Farmington Missouri 4 Wheeling Adventures

Enjoy the great outdoors and the beautiful Missouri scenery while out four wheeling. Spend time surrounded by hills, lakes, rivers and wooded areas. Locations within close proximity of Farmington welcome all sizes of vehicles from dirt bikes to monster trucks. Whether looking for a place to spend the day on some great back country adventures or wanting a location for an entire weekend of camping and four wheeling, Washita MX or St. Joe State Park accommodate off road fans. Both locations require safety equipment for open vehicles that include helmets and flags. Enclosed vehicles must have seat belts. Each destination offers a variety of activity options from hiking and horseback riding to boating and fishing.

Washita MX Off Road Trails

Washita trails lie just three miles south of Farmington on highway 61. Off road enthusiasts challenge their skills and their machines on over 20 miles of intertwined and tangled trails ranging from mild to difficult. The terrain varies depending on the weather and drivers of all experience levels find everything from fast hard pack to slimy, monstrous mud pits. Trails open everyday at 8:30 A.M. and close at 5:30 P.M.

The park does permit night runs until 9:30 P.M. as long as vehicle owners have a paid day pass. Fees for ATVs and bikes cost $10.00 for the day, while the fees for 4x4s cost $20.00. Washita MX also offers modern bathroom and shower facilities along with primitive, 20A and 30A RV campsites. The location welcomes small and large groups looking for a location to host an event. Various companies and organizations often hold public events at Washita MX.

St. Joe State Park

Off road fans enjoy 2,000 acres of sand flats and trails at the St. Joe State Park in Park Hills for a flat $3.00 fee. The 800 acres sand flats provide an interesting challenge for all vehicles after a rain, as the swampy conditions create a type of quicksand. When dry, part of this area serves as a racetrack for vehicles of all sizes. Numerous trails journey through the woods and provide a varied range of difficulty. Four wheeling enthusiasts encounter fast flat roads, steep rocky climbs, and deep eroded ravines. The wooded paths only get more interesting after a good rain.

Some of the trails lead around the park’s two lakes and the chances of seeing wildlife are favorable. St. Joe’s features concrete ramps, a carwash and concessions during the warmer months. Visitors also find the typical number of camping and picnic amenities. Having a lead mining industry that dates back to early the 1700s, St. Joe’s encourages everyone to stop by the 19,000 square foot powerhouse, which now serves as a mining museum. The building houses centuries of history that includes equipment, machinery and an extensive mineral gallery.