Representative photo: U.S. Forest Service, public domainDirt Biking & ATV Riding Near Stanly County
The Piedmont’s only public off-highway trail system sits just across Badin Lake. Here’s where to ride it, the motocross tracks within an hour, and the rules that keep your machine (and your wallet) out of trouble.
Stanly County riders are lucky: the Badin Lake OHV Trail Complex in the Uwharrie National Forest is the only publicly owned dirt bike, ATV and 4×4 trail network in North Carolina’s Piedmont, and its trailheads are under 30 road miles from downtown Albemarle. Add a handful of private motocross tracks in Anson, Davidson, Richmond and Iredell counties, and you can ride rocky forest climbs on Saturday and groomed jumps on Sunday without a mountain road trip.
Where to ride
Public land first, then private tracks, ordered by drive time from Albemarle. Filter by what you ride.
1Badin Lake OHV Trail Complex Public
Nine orange-diamond trails, about 17 miles, from an easy 1.3-mile warm-up to the rock ledges of the Daniel Trail. Two-way traffic, open 24 hours in season. Free primitive camping at Art Lilley Campground with a valid trail pass.
2Dirt City USA Call first
The closest motocross track to Stanly County, just past the Rocky River (formerly Robins Ridge Motorsports Park). Listed with motocross and ATV tracks, practice and racing, private lessons, concessions, restrooms and showers.
3Silver Valley MX Park Saturdays
About two miles of loamy, regularly prepped motocross track on roughly 50 acres, with elevation changes and table-tops. Dirt bikes only; MX helmet required. No camping.
4Windy Hill MX Select dates
A two-mile motocross track on a large property along US 220 Business, with occasional races, spectator areas, free primitive camping and $20 electric sites. Dirt bikes only.
5Moto40 MX Park
A motocross track, a 1.3-mile GP track, two kids’ tracks and about four miles of woods trails. Quads and side-by-sides are allowed on some trails.
6Carolina Adventure World Weekend trip
The big one: a 2,600-acre private off-road park with more than 100 miles of ATV, UTV and dirt bike trails, plus RV and tent sites and cabins. Worth a weekend when Badin Lake is closed for the winter.
Private-track hours, prices and status come from track listings and change often; several are weather-dependent. Call before you haul.
Off-road riding map
Trailhead pins are approximate; use the Forest Service map for staging areas. Use the layer switch for topo view, which shows how the forest sits across Badin Lake from Stanly County.
Representative off-road photos, not taken at the locations listed. Have your own shots from Badin Lake or a local track? Send them in with permission to publish.
The Badin Lake OHV Trail Complex
Across the lake from the town of Badin, the Uwharrie National Forest keeps about 17 miles of designated motorized trail on the old, worn-down ridges of the Uwharrie Mountains. Expect steep climbs, rock ledges, creek crossings, clay that turns slick after rain and dusty gravel connectors.
Start at Art Lilley Campground / Falls Dam or Dutch John. The Forest Service warns riders not to start at Cotton Place on the eastern end of the Daniel Trail: it is extremely difficult and not recommended for ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes, stock 4x4s or beginners.
Photo: Wasrts / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The nine trails
| Trail | FS no. | Length | Difficulty | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolf Den | TR79 | 1.3 mi | Easy | First ride, kids under adult supervision, warm-up loop |
| Slab Pile | TR79 | 1.2 mi | Moderate | Short connector |
| Sawmill | TR93 | 1.1 mi | Moderate | Short connector |
| Rocky Mountain Loop | TR92 | 2.8 mi | Moderate | Intermediate ATVs and dirt bikes |
| Falls Dam | TR96 | 2.8 mi | Moderate | Starts near Art Lilley Campground |
| Dutch John | TR90 | 2.1 mi | Difficult | Experienced riders |
| Dickey Bell | TR91 | 3.5 mi | Difficult | Experienced riders, built 4x4s |
| Daniel | TR390 | — | Extremely difficult | Modified 4x4s; not for ATVs, dirt bikes or beginners at the Cotton Place end |
| Lakeview | TRBL69 | — | Not rated in listings | Ask the ranger district |
Trail length (miles)
Difficulty mix (8 rated trails)
- Easy: 1
- Moderate: 4
- Difficult: 2
- Extremely difficult: 1
When it’s open
Open April 1 through December 15, 24 hours a day in season; closed mid-December through March. Weather and storm damage can close trails early, so check Forest Service alerts.
Compare your options
| Spot | Type | From Albemarle | Machines | Cost | When | Camping |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badin Lake OHV | Public forest trails | 45 min · 26–28 mi | Dirt bike, ATV, UTV, 4×4 | $5/day, $30/season* | Apr 1–Dec 15, 24 hr | Free at Art Lilley (pass required) |
| Dirt City USA | Private MX & ATV track | 25 min · 18 mi | Dirt bike, ATV | $20 + $10 membership (listed) | Listed daily 10–dark; confirm | — |
| Silver Valley MX | Private MX track | 43 min · 34 mi | Dirt bike only | $30 cash | Sat 10–5 | No |
| Windy Hill MX | Private MX track | 49 min · 37 mi | Dirt bike only | $20 practice | Select dates | Free primitive; $20 electric |
| Moto40 MX Park | Private MX, GP & trails | ~1.5 hr · 66 mi | Dirt bike; ATV/UTV on some trails | $30 ($25 kids) | Sat–Sun 10–3 | — |
| Carolina Adventure World | Private trail park | ~2 hr · 83 mi | Dirt bike, ATV, UTV | Daily or annual; call | Call | RV, tent, cabins |
Drive time from Albemarle (minutes)
Trail passes & where to buy them
Every machine on the Badin Lake trails needs a valid OHV pass, and there is no pay station at the trailheads, so buy before you unload. Published prices are $5 per day or $30 for the season. Carry the pass and your driver’s license on the trail; day passes are good until midnight of the date on the pass.
