At the beginning of last year, I visited Mena, Arkansas, and hit the trails in an ATV for the first time. An ATV is an All-Terrain Vehicle used for off-roading. We rented our 3-seater ATV from Wolf Pen Gap ATV Rentals. The cost for a full day was $400 from 8 am to 5 pm. They were amazing! They are located just off the trail, and we could park on-site and drive in the ATV to the trailhead.
The owners of Wolf Pen Gap ATV Rentals set us up with a paper map that they explained and highlighted and had us download a map that works off satellite since there isn’t any service in the area. We were able to find our way with no significant issues.
Before we left, they noted any damages to the ATV compared to when we brought it back. They also give you a quick lesson on how to drive.
Here is the ATV we rented. Located in the back, we could keep our ice cooler, backpacks, and extra water. And we still had room to spare! The seats are tight. If you plan to seat three people in the ATV, know you will be snug.
As I go through my experience, I have seven suggestions of things to bring with you.
Tip #1: Bring lunch, snacks, and plenty of water.
We went shopping the night before at a Walmart in town. You are in the woods all day with no convenience stores around, so you must prepare accordingly. It is better to be safe and full than sorry or hungry. We packed an ice chest with sub sandwiches, drinks, yogurt, etc. My husband and I also own 64 oz water bottles that we brought to have plenty of fluids.
Tip #2: Dress appropriately.
Here is an obvious thought, but check the weather before you pack. We visited in early January, and on the last day, the temp dropped to the 30s unexpectedly. We had to put SO many layers on to survive! Thankfully, the lady we rented the ATV from let me borrow a blanket for the day. Bring gloves if it’s cold!
Y’all! For those of you who read my last post, my husband wore my hat! HAHA! I finished my hat during this trip, and my husband didn’t bring a hat, so he wore it. Oh my word! It was so great. He wasn’t too thrilled, but it got the job done.
Tip #3: The time of year affects the open trails.
We first went on an ATV, as mentioned, in early January. Everything highlighted on this map is the trails that were open during January. Most of the rougher trails are open from March through October, which we were able to experience when we went in July later that year. The more exciting trails we experienced were closed in Winter.
We entered the trail at the North Trailhead. This main trail is nice if you want something relaxing with good scenery. You pass over several creeks, and you will have good views as you gain elevation.
Tip #4: Plan devices and bring a speaker.
We charged all of our devices the night before including our speaker for music. I also brought a large battery pack with all the necessary cords to charge phones and speakers. However, we didn’t prepare for not having an internet connection for music. I know, silly me.
I planned to use my phone for video and mapping; there is a map you can use that runs on a satellite. We were going to use my husband’s phone for music. But, my husband didn’t prepare his Spotify by downloading music to listen to. He also didn’t have space on his phone to video; to top it off, he didn’t set up the map on his phone either. So, we were stuck using my phone for everything, which meant no music anytime I recorded.
Tip #5: Bring a selfie stick or gimbal.
Having a way to hold my phone during videoing without holding my arm up the whole time was nice. Also, since it was so cold, I was glad I could wrap the blanket around my hand while holding the stick since I didn’t bring gloves. I wouldn’t have been able to do that with just my phone.
Eagle Mountain was an incredible stretch of trail. It was very rocky and added to the experience of the day. There were some lovely views at the top, but there were a lot of trees that blocked the view.
After Eagle Mountain, we went down a straight stretch to the waterfalls, where you can swim or hike. It took some getting used to driving the trails, so I would slow down whenever we got near a pothole. By the end of the day, I was flying over them. The ATV can handle much more than what we are used to in a car.
We stopped at Little Missouri Falls’ picnic area to eat, use the bathroom, and hike the trail.
Tip #6: Bring good walking shoes.
You will walk around and explore on these trails, so bring good walking shoes. Even if it is cold, wear appropriate footwear for walking, weather, etc.
Tip #7: Bring toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
When out in the woods all day, toilet paper and hand sanitizer are always good things to bring. You will need it! They have a bathroom, but there wasn’t any toilet paper or soap.
We only came across one bathroom the whole time, so if you have to go in the woods, you will be thankful for that toilet paper!
The falls were so pretty! Walking around or sitting by the water after eating took about an hour. It was so lovely! In the Winter, sitting by the water, the sun hit us just right, and we were finally able to warm up.
In the summer months, the falls are considered a swimming hole. People usually stop for lunch and then swim afterward to cool off. Bring appropriate footwear and clothing for swimming. I would bring water shoes, swim clothes, and a towel.
