ATV trails in North Carolina
Where to ride an ATV on national-forest land in North Carolina: 4 ranger districts have routes on the U.S. Forest Service Motor Vehicle Use Map that designate atv access, totalling roughly 141.0 designated miles. This is a ranked view of those districts — miles, season and a link to each district's full data — built only from real MVUM designations, never a doorway. It covers national-forest routes only; North Carolina also has state and club systems that the MVUM does not include. Informational, not a legal document.
Ranger districts to ride an ATV in North Carolina
Ranked by designated atv miles. Open a district for its full access matrix, seasons, a route-network map and GPX downloads.
| Season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grandfather Ranger District | National Forests in North Carolina | 57.3 | 182.2 | Apr 1 – Dec 31 |
| Nantahala Ranger District | National Forests in North Carolina | 43.3 | 167 | Varies by route |
| Uwharrie Ranger District | National Forests in North Carolina | 31.7 | 63.2 | Varies by route |
| Croatan Ranger District | National Forests in North Carolina | 8.7 | 147.1 | Year-round |
Data: U.S. Forest Service, Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) Motor Vehicle Use Map — Roads (layer 1) and Trails (layer 2), retrieved 2026-07-11. A work of the U.S. Government, public domain (17 U.S.C. §105). State assignment: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb state boundaries.
Every figure here summarises the Forest Service MVUM data and is not the official Motor Vehicle Use Map. Designations, closures and conditions change. Carry and follow each district's official MVUM when you ride.
Frequently asked questions
- Where can you ride an ATV in North Carolina?
- On national-forest land, 4 ranger districts in North Carolina have MVUM routes that designate atv access. They are listed below with miles, season and a link to each district's full route data.
- Does this cover state and private ATV trails in North Carolina?
- No. This page is built only from the U.S. Forest Service Motor Vehicle Use Map, so it covers national-forest routes. North Carolina may also have state-park, state-forest and private club systems that the MVUM does not include.
- Is this the official North Carolina MVUM?
- No — it is an informational, searchable view. The legal document is each district's official Motor Vehicle Use Map; carry and follow it when you ride.
Explore
See all North Carolina national-forest routes, read the methodology, or learn what an MVUM is.