Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Falmouth, Michigan

This is a scenic drive through the woods that has a little of everything to offer. There is one wet area that could be troublesome depending on the time of year. Most of it is dirt and sand. Some of the sand is loose, and ground clearance is necessary to make it through. The north end leads to lake ...
Learn more about Dyer Lake Drive

The south end of this is groomed gravel that turns into a Seasonal Road about a half mile in. There are no wet areas, but there is some soft sand along the way. This is easily traversed by a high-clearance vehicle. It is a nice scenic drive through the woods following the river, although the river i...
Learn more about Bo's Trail

While this seasonal road runs through private property, the drive is very nice. There is very little elevation change, but the road winds through the trees and the scenery is great. Newman Road runs between North Turnerville and 8 Mile roads. Please be respectful of property owners and be sure to st...
Learn more about Newman Road

This is a continuation of County Line Road that turns to 60th Avenue, a single-lane seasonal road. This short trail is a fun side path for those looking for some quick mud. This seasonal road really shines after heavy rainfall or during a storm; it quickly floods and offers small water crossings and...
Learn more about County Line and 60th

This two-track doesn't have many elevation changes, but it winds through the trees very nicely. There are a couple of spots that are low-lying and could be pretty muddy if the weather has been wet. It is an in-and-out trail that ends at an area that could be used for dispersed camping.
Learn more about Swamp Camp Trail

This trail is an in-and-out trail. It's mostly dirt-based with an area that has 12" mud puddles. There is also an area at the end that could be used for dispersed camping. The entrance to this trail can be found off East Walker Road and connects to a private trail that leads to the Trophy Acres Hunt...
Learn more about Trophy Acres Hunters Trail

This sandy track is wide enough for two vehicles. There are little elevation changes, but the trail winds nicely through the woods. The portion of state land that this trail runs through has been set aside for the local school to utilize for studies. During the winter months, the trail is snowmobile...
Learn more about 3895

Take a quick shortcut to Temple, Michigan, through this scenic trail that begins near Marion, Michigan. This trail passes through the Gladwin Forest Management Unit and also many Consumer Energy paths that are interconnected throughout the area. This area is also occasionally active with logging ope...
Learn more about Lake Station

This is a beautiful and fun trail that runs through the Floodwood Swamp Reservoir in the Gladwin Forest Management Area, offering some obstacles and amazing wildlife spotting opportunities. It's a full-width trail with mixed traffic. You will encounter a bridge crossing, banks, and lots of mud, sand...
Learn more about Floodwood Swamp Reservoir

This is a direct line to the Leota High Banks on the north side of the Muskegon River. This will take you through a mix of recently forested and older-growth forest. Along the way, you will encounter mostly Forest Service roads that are easily passable with a high-clearance vehicle. The draw to this...
Learn more about Leota High Banks

This twisty, turny trail is a sandy two-track with very little elevation change. It runs between North Green Road and North Menzies Road. The portion of the trail west of M66 is wide and very sandy. The portion east of M66 is dirt-based and very narrow. Some areas are overgrown. This trail is part o...
Learn more about Dyer Lake Trail

The trail is nicely wooded with soft-packed sand, with a few sandier sections at intersections and in the corners. In August, mudholes are still possible. Little Leota has many intersections to hop back onto the hard-packed two-track to take you back to the trailhead. This is a wonderful sand trail ...
Learn more about Little Leota Trail

On the border of Wexford and Missaukee Counties lies a seasonal road that turns into a forest management road. It passes through the Cadillac Pathway hiking trail area, allowing access to the hiking trail, camping, and nature spotting opportunities. It can be accessed either by the north or south en...
Learn more about Cadillac Pathway #2

This short trail goes through the beautiful Cadillac Forest Management area. It offers multiple access points to the Cadillac Pathway footpath as well as camping. It is not a through road and has a turnaround at the end at a private property line. It is a beautiful scenic trail that could offer some...
Learn more about Cadillac Pathway

