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The Top 11 UTV and ATV Trails in North Carolina

By Breanna Broad | Behind The Wheel on November 22, 2021
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We’re sending it down south to North Carolina where there’s stunning mountains, sandy beaches, and… MUD!

The Wright Brothers spent their time here to get wheels into the sky, but we’re going to keep them on the ground. Because there’s lots of awesome UTV and ATV trails in North Carolina.

This state abounds in natural beauty whether you find yourself up in the Blue Ridge Mountains or on the Biltmore Estate. The trails and parks are no different. You have the chance to rock crawl up mountains, to speed through mud holes, and to tackle scenic trails. There’s no shortage of getting into Mother Nature.

That’s why we’ve listed the best off-roading spots that you’ve gotta try for yourself.

Note: Park details and prices reflect what was current as of September 2021.

1. Badin Lake OHV Trail Complex (Uwharrie OHV Trail System)

  • Location: Troy, NC
  • Size: 16 miles of trails
  • Style: Trees, dust, dirt, rocks
  • Machines: ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes, motorcycles, 4x4s, dune buggies
  • Experience Level: All
  • Cost: $5/day pass, $30/annual pass
Toytota Cruiser and Jeep Wrangler on the trail
Photo by Andrew Kornylak

2. Black Swamp OHV Area

  • Location: New Bern, NC
  • Size: 8 miles of trails
  • Style: Mud, trees
  • Machines: ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes, motorcycles (nothing wider than 50”)
  • Experience Level: Intermediate
  • Cost: $5/day pass, $30/annual pass
4 wheelers on trail taking a break
Photo by Rider Planet

3. Brown Mountain OHV Trail

  • Location: Morganton, NC
  • Size: 34 miles of trails
  • Style: Trees, rocks, dirt
  • Machines: ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes, motorcycles, 4x4s dune buggies
  • Experience Level: Intermediate
  • Cost: $5/day pass, $30/annual pass
4 wheeler coming up rocky trail
Photo by Brock Willoughby

4. Brushy Mountain Motor Sports Park

  • Location: Taylorsville, NC
  • Size: 100 miles of trails
  • Style: Trees, dirt, rocks
  • Machines: ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes, motorcycles (nothing wider than 72”)
  • Experience Level: Beginner
  • Cost: $25/rider
Kawasaki Teryx coming down trail
Photo by ATV

5. Busco Beach and ATV Park

  • Location: Goldsboro, NC
  • Size: 5 miles of trails
  • Style: Trees, small jumps, sand, mud, dirt
  • Machines: ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes, motorcycles
  • Experience Level: Intermediate
  • Cost: $10/day (This can depend on the situation. See their admission site for more details.)
Mud pit at off road park
Photo by ToTheFloor4x4

6. Cape Fear ATV/MX Park

  • Location: Elizabethtown, NC
  • Size: 30 miles of trails
  • Style: Sand, small jumps, trees
  • Machines: ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes, motorcycles
  • Experience Level: Beginner
  • Cost: $10/vehicle, $5/person
Polaris RZR XP 1000 pulling a 4 wheeler out of the mud
Photo by Bladen Journal

7. Carolina Backwoods ATV

  • Location: Ash, NC
  • Size: 15 miles of trails
  • Style: Mud, trees
  • Machines: ATVs, UTVs
  • Experience Level: Beginner, intermediate
  • Cost: $130/vehicle

*You can only ride provided rental vehicles on the tour—personal vehicles are prohibited.

4 Wheelers going down woods trail
Photo by Carolina Backwoods

8. Deep Creek ATV Park

  • Location: Fayetteville, NC
  • Size: 15 miles of trails
  • Style: Mud, trees, sand, dirt
  • Machines: ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes, motorcycles
  • Experience Level: Intermediate
  • Cost: $20/day (12 and under free)
4 Wheelers on top of trail
Photo by Deep Creek ATV Park

9. Off the Grid Mountain Adventures

  • Location: Banner Elk, NC
  • Size: Unknown
  • Style: Trees, dirt, hills, rocks
  • Machines: UTVs
  • Experience Level: Intermediate
  • Cost: $199/vehicle

*You can only ride provided rental vehicles on the tour—personal vehicles are prohibited.

