Best Off-Roading Near St. Louis, Missouri
Whether you ride a four wheeler, a side by side, a dirt bike or another powersports vehicle, off-roading is some of the best fun you can have on a weekend afternoon. For those of you near STL, you may be wondering where you can go to ride your ATV or UTV. Big St. Charles Motorsports has the answer, with three of our favorite choices for riding your quad scattered throughout the scenic Show Me State. Check out one of these great off-roading sites and let us know how it went!
St. Joe State Park (Park Hills, MO)
As one of Missouri’s two state parks with an off-road vehicle area, St. Joe State Park has a great deal to offer visitors looking to ride. St. Joe State Park is in southwest Missouri outside of the city of Park Hills. The region is steeped in history as part of the Lead Belt region, and the park includes the Missouri Mines State Historic Site, featuring old mining equipment and a rock and mineral museum.
The off-road vehicle (ORV) area of the park is clearly demarcated by signs, with a staging area for parking and loading or unloading ATVs, UTVs and dirt bikes. Campground 1 is near the riding area, should you wish to make a weekend adventure out of your off-roading! Trails for your side by side or four wheeler wind through forested areas and over sandy flats, giving you plenty of variety as you ride. You’ll find a number of other outdoor activities here for when you’re done with your quad or want to spice things up, but you’ll find that the trails at St. Joe State Park provide hours of off-road enjoyment.
Potowatami Offroad Park (Fulton, MO)
Just outside of the city of Fulton to the east is this popular off-roading park with miles of trails that feature hills, rocks, gardens and forest, with very rough terrain that presents a challenging ride for ATV experts. However, for those in Jeeps and less rugged vehicles or who are less experienced, there are plenty of obstacle bypass sections so you can still enjoy the trails. You’ll find campsites at the park next to the lake and a staging area near the entrance off Bartley Lane. Potowatami Offroad Park provides campgrounds for those who want to stay overnight and is open year-round.
Finger Lakes State Park (Columbia, MO)
This is the other state park in Missouri where off-road vehicles are permitted in a designed area. A short 15-minute drive north of Columbia in north-central Missouri, to the west of St. Louis, Finger Lakes State Park is easy to get to and full of activities.
The site is reclaimed coal mining land that features over 70 miles of trails for your quad or side by side to tackle. The trails feature steep hills and ravines that will challenge even the most experienced side by side riders. You’ll be able to take your dirt bike, 4 wheeler or UTV here. People come from all over the country to this popular and scenic region, with lakeside beaches to relax by when the riding day is done.
Missouri has everything you’re looking for when you want a great off-roading experience. Stop by our St. Charles location today to check out our full inventory of powersports vehicles, including ATVs, side by sides and dirt bikes. Big St. Charles Motorsports welcomes our customers coming from greater St. Louis, St. Peters and Columbia, Missouri. If you need repairs or parts for your 4 wheeler or UTV, we have a service department, and we also provide riding courses so you can get used to riding your brand-new quad!