Overview
- Location: Sawyer County Wisconsin
- Length: 200+ miles
- Fees:
- WI Resident ATV registration: $30 (valid for 2 years)
- Non Resident ATV: $35 (1 year) / $20 (5 days)
- Skill Level: Varied
- Open: Most trails are open year round, but subject to seasonal weather conditions. *Please view the seasonal closure section for more information.
- Vehicles Allowed: ATVs, SxS < 65”, dirt bikes
Sawyer County ATV Trail Miles
Summer: 200 Miles
Winter: 600 Miles
NW Wisconsin has 1000+ miles of OHV Trails
Hayward Wisconsin / Sawyer County ATV Trails
The west coast gets a lot of glory when it comes to off roading, but you can find plenty of excellent riding almost everywhere if you know where to look.
When you’re in the Heartland, fantastic off roading is available in both Wisconsin and the UP Michigan.
Wisconsin has the Cheese Trail, Black River Falls ATV trails, wooded national forests and even whole towns/counties that embrace off roading.
You’ll find hundreds of miles of easily accessible ATV trails.
One of the best places to find ATV trails is around Hayward Wisconsin in Sawyer County. This area is part of the Northern Highland region of Wisconsin.
This is an excellent destination for a weekend or multi-day ATV trip. Many trails link up with plenty of access to services available along the trail. You can easily camp, stay at resorts or motels and eat out along the way.
Choose Your Adventure
But, ATV trails aren’t all that Sawyer County has to offer. With 210 lakes, both big and small, the region is a vacation wonderland. Visitors can boat, fish, camp, kayak, paddle board, hunt, bird and view wildlife. Or, simply unplug and relax in the beautiful wooded surroundings.
Autumn is particularly beautiful when the leaves start to change. The weather can be a bit unpredictable, but the crowds thin out and the riding is still excellent.
But, the fun doesn’t end when the weather turns cold. In the winter, the forests and small towns turn into a winter wonderland.
Enjoy 600 miles of snowmobile trails. Plus there’s cross country skiing, snowshoeing and ice skating. Or, curl up in front of a roaring fire with a good book and some hot chocolate.
Related Post: Ride In Ride Out Wisconsin ATV Campgrounds
Sawyer County ATV Trails Map
Hayward Wisconsin ATV Trails & Riding Areas
Tuscobia State Trail
Trail Miles: 74 miles
Additional Info: An old railroad grade turned trail. Most of this trail is open to ATVing, but one short section on the west side is closed to motorized traffic.
Deer hunting is allowed on this trail, so use caution or avoid during deer hunting season altogether (November 15 to December 15)
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest ATV Trails
One popular ATV riding area in Sawyer County is Chequamegon-Nicolet Forest.
This forest has three separate riding areas with over 140 miles of trails.
Some of these trails link into one another making it easy to plan longer rides.
1) Great Divide District
Dead Horse Run Motorized Trail
- Mileage: 63 miles
- Vehicles Allowed: ATVs, UTVs
- Trail Connections: Tuscobia State Trail and the Flambeau River State Forest Trail
- Additional Info: Most of the trail is 14’ wide. Several roads provide access to towns for services
Dead Horse Run Motorized Trail Brochure (with map)
2) Medford – Park Falls District
Flambeau Motorized Trail
- Mileage: 70+ miles
- Vehicles Allowed: OHVs < 65”, dirt bikes, horseback riders, mountain bikes
- Trail Connections: Dead Horse Run and Tuscobia State Trail
- Additional Info: Open to OHVs May 1 to March 14. Sailor Lake Campground is a rustic campground with ride in ride out access to the Flambeau Trail. Limited fuel and services opportunities on this trail.
- There is a $5 trailhead fee for Blockhouse Recreation Area, Wintergreen Recreation Area, Sailor Lake Campground and Round Lake Recreation Area. Registered campers don’t have to pay the trailhead fee.
Perkinstown Motorized Trail
- Mileage: 20 miles
- Vehicles Allowed: OHVs < 65”, motorcycles
- Trail Connections: None
- Additional Info: There is a $5 fee for the Chippewa Recreation Area and Highway 64 Trailhead. Registered campers don’t have to pay the trailhead fee. Camping and cabins are available for rent at Chippewa Recreation Area
3) Washburn Ranger District
Wanoka Lake Recreation Area
- Mileage: 180+ miles
- Vehicles Allowed: ATVs, OHVs
- Trail Connections: The Wanoka Lake Recreation Area provides a nice central location for jumping onto the 180 miles of surrounding ATV trails
- Additional Info: This riding area is actually located in Bayfield County, but it’s convenient to the Hayward WI area. Bayfield County has 200+ miles of OHV trails as well as hundreds of miles of forest service roads open to off roading.
- Wanoka Lake is a ride in ride out campground. But, you can’t ride around the campground except to access the trails.
Northwest Wisconsin ATV/UTV Trail Corridor Trail Map
Overview map of the main corridor trails of all the counties in Northwest Wisconsin.
Dirt Bike Restrictions
Licensed/registered dirt bikes are allowed on Hayward Wisconsin ATV trails including the Tuscobia Trail and ATV trails in Flambeau Forest.
Unlicensed/unregistered dirt bikes are only allowed on the Dead Horse Run Motorcycle and ATV Trail in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
Free Ride Weekend
During the first full weekend in June, all ATVs and UTVs are exempt from registration and trail pass requirements. But, all other laws including age restrictions and required equipment still apply.
- Passengers are not allowed on ATVs unless the ATV is designed by the manufacturer as a 2 up ATV. After market passenger seats do not qualify as legal.
- Tires only. ATVs/SxS can not run on tracks except on private land or frozen water
- ATVs and UTVs are required to have headlights and taillights on at all times when riding regardless of time of day or location.
- WI has strict (and enforced) noise limits
- Most Wisconsin ATV trails require a trail pass, but there are some that don’t
- ATV registration required for WI state residents
- A Non resident trail pass is required for out of state visitors
- Find an ATV trail pass vendor: Trail Pass Information / Vendors
- Wisconsin has strict laws regarding youth operators
- An ATV safety certificate is required for youth operators
- No one under the age of 16 can operate a UTV
- No one under the age of 12 can operate an ATV
- ATV operators 12-15 years old must be under direct adult supervision at all times
- All ATV/UTV operators and passenger <18 years old are required to wear an approved helmet
- Wisconsin ATV laws, regulations, youth operators
Seasonal Closures
- Tuscobia Trail #10 is closed every year from:
- 11/15–12/15 from West of Angus through Sawyer County to Price County line
- 11/1–4/15 closed from Price County Line to Park Falls
- Flambeau Forest Trails 1, 25 & 36: closed 11/15–5/15
- Trail 31: from Trail 10 to Co. F closed 10/15–12/15
- Chequamegon National Forest: All ATV trails and forest roads closed 3/15–5/1
- County forest trails: Sawyer County Forest access plan call for County forest trails and forest roads to be closed to ATVs, bikes, and motor vehicles 4/1–5/15. County Forest Administrator may open trails during this period if he feels there would be minimal impact to trails.
- Washburn County Trails: Closed from 4/1 to the Friday before Memorial Day
Featured Image by Sawyer County Snowmobile and ATV Alliance