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

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

Cascade Road has beautiful terrain changes with small cliffs off the road that lead down to Cascade Creek. Easily traversed by all rig types with a solid and rocky dirt base. One vehicle wide in most spots, with places to pull off and pass. There are a couple of private landowners on both sides of t...
Learn more about Cascade Road

The Kalkaska Interconnector connects the Kalkaska North Trail. This trail is designed for 50-inch ATVs, dirt bikes, and quads. The surface is primarily hard-packed sand, with some roots, a few whoops, and features plenty of sweeping corners along with a few small, easy uphill sections under a canopy...
Learn more about Kalkaska Trial Interconnector

Hays Tower Loop is a single lane gravel/dirt/sand two track. The trail is part of the Gaylord Forest Management Unit and gives you the opportunity to see wildlife and explore the trail system in Northern Michigan. This track is a nice ride with some areas with very soft sand. The trail can be ran in...
Learn more about Hays Tower Loop

This trail is a dirt base that is one vehicle wide with places to pass. On one side, you will have beautiful dense forest, and on the other, you'll see the Jordan River wind through the woods next to you. This route can be traveled by any type of rig. Cell service is spotty, so offline maps would be...
Learn more about Pinney Bridge Road

Old Alba Cutover is a single-lane, two-track gravel/dirt/sand road. The trail is part of the Gaylord Forest Management Unit and gives you the opportunity to see wildlife and explore the trail system in Northern Michigan. You could encounter some mud holes depending on the time of year. This trail is...
Learn more about Old Alba Cutover

Manuka Lake Loop is a seasonal single-lane two-track gravel/dirt/sand road. The trail is part of the Gaylord Forest Management Unit and gives you the opportunity to see wildlife and explore the trail system in Northern Michigan. This trail is a nice ride with some soft sand in spots, so be careful. ...
Learn more about Manuka Lake Loop

West Otsego Lake Cutover is a single lane dirt/gravel/sand two-track. The trail is part of the Gaylord Forest Management Unit and gives you the opportunity to see wildlife and explore the trail system in Northern Michigan. Some sections are wide enough for another vehicle to pass. This trail is a ni...
Learn more about West Otsego Lake Cutover

AuSable Cutover is a single-lane dirt and sand track. The trail is part of the Gaylord Forest Management Unit and gives you the opportunity to see wildlife and explore the trail system in Northern Michigan. The trail starts out narrow with some washboarding throughout the trail. Some sections are wi...
Learn more about AuSable Cutover

This is a quick and easy two-lane dirt and gravel road that can be traveled by any rig. This trail leads to great views and some amazing hiking trails. At the end of this route, there are signs about the surrounding area with details about the nearby hiking trails. It also provides information about...
Learn more about Deadman Hill Road

Wequas Lake Road is a short single lane gravel/dirt/sand road. The trail is part of the Gaylord Forest Management Unit and gives you the opportunity to see wildlife and explore the trail system in Northern Michigan. Some sections are wide enough for another vehicle to pass. This trail is a nice ride...
Learn more about Wequas Lake Road

Pipeline Track is a short single-lane dirt and soft sand track. The trail is part of the Gaylord Forest Management Unit and gives you the opportunity to see wildlife and explore the trail system in Northern Michigan. Some sections are wide enough for another vehicle to pass. This trail is a nice rid...
Learn more about Pipeline Track

West Otsego Lake Loop starts as a double-lane gravel/dirt/sand road, then goes to a single lane. The trail is part of the Gaylord Forest Management Unit and gives you the opportunity to see wildlife and explore the trail system in Northern Michigan. Some sections are wide enough for another vehicle ...
Learn more about West Otsego Lake Loop

AuSable Loop is a single-lane dirt/sand track. The trail is part of the Gaylord Forest Management Unit and gives you the opportunity to see wildlife and explore the trail system in Northern Michigan. The trail starts out narrow with some bumps throughout the trail. Some sections are wide enough for ...
Learn more about AuSable Loop

