Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Mesick, Michigan

Forest Service Road 9837 is an exciting and tight 4x4 route that offers more challenging terrain than many other trails in the area. The northern end of the trail is accessed off North 9 Road, and about 0.8 miles in, you’ll encounter a fork in the road. Here, you can either continue straight or veer...
Learn more about FS 9837

Forest Service Road 9784 is a fantastic route that offers a delightful blend of natural trail terrain and gravel sections, making for an engaging and varied driving experience. Running north to south, this trail can be accessed from the north directly off Cadillac Highway, while the southern end con...
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Forest Service Road 5036 can be accessed from West 24 Road on the south and connects to the Cadillac ORV/OHV Scenic Ride – Part 20 at the northern end. This route offers a pleasant, open, and smooth drive, making it easily navigable for all types of rigs. Along the way, FS 5036 provides convenient a...
Learn more about FS 5036

5647 is a dirt two-track that is part of the Manistee National Forest. The sandy trail is bookmarked by 7558 and 5036. There is a spur numbered 7555. There is also a dirt climbing at the eastern section of the trail. The trail has room to pass and mud. There is a mud area that could become a large p...
Learn more about 5647

Forest Service Road 7694 is an excellent route for those seeking a more technical offroad experience. While most 4x4 rigs should have no trouble navigating this trail, drivers should be prepared for some challenging spots, including washouts and mud holes, which can vary in difficulty depending on r...
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No. 10 Road Loop is a fun and unique off-road trail. Most of the trail consists of sand and dirt, but one section is all mulch. It's a very odd thing to encounter, but unique. Like most Michigan trails, conditions are dependent on the weather. Recent rainfall can cause washouts. The trail runs throu...
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W-10 Trail is a fun and easy offroad trail halfway between the towns of Mesick and Buckley. The trail can be run in either direction and is found directly off North 13 Road, making this track easily accessible. The trail is a combination of sand, dirt, and grass, and weaves through a beautiful secti...
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No. 10 Rd Trail is an exciting offroad trail. You'll weave through a beautiful portion of the Cadillac Forest Management Unit. Most of the trail consists of sand and dirt. Like most Michigan trails, conditions are dependent on the weather. Recent rainfall can cause washouts and mud holes. One partic...
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Pinewood Connector Trail is an easy, bi-directional off-road trail located within the Cadillac Forest Management Unit. This trail is a great connecting trail to link up other nearby trails without having to head all the way back out to the main trails, No. 12 Trail & Heart Creek Trail. This will sav...
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Riverbend Lookout Trail is an exciting off-road trail located along the Manistee River. Most of the trail is a combination of dirt and sand. As you travel along this trail you'll find a few dispersed campsites with one having a metal fire ring. If you plan on camping off this trail, PLEASE TREAD LIG...
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Cadillac Area ORV/OHV Scenic Ride - Part 9 is part of the Cadillac Area ORV/OHV Scenic Ride. This section of the Cadillac Area Scenic Ride is open to all ORV/OHV vehicles. This section is a maintained gravel road. What is an ORV/OHV scenic ride? Our scenic ride is a family-friendly ORV/OHV ride crea...
Learn more about Cadillac Area ORV/OHV Scenic Ride - Part 9

Cadillac Area ORV/OHV Scenic Ride - Part 10 is part of the Cadillac Area ORV/OHV Scenic Ride. This section of the Cadillac Area Scenic Ride is open to all ORV/OHV vehicles. This section is a combination of a maintained gravel road and an unmaintained forest road. This section is prone to washouts, r...
Learn more about Cadillac Area ORV/OHV Scenic Ride - Part 10

