Burnett County ATV/UTV Trail Guide: What’s Open, When, and Where You Can Ride
Burnett County ATV/UTV Trail Guide: What’s Open, When, and Where You Can Ride
If you ride in Burnett County, Wisconsin, one of the most confusing parts is that there is no single ATV/UTV trail system that stays open the same way all year.
Different trail networks open and close depending on the season, snow conditions, frozen ground, fire danger, land ownership and local road ordinances. The good news is that Burnett County offers riding opportunities during much of the year, as long as you know which system is currently open.
Here is the easiest way to understand it.
April 1 through Memorial Day Weekend
This is Burnett County’s spring closure period.
From April 1 until the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, Burnett County Forest lands are closed to ATV/UTV use. This seasonal closure protects the trail system during spring thaw, when soft ground is especially vulnerable to damage.
That does not automatically mean every public road in Burnett County is closed to ATVs and UTVs. Road-route rules are separate from County Forest trail rules.
Burnett County says all county highways are open to ATV/UTV use except County Highway A from State Highway 35 to Kilkare Road. Town roads and village streets are governed locally, so riders need to check the ordinance for the individual township or municipality.
When Burnett County trails are closed, trails in other counties may still be open. Often times there are routes through Burnett County that can help you get to trails systems that are open. Please check county websites and hotlines before going out.
Memorial Day Weekend through September 15: Summer Trails
Beginning the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, Burnett County’s State-funded Summer-Use ATV/UTV Trails may open.
These trails are marked with white blazers.
During this season, riders on Burnett County Forest lands are limited to the designated Summer-Use Trail System. Burnett County currently lists approximately 63 miles of summer ATV/UTV trails.
Summer trails can still close temporarily because of conditions such as storm damage or a Red Flag wildfire alert, so checking the county trail report before riding is important.
The Gandy Dancer Trail south of Highway 77 is not open to ATV/UTV traffic during this season.
September 16 through November 30: Fall Riding Season
This is where much of the confusion begins.
On September 16, Burnett County transitions out of the State-funded Summer-Use Trail System, but ATV/UTV riding does not end.
Registered ATVs and UTVs may ride qualifying trails and roads on Burnett County Forest land, including:
existing snowmobile trails, woods trails, fire lanes and logging roads.
Logging roads must be at least eight feet wide, and the route cannot be gated, bermed or signed closed. Riders must stay on established routes, and private property remains off limits unless the landowner has given permission.
These fall trails are also multi-use. Cars, trucks and other licensed vehicles may be using the same routes, and Burnett County does not maintain these trails during the fall period. Riders should expect rougher conditions and use extra caution around blind corners.
Fall also overlaps with hunting seasons, so heightened visibility and awareness are smart.
The Gandy Dancer south of Highway 77 remains unavailable for ATV/UTV use through November 30.
December 1 through March 31: Winter Riding
Winter gets a little more complicated because conditions determine which trail system opens.
Burnett County has roughly 138 miles of Winter ATV/UTV trails and about 100 miles of Frozen Ground ATV/UTV trails.
When there is at least a four-inch groomed snow base and the county has officially opened the trails, ATVs and UTVs may use the designated State-funded Winter-Use Trail System.
These trails are marked with blue blazers.
If there is not enough snow but the ground freezes sufficiently, Burnett County may instead open the Frozen Ground ATV/UTV Trail System.
Those trails are marked with green blazers.
The important part is that winter trails do not automatically open on December 1. The county must officially declare them open based on conditions.
When Can You Ride the Gandy Dancer?
The Gandy Dancer is one of the most commonly misunderstood pieces of the Burnett County trail system.
South of State Highway 77, ATV/UTV use is prohibited from April 1 through November 30.
From December 1 through March 31, ATVs and UTVs may use the Gandy Dancer once the applicable winter trail system has officially opened, either because there is a four-inch groomed snow base or because frozen-ground conditions have been met.
There is one notable exception: the northern section beginning north of Highway 77 in Danbury and crossing toward Minnesota permits ATV/UTV use separately from the southern Wisconsin portion and is usually open year round.
Road Routes Are Different From Trails
This is important because people often use the words “roads” and “trails” interchangeably.
Burnett County Forest trail rules do not automatically determine whether you can ride on a public road.
County highways, town roads, village streets and State highways are governed by different agencies.
Burnett County currently allows ATVs and UTVs on county highways except County Highway A between State Highway 35 and Kilkare Road. For town roads and village streets, riders need to check the ordinance of the specific municipality they are traveling through.
Times You Cannot Ride
Regardless of season, Burnett County may close trails because of wildfire danger, emergency regulations, storm damage or other unsafe conditions.
A gated, bermed or signed-closed route is closed regardless of what the seasonal calendar normally allows.
ATVs and UTVs are also prohibited from riding off trail, through wetlands or on private property without permission.
The Simplest Way to Remember It
Think of Burnett County riding as four seasons:
Spring: County Forest lands are closed from April 1 until Memorial Day weekend.
Summer: Memorial Day weekend through September 15, ride the designated white-blazed Summer-Use Trails.
Fall: September 16 through November 30, eligible County Forest woods trails, snowmobile trails, fire lanes and logging roads become the primary riding network.
Winter: December 1 through March 31, ride whichever officially opened winter system conditions support, blue-blazed snow trails or green-blazed frozen-ground trails.
And throughout the year, designated road routes may provide additional connections depending on the governing county, township or municipality.
Before every ride, check Burnett County’s current Trail Updates page. Seasonal dates tell you when a trail system can open, but weather and trail conditions determine whether it is actually open that day.