Vendor list from Montgomery County and Discover Uwharrie. Store hours vary; call ahead, especially early on a Saturday.
Rules & North Carolina law
Two rulebooks apply on the Uwharrie trails: North Carolina’s ATV statutes and the Forest Service’s own OHV rules, which are stricter. Private tracks set their own rules on top of state law.
| Topic | NC state law (ATVs) | Uwharrie OHV trails (Forest Service) |
|---|---|---|
| Age | No operators under 8. Under 16: follow the manufacturer’s age label, with an adult 18+ in continuous sight (G.S. 20-171.15). | No ATVs, UTVs or motorcycles under 8. Under 12: under 70cc. Under 16: under 90cc, with continuous adult supervision. |
| Helmet & eyes | Required for riders under 18 and for anyone on a public road (G.S. 20-171.19). | DOT-standard helmet and eye protection for every ATV and motorcycle operator and passenger. |
| Safety course | ATV operators born on or after Jan. 1, 1990 need an approved safety-course certificate (G.S. 20-171.20). | Carry your driver’s license for compliance checks. |
| Equipment | Working brakes, muffler and a USFS-qualified spark arrester (G.S. 20-171.18). Headlamp and taillamp when riding after dark. | Working spark arrester on every engine. |
| Roads | No ATVs on public roads except to cross; never on interstates or limited-access highways. | Unregistered machines can’t use Forest Service roads or ride through campgrounds. Trailer to the trailhead. |
| Passengers | Only if the manufacturer designed the machine for one. | Same. |
| Alcohol & conduct | No riding impaired, careless or reckless. Violations are infractions up to $200 (G.S. 20-171.21). | Alcohol prohibited in OHV areas. Stay on designated trails; off-trail riding is a federal violation. |
Riding inside Stanly County
Private land only, with permission
There’s no public OHV riding area in the county. Riding someone’s land, a utility corridor or a timber tract without permission is trespassing. Ask first, and get it in writing if you’ll ride there regularly.
Not in the state park
Morrow Mountain State Park trails are for hikers and horses; vehicles stay on park roads. Same for town and county parks.
Be a good neighbor
Keep the noise down early and late, stay out of creeks and wetlands, and keep the dust away from houses and livestock. Most complaints about riding start with noise.
Haul it right
Strap machines down at four points, check trailer lights and tires, and park so you don’t block other rigs at busy trailheads. Off-day? Trade the quad for a kayak on Badin or Tillery.
Before you haul: a checklist
Buy the pass
No pay station at the trailheads. Grab a day or season pass in Troy or Mount Gilead on the way.
Check alerts
Look at Forest Service alerts after storms; trails close for damage and erosion.
Pack recovery gear
The Forest Service doesn’t tow. Bring a strap, tools, tire plug kit, first aid, water and a map. There’s no potable water at the trails.
Ride with a buddy
Cell coverage is spotty in the Uwharries. Tell someone your trailhead and return time.
Take a course
New riders and parents: the ATV Safety Institute runs hands-on classes, and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers dirt bike training.
Tread lightly
Stay on orange-diamond trails, cross creeks only at designated crossings, and pack out your trash. See Tread Lightly!
FAQ
Is there public ATV riding in Stanly County?
Not inside county lines. The closest public riding is the Badin Lake OHV Trail Complex in the Uwharrie National Forest, in Montgomery County, about 45 minutes from Albemarle by road.
How much does it cost to ride at Badin Lake?
Montgomery County and Discover Uwharrie list $5 per day or $30 for the season, per machine. Buy before you go; there’s no on-site pay station.
When is the Uwharrie OHV season?
April 1 through December 15. The trails close for the winter after that.
Can I camp with my dirt bike or ATV?
Yes. Art Lilley Campground is free, first-come primitive camping with direct trail access, but you need a valid trail pass. Badin Lake and Arrowhead campgrounds are nearby but don’t connect to the trails, so you’d have to haul. See our camping guide.
Where can kids ride?
Wolf Den is the only trail rated easy at Badin Lake. Moto40 has two kids’ tracks. Remember the age and engine-size limits and the adult-supervision rule.
Can I ride my ATV to the trailhead from my house?
No. ATVs can’t be driven on public roads except to cross them, and unregistered machines can’t use Forest Service roads or ride through campgrounds.
Make a day of it
The UwharriesRegional outdoor guide
CampingMorrow Mountain & Uwharrie campgrounds
Eat in BadinFood on the way home
HikingTrails & maps
Where to stayHotels, cabins & RV
All outdoorsLakes, parks & trails
- USDA Forest Service: Badin Lake OHV Trail Complex
- Forest Service: seasonal opening release
- Forest Service: OHV rules, National Forests in NC
- Forest Service: passes
- Montgomery County: OHV/ATV/dirt bike info
- Discover Uwharrie: off-roading
- RiderPlanet: Uwharrie OHV Trail System
- N.C. General Statutes, Chapter 20, Part 10C (ATVs)
- MX Track Guide: Dirt City USA
- RiderPlanet: Silver Valley MX Park
- RiderPlanet: Windy Hill MX
- RiderPlanet: Moto40 MX Park
- SC Trails: Carolina Adventure World
- onX Offroad: Carolina Adventure World
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