Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Manistee Lake, Michigan

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

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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Kenel Road Northeast is a double-lane seasonal dirt road that starts narrow with some soft sand 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 enough for anothe...
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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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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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Johnson Lake Road Southeast begins at the north side of Grayling at Highway 72 and ends at the Manistee River. Johnson Lake is a nice, sandy, flat track. There is potential for large deep puddles if it's been wet. There are a few dispersed camping spots at the end along the river. The Manistee Rive...
Learn more about Johnson Lake Rd SE

Leetsville ORV Trail is a beginner-friendly ride. As a 50-inch trail, it stays consistently wide throughout, making it accessible and easy to navigate. There aren't many elevation changes, and the terrain remains fairly consistent along the entire route. You'll encounter a mix of deep sand and more ...
Learn more about Leetsville ORV Trail

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

Black Lake Road runs between Lake Valley and Blue Lake roads. It is a sandy two-track that winds gently through the mature forest. Some of the vegetation is a little overgrown; full-size vehicles may experience pinstriping. There are no elevation changes and no standing water anywhere on the trail.
Learn more about Black Lake Road

Cranberry Lake Road runs between Sunset Trail and LP76/P651. The west side entrance is essentially a dirt road. But once you get back into the area of Cranberry Lake, the trail gets windy. There is a big enough area for parking and a walk-in boat launch on Cranberry Lake. BEWARE: Cranberry Lake sits...
Learn more about Cranberry Lake Rd

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

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

This road has recently been made a dead end & can only be entered from the east off of Sunset Trail. At the end of this trail, you will find a large open area that can be used for hiking, hunting, or dispersed walk-in camping. Along the way, you'll find a large open field to the north that has bee...
Learn more about Kniss Road Southeast

Blue Lake Road is wide sandy road. There is potential for some mud holes in wet weather. The trail has some of that good old washboarding in a couple of areas. It starts at the north end on cement at City Road 612 and ends again on cement at 72.
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Kalkaska ORV South is a must-ride trail in the state of Michigan. While the terrain stays fairly consistent throughout, it still offers a fun and engaging experience for all types of riders. You'll encounter a mix of deep sand, harder-packed soil, and some technical sections with exposed roots and t...
Learn more about Kalkaska ORV Trail - South

Muskrat Road Southeast is a 2-mile trail that runs between Sunset Trail and LP 76. It has a nice dispersed camping area, big enough for five or six vehicles. Some parts of the trail were narrow, and there were a couple of large puddles. But other than that, it is a traditional Michigan windy, sandy...
Learn more about Muskrat Rd SE

This seasonal road was a gem to discover. It is a combination of groomed gravel wide enough for two vehicles, and a seasonal road that has been unmaintained. The road runs through mature forest and rolling hills and takes a sharp turn in the middle of the route, but it also connects with another sea...
Learn more about Mitchell Road Southeast

Rapid River Camp Trail is an exciting and fun bidirectional seasonal road within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit. Located just north of Kalkaska near highway US-131 & M-72, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the northern end of Seeley Rd NW, you'll start on a thick section of th...
Learn more about Rapid River Camp Trail

Oil Pump Trail is a unique and scenic short out-and-back trail within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit. Located just north of highway M-72, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from Rice Rd NW, you'll start on a sandy gravel road that leads into the thicker section of the forest. As you...
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Kalkaska South Mountain Bike Trail is a fun bidirectional trail within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit. Located just west of Kalkaska near highway US-131 & M-72, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the eastern end of W Kalkaska Road, you'll start on a thick section of the forest ...
Learn more about Kalkaska South Mountain Bike Trail

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

Johnson Lake Road Southeast begins at the north side of Grayling at Highway 72 and ends at the Manistee River. Johnson Lake is a nice, sandy, flat track. There is potential for large deep puddles if it's been wet. There are a few dispersed camping spots at the end along the river. The Manistee Rive...
Learn more about Johnson Lake Rd SE

Leetsville ORV Trail is a beginner-friendly ride. As a 50-inch trail, it stays consistently wide throughout, making it accessible and easy to navigate. There aren't many elevation changes, and the terrain remains fairly consistent along the entire route. You'll encounter a mix of deep sand and more ...
Learn more about Leetsville ORV Trail

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

Johnson Lake Road Southeast begins at the north side of Grayling at Highway 72 and ends at the Manistee River. Johnson Lake is a nice, sandy, flat track. There is potential for large deep puddles if it's been wet. There are a few dispersed camping spots at the end along the river. The Manistee Rive...
Learn more about Johnson Lake Rd SE

Black Lake Road runs between Lake Valley and Blue Lake roads. It is a sandy two-track that winds gently through the mature forest. Some of the vegetation is a little overgrown; full-size vehicles may experience pinstriping. There are no elevation changes and no standing water anywhere on the trail.
Learn more about Black Lake Road

Cranberry Lake Road runs between Sunset Trail and LP76/P651. The west side entrance is essentially a dirt road. But once you get back into the area of Cranberry Lake, the trail gets windy. There is a big enough area for parking and a walk-in boat launch on Cranberry Lake. BEWARE: Cranberry Lake sits...
Learn more about Cranberry Lake Rd