Hayesego Trail is a single-lane dirt and sand track. The trail has it all and is part of the Gaylord Forest Management Unit, and gives you the opportunity to see wildlife and explore the trail system in Northern Michigan. Some sections are wide enough for another vehicle to pass. This trail is a nic...
Learn more about Hayesego Trail

Hayesego Loop Around is a single-lane dirt and sand track that has some washboarding, hills, and dips. The trail has it all and is part of the Gaylord Forest Management Unit, and gives you the opportunity to see wildlife and explore the trail system in Northern Michigan. Some sections are wide enoug...
Learn more about Hayesego Loop Around

Manuka Trail is a seasonal single lane gravel/dirt/sand road. The trail is part of the Gaylord Forest Management Unit and gives you the opportunity to see wildlife and explore the trail system in Northern Michigan. Some sections are wide enough for another vehicle to pass. This trail is a nice ride ...
Learn more about Manuka Trail

Gump Lake Road is a single lane two track gravel/dirt/sand road. The trail is part of the Gaylord Forest Management Unit and gives you the opportunity to see wildlife and explore the trail system in Northern Michigan. Some sections are wide enough for another vehicle to pass. This trail is a nice ri...
Learn more about Gump Lake Trail

Milbocker Road is a seasonal single-lane gravel/dirt/sand road. The trail is part of the Gaylord Forest Management Unit and gives you the opportunity to see wildlife and explore the trail system in Northern Michigan. Some sections are wide enough for another vehicle to pass. This trail is a nice rid...
Learn more about Milbocker Road

The Kalkaska Interconnector connects the Kalkaska North Trail. This trail is designed for 50-inch ATVs, dirt bikes, and quads. The surface is primarily hard-packed sand, with some roots, a few whoops, and features plenty of sweeping corners along with a few small, easy uphill sections under a canopy...
Learn more about Kalkaska Trial Interconnector

This trail is typical of Michigan dirt and sandy roads and is suitable for most vehicles. The trail runs along the Manistee River and crosses the CCC Bridge. The last mile on the south end of the trail narrows and the terrain becomes a little bit rougher, but still is passable by any high-clearance ...
Learn more about Sunset Trail

Calker is a versatile route accessible to all vehicle sizes, from robust 4x4s to nimble dirt bikes. The terrain is predominantly composed of sand and dirt, bordered by dense forests interspersed with open areas. However, larger vehicles may encounter challenges navigating through low-hanging brush a...
Learn more about Calker

Trail 7 connects the east side of the town of Frederic at 612 to the west side of Grayling at LP 79. This Trail is a dedicated snowmobile trail during winter months and should not be traveled by ORVs during designated closed dates. See the DNR website for those dates. This route is a beautiful driv...
Learn more about Trail 7 - Frederic

This trail is typical of Michigan dirt and sandy roads and is suitable for most vehicles. The trail runs along the Manistee River and crosses the CCC Bridge. The last mile on the south end of the trail narrows and the terrain becomes a little bit rougher, but still is passable by any high-clearance ...
Learn more about Sunset Trail

Calker is a versatile route accessible to all vehicle sizes, from robust 4x4s to nimble dirt bikes. The terrain is predominantly composed of sand and dirt, bordered by dense forests interspersed with open areas. However, larger vehicles may encounter challenges navigating through low-hanging brush a...
Learn more about Calker

Trail 7 connects the east side of the town of Frederic at 612 to the west side of Grayling at LP 79. This Trail is a dedicated snowmobile trail during winter months and should not be traveled by ORVs during designated closed dates. See the DNR website for those dates. This route is a beautiful driv...
Learn more about Trail 7 - Frederic

This fun Trail winds back and forth through the woods, and the terrain changes quite a bit for a Michigan trail. Some areas are sand- or gravel-based, and others are dirt-based. The trail can be quite muddy when it's wet. There are spots in the trail where vegetation is a little overgrown, so expec...
Learn more about North Forest Trail