Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Auburn, 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...
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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

This out-and-back trail starts off as a two-track through a logged area with a few lone oak trees still standing before getting sandier and heading into the woods. The first half of the trail is fairly dry, but near the end, there are several large water holes. Depending on the season and weather, t...
Learn more about Lone Oak

The trail starts at the intersection of West Olson Road and Geneva Road. There are large yellow turn signs on either side of the trail marking the normal roads. It is 1 to 2 vehicles wide with numerous mud holes, though most were not very deep, even in the spring, no more than a few inches. This cou...
Learn more about West Olson Trail

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

This Trail is a typical Michigan two-track. Dirt track, wide enough for one vehicle. The trail does not lead to any other trails, but there are quite a few grassy spots to pull off for dispersed camping. The west side of the loop portion is definitely a much tighter, less-traveled trail. The south s...
Learn more about South Eddy Creek Trail

A single lane and two-track trail that is sandy dirt in most areas. It is a narrow trail with overgrown vegetation that could scrape the sides of your vehicle. You will also encounter some low-hanging tree branches. The out-and-back portion dead ends into private property, but there are some camping...
Learn more about Mostetler Road Ride

This trail winds out and back through the Pine and hardwood forest in the Gladwin Forest Management Unit. It is a combination of a single lane dirt trail and a narrow dirt two-track. The trail gets quite narrow in spots, so be prepared for some possible scraping from the trees. You will also encount...
Learn more about Loose Lane

This seasonal road begins at the end of Boehm Road. The road is wide at the entrance, but it does become narrower or less travelled on the north and west sides of the loop. The east side of the trail runs along an easement for power lines. There is not much elevation change on the trail, and it does...
Learn more about West Boehm Road

This trail runs from Spenser Trail to South Morrison Road. The east side of the trail, once crossed over the creek, becomes very tight and banked, weaving back and forth through the trees. It was a fun trail to drive, but it definitely needs some trimming for full-size vehicles.
Learn more about Emerson Trail

This trail is typical of the Michigan two-track style trail. Sandy with little elevation change. It begins at the end of a dirt road and goes all the way back to a creek. Spencer's Trail intersects with a couple of other trails. There is a large tree down on the trail just past the intersection, lim...
Learn more about Spencers Trail

Hilly adventure awaits on this unmapped trail in the Roscommon Forest. This trail is South off of Sandy Trail, and is just West of the St. Helen's South ORV Route. There is a loop off of this trail midway South. This trail is one lane and is sand and dirt. Trees hang over the trail, creating a canop...
Learn more about Hilly 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

This out-and-back trail starts off as a two-track through a logged area with a few lone oak trees still standing before getting sandier and heading into the woods. The first half of the trail is fairly dry, but near the end, there are several large water holes. Depending on the season and weather, t...
Learn more about Lone Oak

The trail starts at the intersection of West Olson Road and Geneva Road. There are large yellow turn signs on either side of the trail marking the normal roads. It is 1 to 2 vehicles wide with numerous mud holes, though most were not very deep, even in the spring, no more than a few inches. This cou...
Learn more about West Olson Trail

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

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

This out-and-back trail starts off as a two-track through a logged area with a few lone oak trees still standing before getting sandier and heading into the woods. The first half of the trail is fairly dry, but near the end, there are several large water holes. Depending on the season and weather, t...
Learn more about Lone Oak

The trail starts at the intersection of West Olson Road and Geneva Road. There are large yellow turn signs on either side of the trail marking the normal roads. It is 1 to 2 vehicles wide with numerous mud holes, though most were not very deep, even in the spring, no more than a few inches. This cou...
Learn more about West Olson Trail

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