17-1/4 Trail is a forestry scenic offroad trail located within the Cadillac Forest Management Unit. Most of the trail consists of sand and dirt. Like most Michigan trails, conditions are dependent on the weather. Recent rainfall can cause downed trees, washouts, and mud holes. This trail doesn't see...
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Swamp Tree Trail is a unique out-and-back off-road trail. Most of the trail is a combination of dirt, sand, and grass. You'll be descending as you progress down the trail toward the Manistee River. At the end, you'll find a great dispersed campsite right along the river. There is also another disper...
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River Forest Loop Trail is an eccentric, bi-directional off-road trail that runs along and near the Manistee River. Most of the trail is a combination of dirt, sand, and grass. You'll embark through a heavily wooded forest, alongside a couple of tall sand dune bluffs, over several exposed tree root ...
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Twin Lakes Loop Trail is an easy off-road loop trail located near the Manistee River. Most of the trail is a combination of dirt and sand. As you travel along this trail you'll find a few dispersed campsites. If you plan on camping off this trail, PLEASE TREAD LIGHTLY, and please seek more informati...
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Forest Service Road 9982 is a scenic and versatile forest route that can be easily accessed directly off Cadillac Highway (Michigan Route 55). This road serves as an excellent connector trail, offering access to a wide network of spur roads, two tracks, and dirt bike trails throughout the Manistee N...
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River Camp Loop Trail is an easy out-and-back off-road loop trail. Most of the trail is a combination of dirt and sand. As you travel along this trail you'll find a few dispersed campsites as you near the Manistee River, hence the name. If you plan on camping off this trail, PLEASE TREAD LIGHTLY, an...
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Seaton Creek (FS 9993) is a smooth, fast, two-lane gravel road that winds through a beautiful part of the Manistee National Forest. It’s easily navigable by all types of rigs and serves as a great connector route from the main roads to some of the more technical trails in the area. Both ends of the ...
Learn more about Seaton Creek - FS 9993

8 Trail is an out-and-back trail with some accessible side trails that can be taken. The trail starts in a heavily wooded forest section on a bumpy, muddy dirt road. As you continue down the trail, you'll weave through an area of the forest that has been harvested and since replanted. This is a spec...
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Forest Service Road 9837 is an exciting and tight 4x4 route that offers more challenging terrain than many other trails in the area. The northern end of the trail is accessed off North 9 Road, and about 0.8 miles in, you’ll encounter a fork in the road. Here, you can either continue straight or veer...
Learn more about FS 9837

Forest Service Road 9784 is a fantastic route that offers a delightful blend of natural trail terrain and gravel sections, making for an engaging and varied driving experience. Running north to south, this trail can be accessed from the north directly off Cadillac Highway, while the southern end con...
Learn more about FS 9784

Forest Service Road 5036 can be accessed from West 24 Road on the south and connects to the Cadillac ORV/OHV Scenic Ride – Part 20 at the northern end. This route offers a pleasant, open, and smooth drive, making it easily navigable for all types of rigs. Along the way, FS 5036 provides convenient a...
Learn more about FS 5036

5647 is a dirt two-track that is part of the Manistee National Forest. The sandy trail is bookmarked by 7558 and 5036. There is a spur numbered 7555. There is also a dirt climbing at the eastern section of the trail. The trail has room to pass and mud. There is a mud area that could become a large p...
Learn more about 5647

Forest Service Road 9837 is an exciting and tight 4x4 route that offers more challenging terrain than many other trails in the area. The northern end of the trail is accessed off North 9 Road, and about 0.8 miles in, you’ll encounter a fork in the road. Here, you can either continue straight or veer...
Learn more about FS 9837

Forest Service Road 9784 is a fantastic route that offers a delightful blend of natural trail terrain and gravel sections, making for an engaging and varied driving experience. Running north to south, this trail can be accessed from the north directly off Cadillac Highway, while the southern end con...
Learn more about FS 9784

Forest Service Road 5036 can be accessed from West 24 Road on the south and connects to the Cadillac ORV/OHV Scenic Ride – Part 20 at the northern end. This route offers a pleasant, open, and smooth drive, making it easily navigable for all types of rigs. Along the way, FS 5036 provides convenient a...
Learn more about FS 5036

5647 is a dirt two-track that is part of the Manistee National Forest. The sandy trail is bookmarked by 7558 and 5036. There is a spur numbered 7555. There is also a dirt climbing at the eastern section of the trail. The trail has room to pass and mud. There is a mud area that could become a large p...
Learn more about 5647