G.R.E.A.T. and Odder Otter are routes featuring a mix of trail and paved, gravel, and dirt roads.

Either route can be done with a car or on a motorcycle. 

CAUTION AREAS

• G.R.E.A.T.

  • Dirt road west of the car dealership in Glenwood requires above average ground clearance, and possible AWD/4x4. Bypass by driving into town on 29, west at the stoplight on 28, then north on 10th ST NW (first road on the right past Brownie's Tire and Auto Service)

  • 325th ST (North of Benson, waypoint 46.5) is minimum maintenance and will be overgrown with vegetation most of the year. Passable, but take it slow. Critters dig holes that get hidden. Cars will be plowing down grass and getting scratched from the sides. Bypass on 320th, the first gravel road to the north. 

  • Pioneer cemetery north of Sunburg is no longer a drive-up location. There is a parking lot half way back from the road. The access to that parking area gets overgrown and isn't mown very often. 

  • 150th AVE south of Lake Johanna/East of Ordway Prairie sometimes washes out. Part of the road may have water over it if it has rained recently, but it's rarely enough to wash out the road to the point of being impassible. 

  • T-135, the eastward road from the 5-way intersection near Brooten usually has water over the road. It's usually less than 12" deep, and it's rarely moving fast enough to wash out the road to the point of being impassible. If it has rained recently, walk the water crossing to ensure the bottom is still gravel. Frequently repaired by locals, and there is usually a go-around or shallow path they have put in with a tractor.

• Odder Otter 

  • 485th AVE east of Urbank requires above average ground clearance and possible AWD/4x4. Skid plates highly suggested due to rocks. Bypass west at 180th ST, to Urbank on Otter Trail Scenic Byway, then east on 235.

  • Folden Woods WMA closed during hunting season. Hill climb at entrance can have large exposed rocks. Road after hill is gravel to the boat access, then turns to dirt. Requires above average ground clearance and possible AWD/4x4. Skid plates highly suggested due to rocks.

  • Long Lake Trail in Ottertail is narrow and the trees will scratch vehicles. Detour on 272E, just a block or so west.

  • Property access right of way trail south of Maplewood State Park is impassible by full size vehicles. Motorcycles require offroad oriented tires and skid plates (I did this on a CB500X, but there were some questionable areas, and I got high centered twice). Trail washes out and is not always repaired by locals. Detour west on Otter Trail Scenic Byway, then south on 3. 

I offer personally guided tours if my schedule allows it. Price is you fill my gas tank and buy the snacks/lunch. Maximum of three vehicles (plus me, #4) in the tour group.

• • How I manage group rides: 

    • I ride in front and stop at corners until I see the person behind me put on a blinker to acknowledge the turn. That person repeats for the next rider. Riding this way means no eating dust all day, and we still stay together. 

    • I also stop at interesting sights to re-group, assess gas tank levels, and play local tour guide. 

    • Want to take a picture somewhere? Go ahead, stop and take one. The group will be waiting at the next turn or they will catch up to you. 

    • If someone does not show up behind you at a corner, STAY THERE until the person in front of you backtracks to re-group the bikes. 

    • If there's an accident, call the group leader so they can reverse the route and collect everyone.

    • If you can't maintain at least 30-45 on gravel, don't even think about asking for a guided tour. I don't do rider training. At 30 mph this will be sun up to sun down riding. I generally ride 45-60 mph on gravel and 55-70 on pavement for these routes. (Most of the non-paved roads are well maintained gravel and this really isn't an issue. On the trails and questionable roads I go about half that fast)

• The Bruce Hitman Heron Rookery Scientific and Natural Area island in Lake Johanna is viewable on the G.R.E.A.T. route with binoculars, but with enough notice we can also put my boat in the lake and see it up close. There is also a pond on an island in the lake to check out. 

The routing is done in a way that will guide you right up to or near to the points of interest if you prefer solo rides. There is also plenty of information in the forum posts and on the Google My Maps shown below.