CARRIE R. MILLS – The off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails at Sahara Woods State Recreation Area in Saline County are open and ready to welcome visitors for the 2026 outdoor recreation season.
Sahara Woods near Carrier Mills offers nearly 30 miles of landscaped OHV trails for riders’ enjoyment.
The trails are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Monday each week, May through January. A one-day permit costs $20 per vehicle. Four-day permits are available for $65 per vehicle. Rules and guidelines can be found online, along with registration forms, waivers of liability, and instructions for purchasing ride permits.
The OHV trail system, which officially opened to the public in 2025, was built on reclaimed land where both surface and underground mining operations were conducted by Bankston Creek Collieries and the Sahara Coal Co. from 1936 until 1993. The company donated the land to the State of Illinois in 1999.
Sahara Woods State Recreation Area also features 4,000 acres of excellent fishing opportunities, including largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, redear, and channel catfish; boat ramps; and hunting.
About IDNR
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources was established in 1925 as the Illinois Department of Conservation, bringing under one umbrella oversight of fish and game, forestry, public works, and lakes. Today, IDNR’s work encompasses management of about 400 sites across Illinois, including state parks and historic sites; wildlife, fisheries, forestry, and natural heritage; Lake Michigan water allocation and coastal management; conservation police; mines and minerals; oil and gas; issuance of licenses, permits, and numerous grants; the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta; and the Illinois State Museum. Visit https://dnr.illinois.gov and follow us on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.
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