OHV trail system — not a dedicated motocross track

This is an off-road / OHV riding area (trails and open terrain), not a groomed MX track. Confirm what’s allowed and any permits before you go. See more in our Midwest OHV & off-road guide, or browse Illinois motocross tracks.

Sahara Woods State Recreation Area

Name: Sahara Woods State Recreation Area
Address: 505 Trail Head Lane, Carrier Mills, IL 62917, Carrier Mills, IL, US
Telephone: 618-707-1411
Price range: $20 one-day / $65 four-day OHV permit per vehicle
Rating: 4.3

SEASONAL!Needs Update

Carrier Mills, Illinois · 505 Trail Head Lane, Carrier Mills, IL 62917

4.3(4)on Google

Owner: Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)

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About

Sahara Woods State Recreation Area is a roughly 4,000-acre Illinois DNR park on reclaimed mine land near Carrier Mills in Saline County, about 5 miles west of Harrisburg, south of Illinois Route 13. It is NOT a motocross track: its riding facility is an off-highway vehicle (OHV) trail system of nearly 30 miles of landscaped trails for ATVs, UTVs/side-by-sides and off-highway motorcycles, which opened in May 2025 from a trailhead at 505 Trail Head Lane and includes a visitor center, restrooms and paved parking. The OHV trails run seasonally - roughly May 1 through the last full weekend of January - on Fridays through Mondays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., capped at 120 vehicles per day, with $20 one-day and $65 four-day permits per vehicle. The broader recreation area also offers fishing, boating and hunting around Sahara Lake.