Getting Oriented
The Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle State Recreation Area covers about 1,200 acres of reclaimed iron-mining ground on the east edge of Gilbert, in St. Louis County on Minnesota's Mesabi Iron Range. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources manages it directly as one of the state's few OHV parks open to every machine class, with roughly 36 miles of designated trail. Gilbert sits right at the gate, and the Quad-Cities towns of Eveleth, Virginia, and Mountain Iron are within a short drive, which makes the park the anchor of riding across the East Range.
Trail Overview
Trails carry three ratings: Easy, More Difficult, and Most Difficult. The easy loops run on old haul roads and forest two-track with firm gravel and dirt. The harder lines climb rock stockpiles and tailings, drop into old pit benches, and cross loose, blocky ground. A marked scramble area gives full-size off-road vehicles and built rigs a place to work steep, technical rock, and the DNR also uses the grounds for training and special events. All three vehicle classes share the system: ATVs, off-highway motorcycles, and full-size off-road vehicles (ORVs), which sets the park apart from most Iron Range club trails signed for ATV and motorcycle width only.
Points of Interest
- Lake Ore-Be-Gone, a flooded former mine pit on the Gilbert side, next to the trail network.
- The rock scramble area, where steep stockpile faces and blocky tailings test line choice and traction.
- Pit-bench climbs and overlooks onto the flooded pits and stockpile country left from active mining.
- Direct trail links to the Quad Cities ATV Trail and East Range Trails, which run out to the surrounding towns.
Where to Camp
No camping is allowed inside the recreation area; it is a day-use riding park. Riders base out of Gilbert, Eveleth, Biwabik, and Aurora, where motels, private campgrounds, and resorts sit within 15 minutes of the gate. For a trail-connected overnight, the DNR opened the Pyrite OHV Campground in June 2026 on the Prospectors Trail system to the northeast. Surrounding state and county forest land also offers dispersed sites for riders willing to trailer or ride out to them.
Permits and Regulations
Every machine needs Minnesota OHV registration, and non-residents riding an out-of-state machine need a Minnesota non-resident OHV trail pass. An ATV safety certificate is required for operators born after July 1, 1987; off-highway motorcycle riders under 16 and off-road vehicle operators need the matching certificate. Sound limits are enforced at the gate, and alcohol is not allowed anywhere in the recreation area. The park opens daily at 8 a.m. and closes at sunset through the riding season, with closing times moving earlier in fall. It shuts entirely for the Minnesota firearms deer season, generally the first three weeks of November.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- Buy registration or a non-resident trail pass before arriving; the gate does not sell them.
- Air down for the tailings and rock, and carry recovery gear before running the Most Difficult lines or the scramble area.
- Fuel up in Gilbert, about 1.5 miles from the entrance; the park has no on-site fuel.
- Check the DNR closures page before a trip, since sections close for maintenance and reclamation work.
- Call the park office at 218-735-3831 to confirm seasonal gate hours, and plan around the November deer-season closure.
Fuel and Water
Fill up before you stage. The nearest fuel is in Gilbert, about 1.5 miles from the park entrance, with more stations in Eveleth and Virginia. There is no fuel and no reliable potable water inside the recreation area, so carry drinking water and any two-stroke mix you need. Groceries, food, and ATV parts are available in Gilbert, Eveleth, Virginia, and Mountain Iron, and several area shops rent ATVs and side-by-sides for riders without their own machine.
Nearby
The park anchors a wide Iron Range trail network. The Quad Cities ATV Trail links Gilbert, Eveleth, Virginia, Mountain Iron, and Britt and ties into the Taconite State Trail at Big Aspen north of Virginia. The East Range Trails add about 21 miles connecting Gilbert to Biwabik, where riders can reach the Minnesota Red Dot Trail (about 27 miles toward Silver Bay on Lake Superior) and the Ranger Trails around Biwabik, Aurora, and Hoyt Lakes. Farther northeast, the roughly 180-mile Prospectors Trail (Prospector Loop) system runs among Ely, Babbitt, Embarrass, Tower, and Soudan under the Prospectors ATV Trail Alliance and the City of Ely. Lake Ore-Be-Gone and the Mesabi Trail add non-motorized options near Gilbert.