Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Montague, Michigan

This is a nice quiet Forest Service Road located just outside the town of Whitehall in the Manistee National Forest. The trail is fairly narrow in the summer months with overgrowth, and some pinstriping is to be expected. There is a powerline trail that intersects this trail as well as FSR 9158 spur...
Learn more about FSR 9157

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

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

The Forest Road passes between Staple Road and Forest Road 9869. The road crosses the motorsports trail twice. On the midpoint of the trail there is a small spur that goes down to a pond. The area of the pond seems like it would be a great area to boondock.
Learn more about Forest Road 9904

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)

The Forest Road cuts between Crystal Lake Road and Holton Whitehall Road. The trail does not offer much difficulty but is quite tight in sections. I would expect full-size vehicles to get pine needle pin striped before leaving the trail. A single-track motorsports trail crosses the road in one secti...
Learn more about Forest Road 9869

This portion of Raymond Road will take you to Forest Route 9185 or Linderman Road. Raymond Road has stunning views with easy access to a variety of unmaintained seasonal roads that can provide their own adventures depending on the time of year. This 2-track takes you by Round Lake and can be complet...
Learn more about Raymond Road

NFS 9152 is a fun and scenic off-road trail within the Manistee National Forest. This trail crosses over the Holton Loop Motorcycle Trail a few times. Most of this trail consists of sand and dirt as you twist and turn up and down the two-track. Like most Michigan trails, conditions are dependent on ...
Learn more about NFS 9152

This is a there-and-back trail that ends at protected wetlands. It seems the 2nd half of the original 9195 has been overgrown and impassable for many years. The newer section at the end does have ruts and tree roots that can be a challenge for low-clearance vehicles. This is a picturesque wildlife a...
Learn more about Forest Route 9195

This section of Dalson Road is unimproved and cuts through the forest between Raymond and Brunswick Roads. Near the middle of the trail, the road goes around a large marshy area. The trail is easy as long as you avoid going into the marsh. Winter snow can hide the marsh.
Learn more about Dalson Road between Brunswick and Raymond Roads

This forest road is mostly sand and dirt based. Trail does have a nice camping spot toward the middle of the route. Very easy with one section that does have some shallow tree roots that can be challenging to stock height vehicles, but there is a by pass around this section. Very scenic with some vi...
Learn more about Forest Route 9307

NFS 9851 is an easy off-road trail within the Manistee National Forest. Although this trail is short and has nothing technical, it connects outdoor enthusiasts for many reasons. This track gives access to the Holton Loop Motorcycle Trail, as well as access to a local fishing hole. This trail also gi...
Learn more about NFS 9851

NFS 9850 is an easy out-and-back offroad trail located within the Manistee National Forest. It twists and turns up and down the 2-track as it crosses over the Holton Loop Motorcycle Trail. Most of the trail consists of sand with some dirt. Like most Michigan trails, conditions are dependent on the w...
Learn more about NFS 9850

West Shore SMT DNR 19 is a fun and easy off-road trail located within the Manistee National Forest. It twists and turns up and down the two-track. Most of the trail consists of sand with some dirt. Like most Michigan trails, conditions are dependent on the weather. Recent rainfall can cause mud/wate...
Learn more about West Shore SMT DNR 19

NFS 9180 is a fun off-road trail located within the Manistee National Forest. It starts off running alongside the Holton Loop Motorcycle Trail. Most of the trail consists of sand and dirt as you twist and turn up and down the two-track. Like most Michigan trails, conditions are dependent on the weat...
Learn more about NFS 9180

Ewing Hill is a fun, local off-road trail within the Manistee National Forest. This trail is found off NFS 9180 Trail and West Shore SMT DNR 19 Trail and can be run in either direction. Like most Michigan trails, conditions are dependent on the weather. Recent rainfall can cause mud/water holes that...
Learn more about Ewing Hill

The entrance to Austin Road is hidden within the Stonegate Golf Course. The two track is directly across from Hadrian's Way within the subdivision. The road can be very muddy at different times of the year and has caused some vehicles to require recovery. During dry weather, the trail can be accesse...
Learn more about Austin Road to Forest Road 9844

This trail has mild sections that can be tight. The trail crosses the Holton Motorcycle trail and turns into Forest Route 9192. Low clearance vehicles may encounter issues during spring or after heavy rains. Dirt is very soft and can get rutted easily. This is a very scenic with thick forest views, ...
Learn more about Forest Route 9191

This trail has mild sections that can be tight. Crosses the Holton Motorcycle trail and turns into Forest Route 9191. Low clearance vehicles may encounter issues during spring or after heavy rains. Dirt is very soft and can get rutted easily. Very scenic with thick forest views, perfect for wildlife...
Learn more about Forest Route 9192

This short section of Linderman connects to a maintained portion that leads to Brunswick Road, providing access to several unmaintained seasonal roads with their own challenges depending on the season. This two-track can be managed by a wide range of vehicles, including all-wheel drive crossovers an...
Learn more about Linderman Road Forest Route

NFS 9851 is an easy off-road trail within the Manistee National Forest. Although this trail is short and has nothing technical, it connects outdoor enthusiasts for many reasons. This track gives access to the Holton Loop Motorcycle Trail, as well as access to a local fishing hole. This trail also gi...
Learn more about NFS 9851

NFS 9850 is an easy out-and-back offroad trail located within the Manistee National Forest. It twists and turns up and down the 2-track as it crosses over the Holton Loop Motorcycle Trail. Most of the trail consists of sand with some dirt. Like most Michigan trails, conditions are dependent on the w...
Learn more about NFS 9850

West Shore SMT DNR 19 is a fun and easy off-road trail located within the Manistee National Forest. It twists and turns up and down the two-track. Most of the trail consists of sand with some dirt. Like most Michigan trails, conditions are dependent on the weather. Recent rainfall can cause mud/wate...
Learn more about West Shore SMT DNR 19

NFS 9180 is a fun off-road trail located within the Manistee National Forest. It starts off running alongside the Holton Loop Motorcycle Trail. Most of the trail consists of sand and dirt as you twist and turn up and down the two-track. Like most Michigan trails, conditions are dependent on the weat...
Learn more about NFS 9180

This is a nice quiet Forest Service Road located just outside the town of Whitehall in the Manistee National Forest. The trail is fairly narrow in the summer months with overgrowth, and some pinstriping is to be expected. There is a powerline trail that intersects this trail as well as FSR 9158 spur...
Learn more about FSR 9157

NFS 9152 is a fun and scenic off-road trail within the Manistee National Forest. This trail crosses over the Holton Loop Motorcycle Trail a few times. Most of this trail consists of sand and dirt as you twist and turn up and down the two-track. Like most Michigan trails, conditions are dependent on ...
Learn more about NFS 9152

This is a there-and-back trail that ends at protected wetlands. It seems the 2nd half of the original 9195 has been overgrown and impassable for many years. The newer section at the end does have ruts and tree roots that can be a challenge for low-clearance vehicles. This is a picturesque wildlife a...
Learn more about Forest Route 9195

NFS 9851 is an easy off-road trail within the Manistee National Forest. Although this trail is short and has nothing technical, it connects outdoor enthusiasts for many reasons. This track gives access to the Holton Loop Motorcycle Trail, as well as access to a local fishing hole. This trail also gi...
Learn more about NFS 9851