On the way out, we got slightly confused because of the East Trailhead entrance, but we realized it was closed and found our way. Keep an eye on your digital map’s GPS when you get confused. It is easy to follow. At this point of the day, the sun was starting to get in our eyes, which led to…
Tip #8: Bring sunglasses.
Bring sunglasses as well. You will fight at sunrise or sunset, depending on the time of day, to see. You will need to be able to see on specific trails to be safe.
On the way back, we found our favorite trail of the day, Route 612, highlighted in pink on the map. It was so exciting! I saw a bump in the road ahead and yelled, “Jump it.” (Joking) But, before I knew it, my husband hit the gas, and I was screaming.
We had so much fun doing this part of the trail that we went back and forth several times! As the passenger, you must hold on to something as you fly over these bumps. I couldn’t help but scream throughout this whole trail. It was not the bad kind of scream, but the “This is great” kind. Disclaimer: Our speed topped out at 25 mph. I wanted to mention this in case there is a crazy chance that our rental agents will read my post. HA!
We hit the trails at 8 am, and by 2:30 pm, we were ready to get back to our cottage to relax in the hot tub. When you return your rental, they will check the ATV for any significant damage. If there is damage, you will be responsible to pay to fix them. If not, then you load up and head out.
The Report
The report is in! I will cover five categories in my evaluation of riding an ATV as a beginner: Cost, Ease of Learning, Enjoyability, Energy Level, and Time Commitment. Disclaimer: All of the following is my personal opinion. It is not a how-to.
Riding an ATV is not only an activity; it is a trip. For us, there are ATV rentals near us; however, there is no interesting place to ride near me. So, while you might be able to ride one near where you live, it wouldn’t be worth riding somewhere you don’t have a beautiful trail or view. We went to Mena, Arkansas, about a 6-hour drive from home.
The ATV alone costs about $400 per day of riding. If needed, you must also account for travel expenses (gas, hotel, food, etc.).
The ATV we rode was fully automatic. Super easy! If you know how to drive a vehicle, you know how to drive an ATV. The rental place will run through the controls when you arrive and check in. In all, it takes about 20 minutes to complete.
Depending on the terrain, you will have different difficulties. There are certain trails, like Eagle Mountain, that have rocky terrain. When I say rocky, I mean boulders. You are climbing boulders. This can be a little scary, but just put the ATV in low gear and four-wheel drive and move slowly over them. The ATV can handle it!
All in all, it is not hard to drive an ATV. I have heard stories about an ATV tipping over, but I believe the only way would mean the driver was careless. We went on different trails with various terrain difficulties and never came close to tipping.
We had a blast! We had more fun in July than in January, though. As mentioned earlier, the more exciting and fun trails are open outside of the Winter months. The larger outside loop of the mapped area was enjoyable, but the inside trails have more uniqueness and variety.
As far as enjoyability goes, weather plays a large part as well. The freezing cold is not my forte. I am from Texas; enough said. I prefer the visit in July to ride, because we could also enjoy swimming. The water was cold in July and helped to keep us cool.
The views were beautiful as well. From the mountainscape to the waterfalls, we had plenty to look at. We got out at different points, sat by the water, or walked through a trail. It was relaxing and exhilarating all at once.
Another aspect was family. The first time I went, my husband and I went for our anniversary. So, it was just him and I hanging out and relaxing. The next time we went was in July of the same year. We went with our 3-year-old son, my in-laws, and our aunt. We rented 2 ATVs and rode around together. It was a lot of fun riding with others.
My toddler handled himself well. He had a lot of fun! By the end of the day, though, he passed out while buckled in on the ATV. He was utterly exhausted. All adults, ranging from 20s to 60s, were also pretty tired. While it isn’t necessarily a strenuous activity, it wears you out by the end of a full day of riding.
Most people will not rent an ATV for a couple of hours at a time. Plan this activity so you can get the most out of your money. Even if you live near somewhere that has trails, you will need to plan for a full day of riding with no commitments afterward.
If you don’t live near a place to ride, you will need to plan at least a weekend trip to do so. I would only suggest a day trip if you are a beast. It will drain you to ride all day and then add traveling to and from the place.
Riding an ATV is a great experience for all ages, from toddlers and above. If you are anything like me, you will love that your toddler has a blast and passed out by the end. The key is to plan well. Plan your music, food, and attire well, and you will have a blast!
This was such a wonderful memory!!