Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Akron, Michigan

Wildlife Drive, located in Schiawasse National Wildlife Refuge, is a scenic, flat dirt road designed for a leisurely drive in a clockwise direction. Take your time to enjoy the stunning views, hiking trails, and beautiful sunrises and sunsets. You can spot plenty of wildlife here, including birds, d...
Learn more about Wildlife Drive

As the name implies, this is a sandy trail located primarily on public ground. This is the closest thing to a "trail" in Huron County. There are several whooped-out areas that require moderate ground clearance to pass without bottoming out. Most of the trail is dry, unless a recent rain event has oc...
Learn more about Old Sand Road

This is a primarily sand two-track that leads back to the public access site of Rush Lake. The trail itself is passable with a vehicle having moderate ground clearance. There are some small holes along the way, but no major water holes on the trail itself. The area is all public land with rustic cam...
Learn more about Rush Lake Access

This is a fun, sandy trail with multiple whoops providing the opportunity to test out your high-speed suspension. The trail is two vehicles wide when entering from Grim Road, but narrows to just over one vehicle wide as the trail winds through a clear-cut forest. There are opportunities for other sa...
Learn more about Gladwin Forest Baja

Sterling Truck Trail is a seasonal road that is a great connector trail for many of the trails in the Gladwin area. The terrain is sandy and flat, and it is easily wide enough for two vehicles. It is very easy in difficulty, but it is unmaintained during rain or snow. During dry summer months, this ...
Learn more about Sterling Truck Trail

Center Fireline Trail is a part of the Gladwin Scramble, a mixed-use riding area in the Gladwin Forest Management Unit. This trail is a two-lane dirt trail with mixed access and cross-traffic. You can expect a graded dirt road with sand and mud. This trail will lead you into the historical town of H...
Learn more about Center Fireline Trail

Michigan DNR ORV Route is open to full-size, 50-inch, and motorcycles with ORV permits and Trail permit stickers. This is a small ORV Route but is surrounded by many more miles of 50-inch trails. The trail itself is fairly flat, with rolling whoops through a wooded area.
Learn more about Gladwin ORV Route

A simple sandy trail in the Gladwin ORV area with the most beautiful wetland views. This trail has thick sand, many turns and curves, and is relatively flat, but the various wetland views along it will catch your attention. Take your time along this trail to enjoy the views and the nature. It is unm...
Learn more about East Fireline Trail

Mosquito Alley Truck Trail is a flat and sandy trail that parallels the Molasses River. It is a wide trail that easily accommodates both directions of traffic, and it is an easy, non-technical trail during the dry summer season; however, this trail is known to become more difficult during the spring...
Learn more about Mosquito Alley Truck Trail

This stretch of Wildwood Road is a narrow, sandy, and unmaintained road. It is easy in difficulty, and its only obstacle during the summer season is some whoops. The surrounding scenery varies between dense woods and wetlands. It crosses Mosquito Alley Truck Trail and dead ends at the Molasses River...
Learn more about North Wildwood Road

This connector trail runs north and south between Lame Duck Truck Trail and Sterling Truck Trail. It can drastically vary in difficulty depending on trail conditions. On a dry summer day after the groomer has passed through, it is very easy. But in the spring or after heavy rain, this trail can get ...
Learn more about North Sterling Truck Trail

A scenic, easy-going trail through the woods in the Gladwin Forest area west of Midland. One of the few dry trails in the area, especially in the spring. The trail winds through woods and wetland. There has been some logging on the trail. The trail is mostly one vehicle wide, though there are severa...
Learn more about West Isabella Bypass

Lame Duck Truck Trail is a seasonal road that borders the north edge of the Lame Duck wetland area. The terrain is sandy and flat. It is very easy in difficulty, but it is unmaintained during rain and snow, which could make it more challenging at times. During the dry summer months, this trail is ve...
Learn more about Lame Duck Truck Trail

