Minnesota Opens First OHV Campground at Lake Vermilion State Park

Minnesota's first state-park campground purpose-built for off-highway vehicle riders will open June 12 at Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park, a 24-site facility that functions as both a model and a benchmark for states still working out how to give OHV riders dedicated space without forcing conflicts with hikers and tent campers.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced the project last week. Pyrite Campground sits on the south side of Highway 169 in the Lake Vermilion State Recreation Area, physically separated from the existing Vermilion Ridge Campground north of the highway where OHVs are not allowed. All 24 electric pull-through campsites are sized to accommodate trailers and are spread across three driveway loops, each with drinking water and a toilet at the end. Centralized amenities include a restroom and shower building, a dumpster and recycling station, and a dedicated OHV washing station.

"Pyrite expands camping opportunities while supporting a growing outdoor recreation community," said Jim Essig, park supervisor. "This new campground provides a comfortable basecamp for riders while continuing to welcome all visitors who want to experience this unique park."

His assistant manager, Jim DeVries, was direct about what the project represents: "It's the first ATV or OHV designated state park campground in the state. It's a pilot project in a way."

The campground connects directly to the Prospectors Trail, a regional riding network that the Mesabi Tribune reports spans 167 miles and links multiple northeastern Minnesota communities. A trail connection to the town of Soudan is expected to open in fall 2026. The Prospector ATV Club is also working to extend the network to the Pfeiffer Lake area, which would then link to Quad Cities ATV Club trails.

Campers do not need to own an OHV to book a site, but the DNR warns they should expect more vehicle traffic and noise than at a typical state-park campground. Reservations are open now at mndnr.gov/reservations or by calling 866-857-2757.

For St. Louis-area riders, the nearest comparable option is already in-state: St. Joe State Park in Park Hills, accessible via I-55 to the Festus exit and Highway 67 south, offers nearly 2,000 acres of designated ORV riding across sand flats and wooded terrain, with campgrounds built to handle trailers. Missouri state parks officials describe it as one of the most-used ORV areas in the Midwest. The ORV area operates Thursday through Sunday, and online permits are required.

What Missouri does not yet have is a campground modeled on Pyrite's full-service structure: electric hookups on every site, an OHV washing station, and purpose-designed pull-through lanes all positioned adjacent to a regional trail corridor. Minnesota's DNR says it will collect reservation data and monitor environmental impacts this summer to determine whether the concept warrants expansion. Those results could make a compelling economic argument for Ozark-region communities still debating whether purpose-built OHV infrastructure pays its own way.