Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Mancelona, Michigan

Bebb Road is a single-lane dirt-and-sand route within the Gaylord Forest Management Unit. Winding through pine and hardwood forests, it offers opportunities to observe wildlife and enjoy a scenic slice of Michigan. The trail can be traveled in either direction and features occasional sandy stretches...
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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...
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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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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...
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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...
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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

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

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...
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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

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...
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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

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

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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Papoose Lake Road is an easy forest route well suited for stock 4WD vehicles, SUVs, and conventional high-clearance vehicles looking to explore Northern Michigan's extensive public lands. Beginning as a wider dirt and sand road before narrowing into a more secluded single-lane corridor, the route tr...
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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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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

North Crooked Lake Road is an easy seasonal forest road ideal for stock 4WD vehicles and SUVs. This double-lane dirt, gravel, and sand route travels through the Gaylord/Traverse City Forest Management Unit, offering a smooth ride with occasional sandy stretches that can become slightly looser during...
Learn more about North Crooked Lake Road

Kenel Loop is a single-lane dirt/gravel/sand two-track that is narrow and windy with some sand and mud holes in spots. The trail is part of the Traverse City Forest Management Unit and gives you the opportunity to see wildlife and explore the trail system in Northern Michigan. Sections are wide enou...
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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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Deadman Cutover is an easy scenic route well suited for high-clearance stock 4WD vehicles and anyone looking to explore Northern Michigan's extensive forest trail network. This single-lane dirt, gravel, and sand two-track winds through the Traverse City Forest Management Unit, featuring a narrow, tw...
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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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