Two Polaris RZRs Creek Riding
Photo by Off the Grid Mountain Adventures

10. Outback ATV/MX Park

  • Location: Laurinburg, NC
  • Size: 90 miles of trails
  • Style: Trees, dirt, water crossings, small jumps
  • Machines: ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes, motorcycles
  • Experience Level: Intermediate
  • Cost: $10/vehicle, $5/person
Water and Mud at Park
Photo by Rider Planet

11. Wayehutta OHV Trail System

  • Location: Franklin, NC
  • Size: 28 miles of trails
  • Style: Trees, dirt, rocks
  • Machines: ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes, motorcycles (nothing wider than 62”)
  • Experience Level: Intermediate
  • Cost: $5/vehicle
Riding trail on fall day in woods
Photo by Rider Planet

You can spend your whole weekend inside your side-by-side because North Carolina made it street legal starting October 2021. But you have to pack it up on the trailer and take it onto the next trailhead, since there are limitations. That still leaves you plenty of riding time between taking a quick stop in town and enjoying the trails. On the other hand, you can travel here without hauling your UTV and have a great off-road experience. Some trails don’t allow for personal machines and require you to rent theirs.

Down south, mud is a way of life and this state is no exception. Besides the mountains and beaches, there’s no end to mudding spots. Even the traditional trails can get muddy after a good rain.

Let us know which ATV and UTV trails in North Carolina you’re excited to check out. Stay tuned for which state we cover next because you could discover your new favorite riding spot!

RELATED CONTENT: mud15 riding spots33 trails31
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5 Comments

  1. Avatar for John Sonte John Sonte says:
    November 24, 2021 at 4:38 pm

    I have been to Badin Lake OHV Trail Complex, and it was a great experience. The trails are all well maintained with good signage. They also provide maps of the area that include GPS coordinates for each trailhead. Everyone should try it out at least once, and see how much fun they have there!

    Reply
    • Avatar for Tyler Lichlyter Tyler Lichlyter says:
      November 29, 2021 at 9:01 am

      Hey, John! We’re glad to hear your good experience with Badin Lake. Thanks for tuning in with us!

      Reply
      • Avatar for Sandy Conner Sandy Conner says:
        August 17, 2022 at 11:20 pm

        New to the ATV scene and not interested in mud at all. We live in NC at the beach and want to haul our Canam Maverick x3 max to ride some trails. Most of the places around us are nothing but mudholes. Any suggestions?

        Reply
        • Avatar for Kavan Wright Kavan Wright says:
          August 22, 2022 at 8:49 am

          Hey Sandy, I’d definitely recommend Brushy Mountain Motorsports Park. It’s a bit of a jaunt from the coast, but it gives you miles and miles of nice wooded trails to ride on. If you don’t mind going even farther, you can get to Windrock Park near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Windrock is one of our all time favorite ride parks and it’s got even more trails for all kinds of riders.

          One thing to keep in mind is that most of those mudhole-style parks usually have some wooded trails to go along with them. You might only get a few hours of fun out of them, but if they’re close enough, it might be worth the trip.

          Thanks for reading!

          Reply
  2. Avatar for Dick Smith Dick Smith says:
    January 19, 2023 at 4:42 pm

    How is Black Swamp #2 on this list? Its literally a squared off trail with nothing technical unless its wet. I live 10 miles from here and went thought it once with my CRF450 right after it was refurbished. It took about 30 min to ride the entire thing. As a side note Its been closed more often than open when I drive by it on my way to catfish lake. In the past 5 years it was closed for several years for refurbishment, and right now there is a culvert damaged by the entrance that has the road closed. Dont waste your time, Busco is 1000x better.

    Reply

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