This trail begins on a standard dirt road with great views of the windmills and farm fields. The elevation lowers as you approach the entrance to the seasonal road, where you will enter a thick wooded area. This trail features a few obstacles and has plenty of wildlife/plant life to see. You will li...
Learn more about County Line Road

The East entrance to Phelps Road is a gravel road and begins in a residential area. After you get past the private property, Phelps Road becomes a two-track. There are some elevation changes. The terrain changes from sand to dirt, and it winds nicely through the trees. There are about half a dozen o...
Learn more about Phelps Road

This is a combination of ORV route and Forest Service roads. The trail can have numerous chatter bumps if it hasn't been groomed recently. There are some great views of the Muskegon River at 3 different locations along the way. These are very popular places for dispersed camping. The trail is very s...
Learn more about Leota South River Route

This is a standard Michigan seasonal road that passes through the Gladwin Forest Management Area. If you travel too far south, you'll eventually leave the system of trails. This seasonal road will reconnect you to many of the trails in the north. It is easy as well as scenic and relaxing.
Learn more about Sumac Trail

This is a really nice trail that has some elevation changes, and it meanders nicely back and forth through the trees. There is an area with a pond that comes right up to the trail, which has potential for flooding or possible washout if this area sees a lot of rainfall. The terrain is sand, dirt, an...
Learn more about Simpson Trail

This is a scenic ORV route near the St. Helen Motorsport Area. The trail features sandy terrain with occasional deep ruts (from ATVs and razors) but nothing a Jeep couldn't manage. When going around the lakes, there are a few small bridge crossings along the route providing a scenic and adventurous ...
Learn more about Denton Creek Trail

While this seasonal road runs through private property, the drive is very nice. There is very little elevation change, but the road winds through the trees and the scenery is great. Newman Road runs between North Turnerville and 8 Mile roads. Please be respectful of property owners and be sure to st...
Learn more about Newman Road

This is a continuation of County Line Road that turns to 60th Avenue, a single-lane seasonal road. This short trail is a fun side path for those looking for some quick mud. This seasonal road really shines after heavy rainfall or during a storm; it quickly floods and offers small water crossings and...
Learn more about County Line and 60th

This two-track doesn't have many elevation changes, but it winds through the trees very nicely. There are a couple of spots that are low-lying and could be pretty muddy if the weather has been wet. It is an in-and-out trail that ends at an area that could be used for dispersed camping.
Learn more about Swamp Camp Trail

This trail is an in-and-out trail. It's mostly dirt-based with an area that has 12" mud puddles. There is also an area at the end that could be used for dispersed camping. The entrance to this trail can be found off East Walker Road and connects to a private trail that leads to the Trophy Acres Hunt...
Learn more about Trophy Acres Hunters Trail

While this seasonal road runs through private property, the drive is very nice. There is very little elevation change, but the road winds through the trees and the scenery is great. Newman Road runs between North Turnerville and 8 Mile roads. Please be respectful of property owners and be sure to st...
Learn more about Newman Road

This is a continuation of County Line Road that turns to 60th Avenue, a single-lane seasonal road. This short trail is a fun side path for those looking for some quick mud. This seasonal road really shines after heavy rainfall or during a storm; it quickly floods and offers small water crossings and...
Learn more about County Line and 60th

This two-track doesn't have many elevation changes, but it winds through the trees very nicely. There are a couple of spots that are low-lying and could be pretty muddy if the weather has been wet. It is an in-and-out trail that ends at an area that could be used for dispersed camping.
Learn more about Swamp Camp Trail

This trail is an in-and-out trail. It's mostly dirt-based with an area that has 12" mud puddles. There is also an area at the end that could be used for dispersed camping. The entrance to this trail can be found off East Walker Road and connects to a private trail that leads to the Trophy Acres Hunt...
Learn more about Trophy Acres Hunters Trail