Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Mears, Michigan

FS 5011 is a primarily sandy and rocky trail that traverses the Manistee National Forest. This trail has many mud holes that can range up to 20 inches deep depending on recent rainfall. There are a few mud holes with bypasses around them. These bypasses are still very muddy and can be slick. Additio...
Learn more about Mud Slide - FS 5011

This is a fun little gateway to LP191 off West Garfield. It's a seasonally accessible road that can get muddy at times, but for the majority of the year, it does stay dry due to the elevation of the road and the crop fields surrounding it. Some parts have lightly wooded areas that can have overgrowt...
Learn more about South 112th (Seasonal)

NFS 5078 is a classical Michigan two-track trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located near East Van Buren Road and North 160th Avenue, this trail is easily accessible. Starting out you'll begin on a sandy/dirt two track in a dense section of the forest. There are several mud pits and rutted ...
Learn more about FS 5078

Forest Service Road 9292 is an easy, fun off-road trail for beginners. Located less than 3 miles from US-131 Highway in Rothbury, Michigan, this route is easily accessible. There is a sandy section near the start of the trail to play around in, but the trail is very easy with nothing very technical....
Learn more about Rothbury Forest Loop - FS 9292

NFS 6099/6098/6100 is a gorgeous, scenic, and classic Michigan two-track trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located near Winter Road and North 168th Avenue, this trail is easily accessible. Starting out, you'll begin on a sandy/dirt/gravel two-track in a section of the logged forest. Please ...
Learn more about NFS 6099/6098/6100

This trail is an easy drive through the Manistee National Forest. There are some dispersed camping sites along the trail. It is possible to access the trail from both sides. From the west side of the trail, you can access it from East River Road, and from the southeast side, you can access it by way...
Learn more about FS 5314

NFS 6363 is a fun and classic Michigan two-track trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located near East Van Buren Road and North 168th Avenue, this trail is easily accessible. Starting, you'll begin on a sandy/dirt two-track along a row of beautiful pine trees. The track starts fairly wide wit...
Learn more about NFS 6363

NFS 6102 is a fun and classic Michigan two-track trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located near East Van Buren Road and North 168th Avenue, this trail is easily accessible. Starting out you'll begin on a sandy/dirt two track along a row of beautiful pine trees. The track starts out fairly w...
Learn more about FS 6102

NFS 6097 is a classic Michigan two-track located in the Manistee National Forest, near East Monroe Road and North 168th Avenue. The trail is easy to access and begins at the edge of farm fields, lined with an impressive row of towering pine trees. The route starts relatively wide, with minimal overg...
Learn more about NFS 6097

This access trail is found in the southwest Manistee National Forest area with natural terrain and beautiful forest views. It is a mix of deep forest trails and some open sandy trails. It's a great area for photography and new offroaders to experience mild ruts with occasional deep sand. Skeels and ...
Learn more about Rothberry Forest Loop Access

NFS 6122/6123 is a gem of a Michigan two‑track trail, winding through the Manistee National Forest and starting just off NFS 6124. You kick things off on a wide-open and welcoming part of the forest. The calmness of the trail doesn’t last long as you proceed to come across many mud holes and ruts wa...
Learn more about NFS 6122/6123

NFS 6079 is a beautiful scenic trail located within the Manistee National Forest. This trail is easily accessible as it's right off North 156th Avenue. Starting from the western end, you'll start on a dirt/gravel road in the lush forest. You'll weave through those trees alongside the lush vegetation...
Learn more about NFS 6079

NFS 5316 is a classic and scenic Michigan two‑track that winds through the Manistee National Forest. Just off North 156th Avenue, it’s an easy trail to reach. The route begins as a sandy dirt track running along a pretty open part of the forest, bordered by an impressive line of trees. Early on, the...
Learn more about NFS 5316

This trail will take you through the "White River Special Area" within the Manistee National Forest. Starting this route on 168th Ave, you will be on a hard-packed gravel road, which will pass by a trailhead where you can park and walk trails if you would like. People also use this trailhead to unl...
Learn more about White River Special Area

