It’s time to hop on your ATV and explore some trails. For a full-day of off-roading adventure in Iowa, from sunrise to sunset, one of your best bets will be to head to the eastern side of the state near Solon, where all your adventures and appetites can be easily met. And to get a little sneak-peek as to what the perfect off-roading itinerary looks like in this adventure-rich area of Iowa, you can check out this perfect trip!
Any good adventurous day needs to start off with the right fuel, and if you begin your off-road adventure in Solon at the Salt Fork Kitchen, you’ll be ready to tackle everything that comes your way. Not only are the omelets and other breakfast items enough to satisfy a king or queen, but every ingredient is raised locally among the Iowa agriculture. Top it all off with a cup of freshly-brewed coffee or three, and after you visit the Salt Fork Kitchen, you’ll be ready to go riding.
Located less than five miles from the Salt Fork Kitchen, the Lakeview OHV Park provides over 147 acres of off-road trails to explore. There is no fee to ride on the Lakeview OHV Park trails which is operated by the Iowa DNR, but registration stickers are needed on all motor vehicles. Open to ATVs, UTVs and motorcycles daily, the several miles of trails found at the Lakeview OHV Park wind through the forest environment with hill climbs, hard-pack trails, and plenty of opportunities to catch a little air.
If you want to let your engine’s rest for a moment during the day, the neighboring Sugar Bottom Recreation Area provides more than one way to sit back and enjoyably kill some time. While the sandy beach and access to the Iowa River is always appealing, as well as the non-motorized mountain bike trails that sprawl through the area, it’s the professional 18-hole disc golf course that is worth some of your play. Whether it’s your first time throwing a frisbee or you’re a seasoned pro, the Sugar Bottom Disc Golf Course is fun to explore.
After your full day, it’s worth rewarding yourself with some award-winning food and a well-deserved craft beverage (or two). If you want to treat your taste buds right, the Big Grove Brew Pub in Solon perfects the dining-out experience down to the last detail. Whether you go for the menu items like the bacon and butternut squash, or the seasonal craft beer selection, the one thing that keeps people in their seats at the Big Grove Brew Pub and coming back for more is the comfortable ambiance and atmosphere of this friendly, local neighborhood gastropub.
To finish your full-day off-roading adventure, it’s recommended to camp under the stars, and the nearby Lake Macbride State Park is the perfect place to do that. Featuring two different campgrounds and plenty of space to share, Lake Macbride is not only a great place to spend the night, but it’s the perfect home base for many more days of adventure. The campground in the northern unit of Lake Macbride features modern restroom facilities and full electrical hook-up. The southern unit campground is more primitive, with no electrical hook-ups and vault toilets, but provides perhaps some of the best campsite views in the state of Iowa.