This is an easy trail that loops around the wall edge of the open riding area in the far back corner of the park. The open riding area can be very mucky if it's been raining. This would be a good challenge for those who like to play in the mud.
Learn more about The Fish Bowl

This trail starts in the Northwest Corner area or off of West Side Drive. It is a multi-directional trail that runs through the trees with a couple of hills. If you're a full-size vehicle and like your paint job, this is not the trail for you. Expect some of that good ol' Michigan pinstriping. There...
Learn more about The Highway

This trail is sandy with little rocks and loops around the far back area of the park. It's easy to drive and in most areas wide enough for two vehicles. There is a section near the Northwest Corner that has standing water. The water can be deep if it's been wet. Be cautious. The trail currently dead...
Learn more about Katy's Loop

This sandy trail can be found at the bottom of the Electric Slide and runs to the back portion of the park. It is sandy and there is a small rock in the middle of the trail creating a small washout. It's a great way to see the back side of the park and avoid traffic along the main hall road to the b...
Learn more about Cat Walk

Work Around is a very short trail that runs along the edge of the property and backs up to the area that is still being mined. It can be picked up at the end of Cat Walk and continues to the back of the park. It's more of a transition trail than a trail of substance. It does run along the top of a w...
Learn more about Work Around

South Rim is the main hall road that runs from the middle of the park to the back area. Many trails branch off of this road. There are some areas that are rutted and muddy, For the most part, this trail is wide enough for two vehicles and has two-way traffic.
Learn more about South Rim

This sandy trail runs between Catwalk and Sweet Water. Once you get near The Sloppy Joe Bypass, the trail turns uphill and becomes a rock crawl. 12" and bigger rocks closely layered together making for a fun rock crawl. This rock crawl is great for someone new to crawling.
Learn more about Catwalk Bypass and Rock Crawl

As the name implies, this is a sandy trail located primarily on public ground. This is the closest thing to a "trail" in Huron County. There are several whooped-out areas that require moderate ground clearance to pass without bottoming out. Most of the trail is dry, unless a recent rain event has oc...
Learn more about Old Sand Road

This is a primarily sand two-track that leads back to the public access site of Rush Lake. The trail itself is passable with a vehicle having moderate ground clearance. There are some small holes along the way, but no major water holes on the trail itself. The area is all public land with rustic cam...
Learn more about Rush Lake Access

This is a fun, sandy trail with multiple whoops providing the opportunity to test out your high-speed suspension. The trail is two vehicles wide when entering from Grim Road, but narrows to just over one vehicle wide as the trail winds through a clear-cut forest. There are opportunities for other sa...
Learn more about Gladwin Forest Baja

Michigan DNR ORV Route is open to full-size, 50-inch, and motorcycles with ORV permits and Trail permit stickers. This is a small ORV Route but is surrounded by many more miles of 50-inch trails. The trail itself is fairly flat, with rolling whoops through a wooded area.
Learn more about Gladwin ORV Route

As the name implies, this is a sandy trail located primarily on public ground. This is the closest thing to a "trail" in Huron County. There are several whooped-out areas that require moderate ground clearance to pass without bottoming out. Most of the trail is dry, unless a recent rain event has oc...
Learn more about Old Sand Road

This is a primarily sand two-track that leads back to the public access site of Rush Lake. The trail itself is passable with a vehicle having moderate ground clearance. There are some small holes along the way, but no major water holes on the trail itself. The area is all public land with rustic cam...
Learn more about Rush Lake Access

This is a fun, sandy trail with multiple whoops providing the opportunity to test out your high-speed suspension. The trail is two vehicles wide when entering from Grim Road, but narrows to just over one vehicle wide as the trail winds through a clear-cut forest. There are opportunities for other sa...
Learn more about Gladwin Forest Baja

Michigan DNR ORV Route is open to full-size, 50-inch, and motorcycles with ORV permits and Trail permit stickers. This is a small ORV Route but is surrounded by many more miles of 50-inch trails. The trail itself is fairly flat, with rolling whoops through a wooded area.
Learn more about Gladwin ORV Route