Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Custer, Michigan

Horseback riding, hiking, and hunting are all options here.Forest Service Road 6325 is part of 2 unique trails in the area that offer wonderful views of the tall red pine and hardwood trees along a high sand dune bluff overlooking the Big South Branch Pere Marquette River. The trail is very easy wit...
Learn more about NFS 6325

Forest Service Road 6506/6507 is an easy, fun off-road trail for beginners. Located just a few miles south of U.S. 10, this route is easily accessible. The trail winds through a beautiful part of the Manistee National Forest and is very easy with nothing technical. There are many other trails nearby...
Learn more about NFS 6506/6507

Whelan Lake Trail (NFS 6661/6716) is an easy off-road trail located just a few miles south of U.S. 10, making this route easily accessible. The trail is an out-and-back route that twists through the Manistee National Forest and is very easy with nothing technical. Like most Michigan trails, conditio...
Learn more about Whelan Lake Trail (NFS 6661/6716)

Forest Service Road 6290 is a unique trail that offers wonderful views of the tall red pine and hardwood trees. The trail encounters a few mud and water holes that can get deep and rutted out, especially during or after inclement weather. Regardless of the conditions, this is a great trail to tackle...
Learn more about NFS 6290

Forest Service Road 6293/6294 is an easy off-road trail located only a few miles south of U.S. 10. The trail takes you up and down through some gorgeous tall Michigan pine trees, and is very easy with nothing technical. Use caution, as there can be many downed trees across the trail. There are many ...
Learn more about NFS 6293/6294

Aspen Trail (NFS 6295) is an easy off-road trail located just a few miles south of U.S. 10. This route has nothing technical and weaves through a gorgeous section of tall Michigan Red Pine Forest in the Manistee National Forest. If you've never seen these trees and how they're planted in perfectly s...
Learn more about Aspen Trail (NFS 6295)

Forest Service Road 6505 is an easy trail located just a few miles south of U.S. 10, making this route easily accessible. The trail winds through a scenic part of the Manistee National Forest and is very easy with nothing technical. There are many other trails nearby to explore as well. Like most Mi...
Learn more about NFS 6505

Forest Service Road 6296 is an easy off-road trail located just a few miles south of U.S. 10. This route has nothing technical and weaves through a scenic section of the Manistee National Forest. Along this route, you'll come across 2 dispersed campsites, one on each side of the trail. If you choose...
Learn more about NFS 6296

This is a trail from here to there with offshoots that can lead everywhere. It's a midwest Michigan seasonal road/forest road, which means it's basically a non-maintained dirt county road/trail. It's mostly flat sand and dirt and can be rutted in places that hold water after a good rain. Going east ...
Learn more about Lanager Run

Lake Trail is an out-and-back route that gets its name from the lake that the trail ends at. This route is mostly sandy with some small mud holes. This trail is notable for the great camp spot at the end of the trail where you have close and easy access to the lake. The map shows the trail winding a...
Learn more about Lake Trail FS 6332

NFS 6363 is a fun and classic Michigan two-track trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located near East Van Buren Road and North 168th Avenue, this trail is easily accessible. Starting, you'll begin on a sandy/dirt two-track along a row of beautiful pine trees. The track starts fairly wide wit...
Learn more about NFS 6363

Little "O" is a 50-inch ORV trail that lends itself more towards a Motorcycle single track. The Trail is generally a easy well burmed flowing trail that has few obstacles and limited whoops. The catch comes for the wider machine riders that attempt this trail. The edges of the trail are littered wit...
Learn more about Little "O" Motorsport Trail

NFS 5316 is a classic and scenic Michigan two‑track that winds through the Manistee National Forest. Just off North 156th Avenue, it’s an easy trail to reach. The route begins as a sandy dirt track running along a pretty open part of the forest, bordered by an impressive line of trees. Early on, the...
Learn more about NFS 5316

FS 5011 is a primarily sandy and rocky trail that traverses the Manistee National Forest. This trail has many mud holes that can range up to 20 inches deep depending on recent rainfall. There are a few mud holes with bypasses around them. These bypasses are still very muddy and can be slick. Additio...
Learn more about Mud Slide - FS 5011

