It might be heaven on Earth. It’s definitely a destination for ATV riders who are looking for great trails, complete liberty off the trails and every amenity short of a continental breakfast.

This 500-acre park in Tigerton, Wisconsin has camping with electrical and sewage hook-ups, showers, laundry machines, and flush toilets. For riders who also like to race, a portion of the trail system serves as a track for regular ATV races. Each campsite of the Embarrass River ATV Park is directly on the Embarrass River, a calmly winding river that ultimately gives its water to Green Bay.

This park is operated by the village of Tigerton, but it was designed in 1998 with help from the state Department of Natural Resources to show how an ATV park ought to be. “Basically they made this park a showcase. A model,” said William Berg, park manager.”

The facilities are extensive but they don’t eclipse the trails, he said. “There’re probably 10 miles of existing trails back there but you can go anywhere you want.” Rock formations dot the river and the mix of trees and wildlife make each experience there a rewarding one. “Basically, it’s got anything you wanted to see. There are beautiful waterfalls.”

Across the river is a sheer cliff, so there is no one to mind the constant riding. Berg said the neighbors from nearby development know about the track and like it.

It’s certainly a hit with the Marathon Off-Road ATV-Motorcycle Club, said club president William bell.

The park is called an intensive use area by the state, and a challenge area, and he said it shows on the jumps and the corners of the race track section of the trails. “By its design, it’s for people of above-average skill, just like the name implies, to challenge their riding abilities.”

By renting part of the track from the village, they’re allowed to push those limits even further. “We make the jumps more aggressive and make the track in general more challenging.”

The face of the track has changed over the years, and different areas have sand, clay and black dirt. Some of it is natural and some has been hauled in. “The sand whoop section is challenging in itself and that’s all sand back in that section,” said Bell.

The soil gives way to water as the Embarrass River hugs a large portion of the track. Bell said that he’s never seen anyone fly into the river or get their ATV fished out of it. “I’ve always been nervous about that, but it’s never happened,” he said “Apparently back in the day when the races first got started out there that’s happened Fortunately the river isn’t very deep. It’s pretty, but it isn’t very deep.”

Lots of people see the river and the races when the track is divided from the rest of the wooded trail. The starting gate is the biggest change those days, explained Bell.

The main events fall under AMA District 16, which covers all of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They also run races sanctioned by the Great Lakes Quad Series, which is a series that runs in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. They also run “outlaw” races, which build points for no series. One of those is the Spring Race, held in April, when for one day of the year dirt bikes are allowed on the track.

A large announcer stand calls the shots during races, and can see most of the track very clearly. There are trees in the back trails, but there aren’t too many on the racing track. Spectators can sit in grandstands or mingle around the outer perimeter of the track.

When they get hungry a full concession stand fills their bellies.

Those buildings were also part of the development paid for with DNR grants, explained Berg. “This whole park, as you know, is funded by the registration of ATV’s in the State of Wisconsin and a percentage of the gas bought by every ATV owner.”

The continued operation comes from annual grants from the DNR and an ongoing commitment from the village of Tigerton. “If we want $1,000, that means we’re going to have to kick in $500. Every gallon of gas that we buy, the village pays for half and the DNR pays for half.” The registration fees fund the complete insurance bill of the track, which is substantial.

A one-time fee gets riders access for a full day. If no one is available at the office, a self-service kiosk has envelopes to pay with and receipts to keep. For riders who plan to keep coming back, the park offers an annual pass for $100. That fee gets two stickers to adhere to the ATV’s that will ride into the quality trails of this amazing park.