Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Lakes of the North, Michigan

Mancelona Road Spur is a single-lane dirt-and-sand route within the Gaylord Forest Management Unit. Passing through pine and hardwood forests, it offers opportunities to observe wildlife and enjoy a scenic area of northern Michigan. Expect occasional sandy and water-covered sections. The trail can b...
Learn more about Mancelona Road Spur

Trail 76 travels through the Gaylord Forest Management Unit on a single-lane dirt-and-sand road. Surrounded primarily by pine and hardwood forest, the route offers a relaxing ride and opportunities for wildlife viewing. Expect soft sand and ruts in places. The trail can be run in either direction an...
Learn more about Trail 76

Deward Road Northeast is an easy seasonal forest road well suited for stock high-clearance vehicles and anyone looking to explore Northern Michigan's expansive public lands. Passing through multiple Forest Management Units, this single-lane route alternates between wider stretches and narrower woode...
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Blue Lake Road is a single-lane dirt and sand road. The trail is part of the Gaylord Forest Management Unit and gives you the opportunity to see wildlife and enjoy a piece of pure Michigan. This track is a nice ride with some sand and mud holes in spots. The trail can be run in either direction and ...
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Crooked 76 is a single-lane dirt and sand road. The route is part of the Gaylord Forest Management Unit and offers wildlife viewing opportunities and a chance to enjoy northern Michigan trails. This track is a nice ride with some sand and mud holes in spots. It can be run in either direction and end...
Learn more about Crooked 76

Sand Lake Road is a single-lane dirt-and-sand route within the Gaylord Forest Management Unit. Suitable for highway-legal conventional vehicles under favorable conditions, it passes through pine and hardwood forests with opportunities to observe wildlife. Some sandy sections may be encountered along...
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Manistee River Turnaround is a 2.5-mile, single-lane, unpaved two-track trail within the Gaylord Forest Management Unit in Northern Michigan. Extending south from Mancelona Road (County Road 38), the route winds through a forest of pines and hardwoods before terminating at a turnaround loop along th...
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Sand Lake Loop follows a single-lane dirt-and-sand road through the Gaylord Forest Management Unit. The route winds among pines and hardwoods, offering opportunities to observe wildlife and enjoy Michigan’s natural scenery. Soft sand and water holes may be present in places. The trail can be travele...
Learn more about Sand Lake Loop

Crooked Lake Spur is a wide, single-lane dirt-and-sand road within the Gaylord Forest Management Unit. The route passes through pine and hardwood forests, offering opportunities to observe wildlife along the way. Expect occasional soft sand and water holes. The trail can be traveled in either direct...
Learn more about Crooked Lk. Spur

Deward Spur is a single-lane dirt and sand two-track. The trail is part of the Gaylord Forest Management Unit and gives you the opportunity to see wildlife and enjoy a piece of pure Michigan. This track is a nice ride with some sand and mud holes in spots. The route can be run in either direction an...
Learn more about Deward Spur

14634 (15/16 degree grade) is a single-lane dirt/gravel/sand two-track that is narrow and windy in spots. The trail is part of the Gaylord/Traverse City Forest Management Unit and offers opportunities to see wildlife and explore the trail system in Northern Michigan. Sections are wide enough for ano...
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DR Cutover is a single-lane dirt and sand two-track. The route is part of the Gaylord/Traverse City Forest Management Unit and allows users to see wildlife and enjoy a piece of pure Michigan. This is a nice ride with some sand and mud holes in spots. It can be run in either direction and ends at Dew...
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Very easy and scenic drive that provides quality views along the entire route. Most of this trail is one vehicle wide with places to pass. Most rigs will have no issue driving this route. Rainfall and snow can accumulate on the trail and cause mud and puddles. Offline maps will be a good idea throug...
Learn more about South Jordan River Road

Harvey Road is a dirt and rock-based trail that travels north and south. It's an out-and-back trail as shown on the map. There are other trails that people have taken further, but the map does show the road ends at a certain point. On the south side of the trail, you will be tucked into the woods un...
Learn more about Harvey Road

