The Best Side-by-Side & ATV Trails in Missouri: Your 2026 Riding Guide

Key Takeaways

• Missouri is a playground for off-roaders, offering everything from wide-open gravel ranches and deep Ozark timber to repurposed strip mines and massive sand flats.

• Several of Missouri's top state-managed trail systems enforce strict 50-inch or 64-inch maximum vehicle width limits. Always measure your track width before heading out.

• Under Missouri statute RSMo 304.032, individual cities and counties can pass ordinances that grant street-legal utility vehicles local road access for a small annual fee.

• Equipping your machine with a high-end signaling system allows you to easily drive your rig directly from local cabins, campgrounds, and supply shops right to the trailheads.

Top Places to Hit the Gravel in Missouri

From the heart of the Ozarks to massive, privately owned off-road ranches, the Show-Me State has no shortage of premium dirt. Here are the top off-road destinations across Missouri.

1. Bricks Off Road Park

• Location: Poplar Bluff, MO

• Size: 1,000 acres

• Terrain Style: Deep mud bogs, technical rock crawling trails, rolling hills, and open play dunes.

• Machine Limits: Open to UTVs, ATVs, dirt bikes, and custom mega trucks. No width restrictions.

Bricks Off Road Park is a massive, high-energy off-road paradise in Southeast Missouri. Spanning 1,000 acres, it is famous for its large-scale weekend events, water crossings, and varied landscape. If you want to push your suspension to the absolute limit, the park's dedicated rock crawling sections and deep timber trails provide plenty of obstacles. It’s a fantastic place to test your machine's capabilities, meet up with large riding groups, and enjoy open camping.

2. Cloud 9 Ranch

• Location: Caulfield, MO

• Size: Over 170 miles of trails (6,500 total acres)

• Terrain Style: Rolling Ozark hills, thick hardwood forests, deep creek crossings, and scenic bluff tracks.

• Machine Limits: All side-by-sides, ATVs, and trail bikes are welcome.

Cloud 9 Ranch is a uniquely structured, member-owned outdoor resort that allows public daily riding access. With 170 miles of beautifully maintained trails cutting through a massive 6,500-acre property, it offers an incredible sense of scale. The terrain strikes a perfect balance between scenic, family-friendly cruising and technical hill climbs. The property is highly developed, featuring campgrounds, rental cabins, a general store, and gas pumps right on site.

3. St. Joe State Park

• Location: Park Hills, MO

• Size: Nearly 2,000 acres of open riding area

• Terrain Style: Massive sand flats, steep hill climbs, forested trail loops, and deep mud flats.

• Machine Limits: Open to all configurations; full-size 4x4s and dune buggies are allowed on designated routes.

As one of the premier state-managed off-road destinations in the Midwest, St. Joe State Park offers a unique environment. The park is situated on an old lead mining site, leaving behind a massive expanse of open sand flats that are perfect for high-speed runs and carving bowls. Beyond the open sand, you'll find a vast web of tight, technical trails cutting through the surrounding hardwood forests. It is an exceptionally clean, well-regulated facility with restrooms, staging areas, and local campgrounds.

4. Rush Springs Ranch

• Location: Pineville, MO

• Size: 75 miles of trails (250+ acres)

• Terrain Style: Winding deep-woods paths, steep ridges, sand sections, and rocky hill climbs.

• Machine Limits: Welcomes side-by-sides, four-wheelers, dirt bikes, and full-size trail rigs.

Located in the southwest corner of the state, Rush Springs Ranch is a privately owned park designed to accommodate everyone from casual family trail riders to hardcore rock crawlers. The trail network is clearly marked by difficulty level, ranging from smooth, rolling dirt tracks to vertical rock ledges. The ranch also features mechanical support stations, cabin rentals, and beautiful scenic overlooks of the surrounding valleys.

5. Chadwick OHV Trail System

• Location: Chadwick, MO

• Size: 80 miles of trails

• Terrain Style: Brutal rock gardens, exposed limestone ledges, steep mountain switchbacks, and loose shale.

• Machine Limits: A strict 50-inch maximum vehicle width limit is rigidly enforced.

Tucked inside the Mark Twain National Forest, Chadwick is a legendary destination for technical riders. Because of the strict 50-inch gate limit, this system is closed to full-size utility side-by-sides but remains an absolute haven for narrow trail UTVs, ATVs, and dirt bikes. The terrain is notoriously rocky and unforgiving, featuring steep, off-camber limestone steps and technical mountain climbs that will put your low-speed crawling skills to the test.

Essential Items to Have in Your UTV

Before you head out to tackle the rugged terrain of Missouri, make sure your cab is loaded with the essentials needed to keep your trail day going smoothly:

• DOT-Approved Helmets & Protective Eyewear

• Heavy-Duty Tow Straps & Tree Savers

• Tire Plug Kit & Portable 12V Air Compressor

• Hard-Copy Trail Maps / Downloaded GPS Offline Maps

• Small Tool Kit (Socket set, zip ties, electrical tape)

• First Aid Kit & Fire Extinguisher

• Hydration Pack & High-Calorie Snacks

Keep tabs on your riding group and spot trailing traffic before carving into tight, blind corners. Bolting on a set of our vibration-resistant DOT-approved UTV mirrors ensures you always have a crisp, blur-free view of the dust cloud behind you.

Stop playing guessing games with universal wiring harnesses. Run your vehicle through our WD Electronics Product Selector to instantly pull up the exact, model-specific turn signal components for your side-by-side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do public state parks in Missouri require an off-road vehicle permit? 

Yes. State-managed riding parks like Finger Lakes State Park and St. Joe State Park require a daily vehicle riding permit (typically $5) that must be purchased at the park gate or park office before unloading your machine. Public U.S. Forest Service trails like Chadwick require an active trail pass.

Can I legally drive my side-by-side on Missouri state highways? 

Generally, no. Under state statute RSMo 304.032, utility vehicles are prohibited from operating on major state highways unless used for specific agricultural, industrial, or government operations. However, the law explicitly permits you to operate on county roads and city streets, provided the local county commission or city council has passed an ordinance allowing UTV traffic.

Are there strict vehicle width limits on Missouri trails? 

Yes, public forestry and state park systems frequently enforce hard width caps to preserve the integrity of the trails. The Chadwick OHV system enforces a strict 50-inch maximum width limit, and Finger Lakes restricts certain loops similarly. Always measure your machine's widest track point before planning a trip to a public complex.

Is a slow-moving vehicle triangle required to ride on Missouri roads? 

Yes. If you are operating your utility vehicle on local, ordinance-approved public roads under Missouri state guidelines, you must mount a reflective, fluorescent yellow-orange equilateral triangle with a red border on the rear of your machine, positioned at least two feet above the road surface.

Research Sources:

1. https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/marktwain/recreation/groups/chadwick-motorized-trails-system

2. https://mostateparks.com/park/st-joe-state-park

3. https://www.rushspringsranch.com/

4. https://blog.sidebysidestuff.com/top-10-utv-trails-in-missouri/

5. https://cloud9ranch.com/things-to-do/offroading/