Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Filer City, Michigan

Forest Service Road 8259 is located in the Manistee National Forest. This trail runs from its intersection with Old Stonarch Road to East County Line Road. The trail is located on the Western Edge of the Manistee National Forest. Roughly 15 minutes southwest of the town of Manistee. The trail is a t...
Learn more about Forest Service Road 8259

South County Line Road runs from the intersection of Rybicki Road and East County Line Road to the intersections of FS M10, and North Campbell Road. South County Line Road, as the name implies, runs along the southern edge of Manistee County. The trail is a wide open gravel road that allows quick an...
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West Nurnberg Road offers a scenic drive through the Manistee National Forest on a well-maintained two-lane gravel road with plenty of room for passing. The views along the entire route are outstanding, and there are several opportunities to branch off onto two-track trails like Trail 5346, FS 5729,...
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FS 5690 is a great, easy two-track route through the Manistee National Forest. The trail has a dirt base, is typically one vehicle wide, and includes occasional spots for passing. The main access point is off Morton Road on the south end. While the trail is generally not difficult, there are a few l...
Learn more about FS 5690

FS 5746 is a beautiful two-track that winds through the Manistee National Forest. The trail features a mix of sand and dirt, is generally easy to travel on, and offers occasional room to pass. Some sections can become muddy after rain or feel a bit tight due to the surrounding trees, but nothing too...
Learn more about FS 5746

The trail is sandy and fairly short. The trail is lined with tall trees and fern ground cover. It's just wide enough for one vehicle. Located in the Manistee National Forest not too far from Lake Michigan. There are a couple of camp spots. Check with the forest for camping restrictions.
Learn more about 5757

FS 5729 is a scenic two-track through the Manistee National Forest, primarily accessed from West Nurnberg Road or FS 8038/8039. The trail has a dirt base and is generally easy to navigate, with a few small holes that may lightly articulate your suspension but pose no issue for most vehicles. Along t...
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This is a well maintained gravel road that sweeps through the Manistee National Forest. The route leads to the last standing fire tower in the lower peninsula of Michigan. As you ascend the 315 ft up Udell Hills you will be met with some great scenery of the surrounding wilderness. At the top there ...
Learn more about Udell Fire Tower- FS 5207

Steinberg Road (FS 5502) is located in Manistee County, Michigan, within the Manistee National Forest. This trail runs from its intersection with Udell Fire Tower (FS 5207) and goes to its intersection with Pomeroy Road. This trail navigates through a variety of terrain as well as scenery. If travel...
Learn more about Steinberg Road - FS 5502

This is a two lane dirt road that does have a couple of areas where it narrows down to one lane. There is one area that is a little low and could be muddy in the wet season. There are a couple of rustic camping spots along this trail. The area is National Forest so keep that in mind when planning to...
Learn more about Trail 5356

Good Road is a trail running East and West through Manistee National Forest. The East side of the trail is a faster pace section that is sandy with incredible views of the surrounding forest. The west side of the trail is more technical. There is one substantial mud hole that is 12"- 20" deep. There...
Learn more about Good Road - FS 8160

This trail is a short loop that is accessed from Udell Hills Road on both sides. The trail has lots of different types of terrain from sand, mud, and dirt. On the NE side of the trail, there is Timmerman Lake which has a small launch for kayaks. The south side of the trail is fairly swampy and tight...
Learn more about FS 5219

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

River Road is an amazing drive that gives access to some of the best attractions in the area. On the south end of the trail just off of Dilling Road is the Tippy Dam Recreation Area. During the drive, you will see amazing views of the surrounding forest as well as the Manistee River. The road is two...
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FS 8075 travels north and south through some beautiful country of Manistee National Forest Land. Throughout this trail, you will be surrounded by beautiful scenery of thick, dense trees as well as open clearings where you can see wildlife. The trail is relatively easy. Passable by anything with 4WD/...
Learn more about FS 8075

FS 8330 is a unique and scenic 1-mile bidirectional trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located directly off either Brooks Road or West 7 Mile Road, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the southern end, you'll start on a sandy road. This trail quickly transitions into a thick secti...
Learn more about FS 8330

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

Red Bridge Tower Road is a beautiful drive through the Manistee National Forest. This trail offers great views of the surrounding forest and highlights the area's unique terrain changes. This trail begins off of North Coates Highway and ends at the site of the once-standing Red Bridge Fire Tower. Th...
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FS 8080 is an out-and-back trail that winds through Manistee National Forest. It starts off Marilla Road. The beginning of the trail is open with beautiful landscapes, and as you continue on, it becomes more and more dense with trees. At the end of the trail, you will encounter a turnaround that wil...
Learn more about FS 8080

The beautiful route provides a great campsite at the end of the trail. This trail is accessed off FS 8080 and is only an out-and-back route. The trail terrain is dirt and is one vehicle wide with a couple of places to pass. At the end of the two track it opens up into a great clearing that will acco...
Learn more about FS 8092

Forest Service Road 8259 is located in the Manistee National Forest. This trail runs from its intersection with Old Stonarch Road to East County Line Road. The trail is located on the Western Edge of the Manistee National Forest. Roughly 15 minutes southwest of the town of Manistee. The trail is a t...
Learn more about Forest Service Road 8259

FS 5690 is a great, easy two-track route through the Manistee National Forest. The trail has a dirt base, is typically one vehicle wide, and includes occasional spots for passing. The main access point is off Morton Road on the south end. While the trail is generally not difficult, there are a few l...
Learn more about FS 5690

FS 5746 is a beautiful two-track that winds through the Manistee National Forest. The trail features a mix of sand and dirt, is generally easy to travel on, and offers occasional room to pass. Some sections can become muddy after rain or feel a bit tight due to the surrounding trees, but nothing too...
Learn more about FS 5746

The trail is sandy and fairly short. The trail is lined with tall trees and fern ground cover. It's just wide enough for one vehicle. Located in the Manistee National Forest not too far from Lake Michigan. There are a couple of camp spots. Check with the forest for camping restrictions.
Learn more about 5757

Forest Service Road 8259 is located in the Manistee National Forest. This trail runs from its intersection with Old Stonarch Road to East County Line Road. The trail is located on the Western Edge of the Manistee National Forest. Roughly 15 minutes southwest of the town of Manistee. The trail is a t...
Learn more about Forest Service Road 8259

FS 5690 is a great, easy two-track route through the Manistee National Forest. The trail has a dirt base, is typically one vehicle wide, and includes occasional spots for passing. The main access point is off Morton Road on the south end. While the trail is generally not difficult, there are a few l...
Learn more about FS 5690

FS 5746 is a beautiful two-track that winds through the Manistee National Forest. The trail features a mix of sand and dirt, is generally easy to travel on, and offers occasional room to pass. Some sections can become muddy after rain or feel a bit tight due to the surrounding trees, but nothing too...
Learn more about FS 5746

The trail is sandy and fairly short. The trail is lined with tall trees and fern ground cover. It's just wide enough for one vehicle. Located in the Manistee National Forest not too far from Lake Michigan. There are a couple of camp spots. Check with the forest for camping restrictions.
Learn more about 5757