Kalkaska Trail SL is a single-lane dirt-and-sand two-track in the Traverse City Forest Management Unit. Winding through pine and hardwood forests, the route provides opportunities to spot wildlife. Very soft sand and washboard surfaces occur along some sections. The trail can be traveled in either d...
Learn more about Kalkaska Trail SL

Crooked Road is a single-lane dirt route within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit. Passing through a forest of pines and hardwoods, it offers opportunities to observe wildlife along the way. The surface includes occasional soft sand, inclines, and dips. This trail can be traveled in either di...
Learn more about Crooked Road

North Manistee River Loop is a 1.0-mile, single-lane dirt, gravel, and sand two-track trail situated in the Gaylord Forest Management Unit west of Frederic, Michigan. Winding through a forest of mixed pines and hardwoods, the route is mostly flat with an elevation change of under 40 feet. While the ...
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Storm Loop is a 2.7-mile single-lane dirt, gravel, and sand two-track trail winding through the Gaylord Forest Management Unit in Northern Michigan. The route features a narrow, twisting path with gentle elevation changes. The surrounding landscape consists primarily of dense pine and hardwood fores...
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This single-lane dirt, gravel, and sandy two-track winds through the Grayling Forest Management Unit, where narrow sections are balanced by occasional wider pull-offs that allow vehicles to pass. The route travels through a mix of mature pine stands and hardwood forest, one notable hill featuring a ...
Learn more about Hill Climb

14663/17336 is a single-lane dirt-and-sand road in the Traverse City Forest Management Unit. This pleasant forest drive passes through pines and hardwoods, with opportunities to spot wildlife along the way. The route includes a few sandy sections, can be traveled in either direction, and ends at Sta...
Learn more about Kalkaska - 14663 & 17336

Mancelona Road Spur is a single-lane dirt-and-sand route within the Gaylord Forest Management Unit. Passing through pine and hardwood forests, it offers opportunities to observe wildlife and enjoy a scenic area of northern Michigan. Expect occasional sandy and water-covered sections. The trail can b...
Learn more about Mancelona Road Spur

Trail 76 travels through the Gaylord Forest Management Unit on a single-lane dirt-and-sand road. Surrounded primarily by pine and hardwood forest, the route offers a relaxing ride and opportunities for wildlife viewing. Expect soft sand and ruts in places. The trail can be run in either direction an...
Learn more about Trail 76

Sand Lake Loop follows a single-lane dirt-and-sand road through the Gaylord Forest Management Unit. The route winds among pines and hardwoods, offering opportunities to observe wildlife and enjoy Michigan’s natural scenery. Soft sand and water holes may be present in places. The trail can be travele...
Learn more about Sand Lake Loop

14634 (15/16 degree grade) is a single-lane dirt/gravel/sand two-track that is narrow and windy in spots. The trail is part of the Gaylord/Traverse City Forest Management Unit and offers opportunities to see wildlife and explore the trail system in Northern Michigan. Sections are wide enough for ano...
Learn more about 14634

Mancelona Road Spur is a single-lane dirt-and-sand route within the Gaylord Forest Management Unit. Passing through pine and hardwood forests, it offers opportunities to observe wildlife and enjoy a scenic area of northern Michigan. Expect occasional sandy and water-covered sections. The trail can b...
Learn more about Mancelona Road Spur

Trail 76 travels through the Gaylord Forest Management Unit on a single-lane dirt-and-sand road. Surrounded primarily by pine and hardwood forest, the route offers a relaxing ride and opportunities for wildlife viewing. Expect soft sand and ruts in places. The trail can be run in either direction an...
Learn more about Trail 76

Sand Lake Loop follows a single-lane dirt-and-sand road through the Gaylord Forest Management Unit. The route winds among pines and hardwoods, offering opportunities to observe wildlife and enjoy Michigan’s natural scenery. Soft sand and water holes may be present in places. The trail can be travele...
Learn more about Sand Lake Loop

14634 (15/16 degree grade) is a single-lane dirt/gravel/sand two-track that is narrow and windy in spots. The trail is part of the Gaylord/Traverse City Forest Management Unit and offers opportunities to see wildlife and explore the trail system in Northern Michigan. Sections are wide enough for ano...
Learn more about 14634