residents and out-of-state tourists as well. 

Non-members are more than welcome, though the price of entry may be a little bit steeper. Timber Ridge Ranch offers more than just off-road trails for ATVs, OHVs, dirt bikes, and off-road Jeeps or other vehicles. 

You can also rent a cabin and stay for the entire weekend. There are also plenty of hiking trails and four, large ponds to swim in if you get too hot throughout the day. There is also a winery on-site, in case you need to wash the dust out of your throat from a long day on one of the many side-by-side trails. 

Gypsum City OHV Park

Located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, Gypsum City OHV Park is a popular destination and home to what used to be a gypsum mine. Gypsum City OHV park is almost entirely a product of local community support and funding. It has grown by leaps and bounds throughout the years as a result. 

The trails are open for all offroading vehicles, including Jeeps, ATVs, OHVs, and dirt bikes. The trails aren’t short and stunted either, with some stretching for miles. Trails run all along what perimeter of the park, which shows that they have done a lot to squeeze everything in that they can.

A campground is included in the park, with 33 camping sites. It fills up pretty fast during the summer months, however, so you will have to jump on it or stay out in town otherwise. The park stretches across 800 acres and features a number of tracks, including one that is a mile and a half long. 

Inclement weather will cause park closures from time to time, so be on the lookout for storms before heading out for the day. 

Tama County OHV Park

Located in Tama, Iowa, this 300-acre off-road park is a lot of fun for the locals and a tourist destination as well. It isn’t the biggest of parks but it has a lot to offer for what is there. There is a public camping area as well, so you won’t have to go very far to sleep for the night. 

There are 15 miles of trails in Tama County OHV Park and the vast majority of it is in deeply wooded areas, including several bridges, constructed of wood, with a thoroughly ‘outdoors’ aesthetic to them. 

The 15 miles worth of trails doesn’t end there, however. There are an additional 15 miles worth of perimeter trails as well. Whoever designed the park, spent a good deal of time maximizing the 300 acres to accommodate a combined thirty miles worth of off-roading fun.

For beginners and kids, Tama Park also has a kid trail, along with a kid’s motocross trail as well. If you are a camper, however, with no interest in off-roading, this campground isn’t for you, as off-roading goes on day and night. 

River Valley OHV Park

Located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, River Valley OHV Park maintains over 20 miles worth of off-road trails packed inside 190 acres worth of real estate. It’s enough to give anyone, regardless of their off-roading vehicle of choice, plenty to do all day long. 

There are a variety of tracks too, with hard-packed dirt trails, mud bogs, and even some sandy trails as well. It’s not the hilliest of parks but there are still plenty of ups and downs to get the butterflies in your stomach going. 

They are subject to closures during inclement weather, so keep a keen eye on the radar throughout your stay. Overall, it’s a beautiful park that runs adjacent to and looks over the Missouri River. 

All Things Considered

There you have it, the five best parks for all of the off-roading bliss you can get out of the state of Iowa. If you’re in the state long-term, you should also check out Nicholson-Ford OHV Park, Rathbun OHV Park, Hawkeye Downs Motocross Track, and Hansen Hollows for even more off-roading fun and challenge.