Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area
🏆🏆🏆🏆 Iron Range OHV Paradise — 3,500-acre off-road vehicle park on reclaimed mine land on the Mesabi Iron Range
Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area is Minnesota’s premier OHV destination — 3,500 acres of trails and riding areas built on reclaimed iron mining land on the Mesabi Range. The unique terrain includes steep mine dumps, rock piles, sandy flats, and forested corridors that create some of the most challenging and varied off-road riding in the Midwest. The industrial landscape adds a post-apocalyptic atmosphere — massive mine equipment, ore processing ruins, and mountain-sized tailings piles. From the highest points, riders can see across the vast open pits of the Mesabi Range.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Gilbert, St. Louis County, MN |
| Size | 3,500 acres |
| Fee | MN OHV registration + trail pass |
| Terrain | Reclaimed mine land (unique!) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What vehicles are allowed?
ATVs, UTVs/side-by-sides, dirt bikes, and 4WD vehicles are welcome on designated trails. The terrain ranges from beginner-friendly to extremely challenging. All vehicles must be registered and riders must have an OHV safety certificate.
About Iron Range OHV
Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area near Gilbert provides motorized recreation on former Mesabi Range mining land — turning the industrial scars of iron ore extraction into an adventure playground. The rugged terrain of mine pits, rock piles, and haul roads creates a unique OHV landscape. The area encompasses over 9,000 acres of former mining land.
Things to Do
ATV and OHV riding on miles of trails, motocross, enduro riding on challenging mining terrain, camping, and exploring the dramatic post-mining landscape of the Iron Range.
Insider Tips
Mining terrain: Iron Range OHV uses former mining land — creating challenging terrain with steep gravel hills, mine pits, and industrial landscapes. Pro tip: The Mesabi Range’s former mines create a landscape unlike anything else in the Midwest — massive open pits, towering overburden piles, and red-orange soil. Gilbert OHV Park: The area around Gilbert and Eveleth offers diverse OHV riding on reclaimed mine land.
Best Time to Visit
Summer: Best riding conditions. Fall: Colorful foliage on mine land. Spring: Muddy but exciting. Winter: Snowmobiling on designated routes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mesabi Range?
The Mesabi Iron Range is a 110-mile-long geological formation in northeast Minnesota — containing the richest iron ore deposits ever discovered. Between 1890 and today, over 3.5 billion tons of iron ore have been mined here. The range shaped American industrial history — the steel from Mesabi built America’s skyscrapers, bridges, railroads, and warships.
🏍️ Visit Iron Range OHV SRA
3,500 acres of mine-land riding — Mesabi Range post-industrial playground.
Park Location
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