This trail is a point-to-point dirt route with sections of gravel that connects Free Soil, Michigan to the Emerson Lake area via Lanager Run in Branch, Michigan. It includes numerous side routes leading east toward Highway M37 and the Baldwin area, where restaurants and trailheads are located. The r...
Learn more about Lanager Run Connector

NFS 6122/6123 is a gem of a Michigan two‑track trail, winding through the Manistee National Forest and starting just off NFS 6124. You kick things off on a wide-open and welcoming part of the forest. The calmness of the trail doesn’t last long as you proceed to come across many mud holes and ruts wa...
Learn more about NFS 6122/6123

NFS 6079 is a beautiful scenic trail located within the Manistee National Forest. This trail is easily accessible as it's right off North 156th Avenue. Starting from the western end, you'll start on a dirt/gravel road in the lush forest. You'll weave through those trees alongside the lush vegetation...
Learn more about NFS 6079

NFS 5263 is a very fun and scenic bidirectional trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located either off East Adams Road or Washington Road, this trail is easily accessible and can be started or ended in either direction. We took East Adams Road and started this trail from the west end. You'll ...
Learn more about NFS 5263

Pine Needle is a trail through Manistee National Forest. It gets its name from the many pine groves that you will drive by. The trail is mostly sandy with some small inclines with exposed tree roots. You will be met with some very nice views of the surrounding forest. There aren't any notable disper...
Learn more about Pine Needle FS 5150

This is all the trails and seasonal roads around Ward Hills. The main road into Ward Hills is accessed off of US10 in a large piece of Manistee National Forest. There are many different trails that spur off the main loop. If you are just doing the main loop you could realistically get it done in und...
Learn more about Ward Hills Loop

Horseback riding, hiking, and hunting are all options here.Forest Service Road 6325 is part of 2 unique trails in the area that offer wonderful views of the tall red pine and hardwood trees along a high sand dune bluff overlooking the Big South Branch Pere Marquette River. The trail is very easy wit...
Learn more about NFS 6325

Forest Service Road 6506/6507 is an easy, fun off-road trail for beginners. Located just a few miles south of U.S. 10, this route is easily accessible. The trail winds through a beautiful part of the Manistee National Forest and is very easy with nothing technical. There are many other trails nearby...
Learn more about NFS 6506/6507

Whelan Lake Trail (NFS 6661/6716) is an easy off-road trail located just a few miles south of U.S. 10, making this route easily accessible. The trail is an out-and-back route that twists through the Manistee National Forest and is very easy with nothing technical. Like most Michigan trails, conditio...
Learn more about Whelan Lake Trail (NFS 6661/6716)

Forest Service Road 6290 is a unique trail that offers wonderful views of the tall red pine and hardwood trees. The trail encounters a few mud and water holes that can get deep and rutted out, especially during or after inclement weather. Regardless of the conditions, this is a great trail to tackle...
Learn more about NFS 6290

Horseback riding, hiking, and hunting are all options here.Forest Service Road 6325 is part of 2 unique trails in the area that offer wonderful views of the tall red pine and hardwood trees along a high sand dune bluff overlooking the Big South Branch Pere Marquette River. The trail is very easy wit...
Learn more about NFS 6325

Forest Service Road 6506/6507 is an easy, fun off-road trail for beginners. Located just a few miles south of U.S. 10, this route is easily accessible. The trail winds through a beautiful part of the Manistee National Forest and is very easy with nothing technical. There are many other trails nearby...
Learn more about NFS 6506/6507

Whelan Lake Trail (NFS 6661/6716) is an easy off-road trail located just a few miles south of U.S. 10, making this route easily accessible. The trail is an out-and-back route that twists through the Manistee National Forest and is very easy with nothing technical. Like most Michigan trails, conditio...
Learn more about Whelan Lake Trail (NFS 6661/6716)

Forest Service Road 6290 is a unique trail that offers wonderful views of the tall red pine and hardwood trees. The trail encounters a few mud and water holes that can get deep and rutted out, especially during or after inclement weather. Regardless of the conditions, this is a great trail to tackle...
Learn more about NFS 6290