Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near New Era, Michigan

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)

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

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

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 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

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

Forest Service Road 5296 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 can be completed by a variety of vehicles. AWD crossovers or low clearance stock 4x4s will find this trail easy t...
Learn more about Forest Service Road 5296

The trail has mild trails with a few wet areas. The trail passes next to the White River in places close to Horseshoe Lake. There are a few boondocking spots where you can camp along the river. I expect the difficulty would increase in the early spring. The area also includes single tracks for motor...
Learn more about Forest Road 5300

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

Podunk River Access/Forest Road 5302/9359 is a short loop with boat access to the White River in the Huron-Manistee National Forest. This is an easy trail but features some tight spots and ruts. It's mostly dirt-packed;9359 has some sandy spots but nothing major, just a little loose sand.
Learn more about Podunk River Access

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

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

The forest road is mostly sand with a little mud in spots. The road becomes very uneven and forces lower speed. A lower clearance vehicle may damage the front facia. When you get near the end of the road there is a fairly steep hill that drops to a few feet above river level. To get to the river you...
Learn more about Forest Road 5301

This is a short little two-track in the Manistee National Forest connecting 184th Avenue and 180th Avenue. It is definitely a little tight in some spots but nothing bad. You will get some scratches on your vehicle, but the trail is a super easy in-and-out trail.
Learn more about Forest Road 5298

As of August 2025, this short portion of Webster Road will take you to 180th Avenue, which is unmaintained. Alternatively, you can cross 180th Avenue and follow 5298, providing access to a variety of unmaintained seasonal roads that can offer their own adventures depending on the time of year. This ...
Learn more about Webster Road

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 portion of Roosevelt Road will take you to Forest Route 5296. Roosevelt 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 can be completed by a variety of vehicles. AWD crossover...
Learn more about Roosevelt Road

This motorcycle trail contains sharp turns, tight trees, and banked corners. In some sections, the trail is very rooted. Most of the trail is light sand or hard-packed dirt, with a few wet spots. In multiple places, the trees are tight enough to be only slightly wider than dirt bike handlebars.
Learn more about Horseshoe Motorcycle Trail Part 1

This motorcycle trail contains sharp turns, tight trees, and banked corners with some whoops. In some sections, the trail is very rooted. Most of the trail is light sand or hard-packed black dirt. In multiple places, the trees are tight enough to be only slightly wider than dirt bike handlebars.
Learn more about Horseshoe Motorcycle Trail Part 3

Trail 5083 is a trail that runs through the Manistee National Forest. The trail is mainly hard-packed dirt and is easily traversed. The trail is narrow in many spots and would make passing oncoming vehicles difficult without someone having to back up. This trail does have areas with overhanging bran...
Learn more about 5083

Podunk River Access/Forest Road 5302/9359 is a short loop with boat access to the White River in the Huron-Manistee National Forest. This is an easy trail but features some tight spots and ruts. It's mostly dirt-packed;9359 has some sandy spots but nothing major, just a little loose sand.
Learn more about Podunk River Access

This is a short little two-track in the Manistee National Forest connecting 184th Avenue and 180th Avenue. It is definitely a little tight in some spots but nothing bad. You will get some scratches on your vehicle, but the trail is a super easy in-and-out trail.
Learn more about Forest Road 5298

This trail has mild sections that can be tight. The trail is accessible off of 184th Ave and adjoins FR5083. Low-clearance vehicles may encounter issues during spring or after heavy rains. The dirt is very soft and can get rutted easily. This is a very scenic with thick forest views, perfect for wil...
Learn more about FR 5119

Stunning views with easy access to Forest Route 9192. This 2 track can be completed by a variety of vehicles. AWD crossovers or low clearance stock 4x4s will find this trail easy to manage. Flat loose dirt with the occasional bump or shallow rut can be expected. Does have some small camp spots that ...
Learn more about Forest Route 9188

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

Podunk River Access/Forest Road 5302/9359 is a short loop with boat access to the White River in the Huron-Manistee National Forest. This is an easy trail but features some tight spots and ruts. It's mostly dirt-packed;9359 has some sandy spots but nothing major, just a little loose sand.
Learn more about Podunk River Access

This is a short little two-track in the Manistee National Forest connecting 184th Avenue and 180th Avenue. It is definitely a little tight in some spots but nothing bad. You will get some scratches on your vehicle, but the trail is a super easy in-and-out trail.
Learn more about Forest Road 5298

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