FS 9861 is a short, simple, and scenic "out-and-back" trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located near Gilbert Lake & East Harrison Road, this trail is easily accessible. Starting out, you'll begin on a gravel/sandy two-track along a row of elegant pine trees. The trail makes its descent towa...
Learn more about FS 9861

NFS 5263 is a very fun and scenic bidirectional trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located either off East Adams Road or Washington Road, this trail is easily accessible and can be started or ended in either direction. We took East Adams Road and started this trail from the west end. You'll ...
Learn more about NFS 5263

Lake Trail is an out-and-back route that gets its name from the lake that the trail ends at. This route is mostly sandy with some small mud holes. This trail is notable for the great camp spot at the end of the trail where you have close and easy access to the lake. The map shows the trail winding a...
Learn more about Lake Trail FS 6332

FS 9664 is an awesome "out-and-back" trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located near Gilbert Lake & East Harrison Road, this trail is easily accessible. Starting out, you'll begin on a sandy/dirt/grassy two-track along a row of tall twisty trees. Shortly into the trail, you'll come across so...
Learn more about FS 9664

NFS 5201 is a fun off-road trail located between North 192nd Avenue & North Maple Island Road. This trail is typically easy with nothing technical, just a few rutted spots that can become muddy and mucky after inclement weather, as well as some exposed tree roots. Most of the trail is a combination ...
Learn more about NFS 5201

NFS 6816 is a cruising logging road trail located near Pine Haven Campground. This bidirectional trail is very easy with nothing technical. Most of the trail is a combination of gravel, sand, and dirt, and winds through a beautiful section of the Manistee National Forest with towering Pine Trees. De...
Learn more about NFS 6816

FS 5011 is a primarily sandy and rocky trail that traverses the Manistee National Forest. This trail has many mud holes that can range up to 20 inches deep depending on recent rainfall. There are a few mud holes with bypasses around them. These bypasses are still very muddy and can be slick. Additio...
Learn more about Mud Slide - FS 5011

NFS 5078 is a classical Michigan two-track trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located near East Van Buren Road and North 160th Avenue, this trail is easily accessible. Starting out you'll begin on a sandy/dirt two track in a dense section of the forest. There are several mud pits and rutted ...
Learn more about FS 5078

NFS 6099/6098/6100 is a gorgeous, scenic, and classic Michigan two-track trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located near Winter Road and North 168th Avenue, this trail is easily accessible. Starting out, you'll begin on a sandy/dirt/gravel two-track in a section of the logged forest. Please ...
Learn more about NFS 6099/6098/6100

This trail is an easy drive through the Manistee National Forest. There are some dispersed camping sites along the trail. It is possible to access the trail from both sides. From the west side of the trail, you can access it from East River Road, and from the southeast side, you can access it by way...
Learn more about FS 5314

FS 5011 is a primarily sandy and rocky trail that traverses the Manistee National Forest. This trail has many mud holes that can range up to 20 inches deep depending on recent rainfall. There are a few mud holes with bypasses around them. These bypasses are still very muddy and can be slick. Additio...
Learn more about Mud Slide - FS 5011

NFS 5078 is a classical Michigan two-track trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located near East Van Buren Road and North 160th Avenue, this trail is easily accessible. Starting out you'll begin on a sandy/dirt two track in a dense section of the forest. There are several mud pits and rutted ...
Learn more about FS 5078

NFS 6099/6098/6100 is a gorgeous, scenic, and classic Michigan two-track trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located near Winter Road and North 168th Avenue, this trail is easily accessible. Starting out, you'll begin on a sandy/dirt/gravel two-track in a section of the logged forest. Please ...
Learn more about NFS 6099/6098/6100

This trail is an easy drive through the Manistee National Forest. There are some dispersed camping sites along the trail. It is possible to access the trail from both sides. From the west side of the trail, you can access it from East River Road, and from the southeast side, you can access it by way...
Learn more about FS 5314