Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Midland, Michigan

A scenic, easy-going trail through the woods in the Gladwin Forest area west of Midland. One of the few dry trails in the area, especially in the spring. The trail winds through woods and wetland.…
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This out-and-back trail starts off as a two-track through a logged area with a few lone oak trees still standing before getting sandier and heading into the woods. The first half of the trail is…
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The trail starts at the intersection of West Olson Road and Geneva Road. There are large yellow turn signs on either side of the trail marking the normal roads. It is 1 to 2 vehicles…
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This narrow and scratchy trail will leave a mark. This sandy trail is off a longer trail in the Gladwin Forest. This trail can be run either direction, but we found the overhead branches favored…
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This is a fun, sandy trail with multiple whoops providing the opportunity to test out your high-speed suspension. The trail is two vehicles wide when entering from Grim Road, but narrows to just over one…
Learn more about Gladwin Forest Baja

Wildlife Drive, located in Schiawasse National Wildlife Refuge, is a scenic, flat dirt road designed for a leisurely drive in a clockwise direction. Take your time to enjoy the stunning views, hiking trails, and beautiful…
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Center Fireline Trail is a part of the Gladwin Scramble, a mixed-use riding area in the Gladwin Forest Management Unit. This trail is a two-lane dirt trail with mixed access and cross-traffic. You can expect…
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A simple sandy trail in the Gladwin ORV area with the most beautiful wetland views. This trail has thick sand, many turns and curves, and is relatively flat, but the various wetland views along it…
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This stretch of Wildwood Road is a narrow, sandy, and unmaintained road. It is easy in difficulty, and its only obstacle during the summer season is some whoops. The surrounding scenery varies between dense woods…
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Michigan DNR ORV Route is open to full-size, 50-inch, and motorcycles with ORV permits and Trail permit stickers. This is a small ORV Route but is surrounded by many more miles of 50-inch trails. The…
Learn more about Gladwin ORV Route

Mosquito Alley Truck Trail is a flat and sandy trail that parallels the Molasses River. It is a wide trail that easily accommodates both directions of traffic, and it is an easy, non-technical trail during…
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Sterling Truck Trail is a seasonal road that is a great connector trail for many of the trails in the Gladwin area. The terrain is sandy and flat, and it is easily wide enough for…
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This connector trail runs north and south between Lame Duck Truck Trail and Sterling Truck Trail. It can drastically vary in difficulty depending on trail conditions. On a dry summer day after the groomer has…
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Lame Duck Truck Trail is a seasonal road that borders the north edge of the Lame Duck wetland area. The terrain is sandy and flat. It is very easy in difficulty, but it is unmaintained…
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Hilly adventure awaits on this unmapped trail in the Roscommon Forest. This trail is South off of Sandy Trail, and is just West of the St. Helen's South ORV Route. There is a loop off…
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Playground Pass is a grass and dirt two-track trail that is part of a larger network of trails in the area. The trail offers a little for all offroad levels. There are a few spurs…
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Aginaw Loop to Knoch is part of multiple trail systems in the area of the checkerboard. This trail is made up of pines and hardwood and starts as double-lane dirt and then drops to single-lane…
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Michigan DNR ORV Route is open to full-size vehicles, 50 inch, and 24 inch with ORV and trail permits. The route is mostly soft sand. This section of the route is a connector between St.…
Learn more about St. Helen ORV Route - West

Dow Road is a 2-ish vehicle-wide hard-packed road that will take you through older forest. This trail will take you to the West Branch area or the Clear Lake area for food and fuel. Plenty…
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This trail winds through the hardwoods in the Gladwin Forest Management Unit. A relatively smooth dirt two-track that is part of a larger network of trails in the area. There are spurs off the main…
Learn more about Riske Road

This Michigan DNR ORV Route is open to full-size, 50-inch, and motorcycles with ORV permits and trail permit stickers. This area connects with St. Helen ORV Route on the west side. The west side of…
Learn more about Ogemaw Hills ORV Route

Heavily wooded trail in the middle of the Gladwin State Forest. The trail runs north and south and is dirt and sand. On the north section, trees hang over the trail, making for difficult passing.…
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An enjoyable, winding trail through a section of the Gladwin Forest Management Unit. You will see varied hardwood trees along the trail, including plenty of Birch trees. There is a small clearing that could be…
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This is a scenic ORV route near the St. Helen Motorsport Area. The trail features sandy terrain with occasional deep ruts (from ATVs and razors) but nothing a Jeep couldn't manage. When going around the…
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Creek Crossing is an entertaining trail that winds through the hardwoods of the Gladwin Forest Management Unit. It's a sandy dirt two-track that travels through wooded areas, clearings, and logged areas. Opportunities to observe wildlife…
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St Helen Trail is a 3ish-wide vehicle sandy trail that will take you through new growth forest and older forest. This trail will take you to the St. Helen area or the West Branch area…
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This route runs through mature woods and recent clear-cut areas. The route runs from the Ambrose Lake area to the south along the YMCA camp. The route has everything from hard pack to mud holes…
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Beaver Lake Trail is a 3 or so vehicle-wide sandy trail that will take you through new growth forest, older forest, and recently clear-cut areas. This trail will take you to the St. Helen area…
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This is a fun trail through the Roscommon Forest Management Unit. You will see evergreen and hardwood trees and plenty of wildlife. It's a curvy dirt two-track out-and-back trail with several mud/water holes that will…
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This trail runs from north to south. At the south end, it starts off Sage Lake Road and dead ends right before Rose City Road. While traveling the trail, the width alternates between one and…
Learn more about Lentz Trail