Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Potterville, Michigan

Scenic, sandy, and washouts describe this route perfectly. After rain, there is also quite a bit of mud. I would not recommend this in a two-wheel-drive vehicle. The sandy hill section is pretty easy to get stuck in a 2-wheel drive. There are also sections where you can bottom out lower vehicles. Th...
Learn more about Middleville State Game Area

Glenn West Trail is an adventurous and fun bidirectional road within the Waterloo State Recreation Area. Located just off Highway 94, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the West end, you'll start on a smooth dirt road that leads into some lush trees on a dirt/gravel road. This area is ab...
Learn more about Glenn West Trail

Hart Trail is a short connector route that links the western side of the Yankee Springs Loop to the interior trail network within the Yankee Springs State Recreation Area and the Barry State Game Area. While not a destination trail on its own, it’s a useful cut‑through that lets you access several o...
Learn more about Hart Trail

Katz Trail is a very fun and scenic bidirectional road within the Waterloo State Recreation Area. Located just off Highway 94, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the north end, you'll start on a smooth dirt road that leads along this Natural Beauty Road. Towards the beginning of the trai...
Learn more about Katz Trail

Glenn East Trail is a classical Michigan bi-directional trail within the Waterloo State Recreation Area. Located off Mount Hope Road, shortly off Highway 94, you'll find the west end of the trail, making it easily accessible. Starting from the western end, you'll start out on a dirt/gravel road next...
Learn more about Glenn East Trail

Peets Road is a short connector trail that joins the western side of the Yankee Springs Loop. The trail surface is a mix of sand, dirt, mud, and scattered rock, with the overall character changing heavily based on recent weather. After rain, the hills can get washouts due to the large sand content o...
Learn more about Peets Road

Starting on the south end of Fulton St East, you will quickly encounter a well-maintained two-lane gravel road. You will also see a thick forest surrounding you. This trail cuts directly through state land. There are many pull-offs to park and enjoy the public land. Halfway through this trail, you w...
Learn more about Montcalm Ave Northeast

Green Trail is a very interesting scenic bidirectional Natural Beauty Road within the Waterloo State Rec Area. Located between Jackson and Ann Arbor near Highway 94, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the west end at the intersection of Maute Trail, you'll start out on a dirt/gravel road...
Learn more about Green Trail

Maute Trail is an exciting 2.5-mile scenic bidirectional trail within the Waterloo State Recreation Area. Located near Highway 94 between Jackson and Ann Arbor, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the south end off Morrisey Road, you'll start out on a dirt road that quickly turns into a d...
Learn more about Maute Trail

Camp Trail is a fun bidirectional trail just on the outskirts of the Waterloo Rec Area. Located east of Jackson near Highway 74, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the eastern end of Cedar Lake Road, you'll start out next to an overgrown tree with lush vegetation edging the trail towards...
Learn more about Camp Trail

Leach Trail is a really fun and exciting bidirectional trail within the Waterloo State Recreation Area. Located just off Highway 74 between Jackson and Ann Arbor, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the eastern end, you'll start out on a dirt road where you may be able to see a glimpse of...
Learn more about Leach Trail

McClure Trail is an easy 2.4-mile bidirectional trail, yet scenic in its own way. Located within the Waterloo State Rec Area near Highway 74 between Jackson and Ann Arbor, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the western end at the intersection of Loveland Trail, you'll start out on a dirt...
Learn more about McClure Trail

This an an out-and-back trail. The access is off Potters Rd. The beginning of the trail has public land on one side and private residences on the other so be courteous. Half a mile into the trail it turns from a gravel road into a two-track. Along the route, there are pull offs for the public land. ...
Learn more about Montcalm Ave Northeast Trail

West Schafer Trail is an easy 1.5-mile bidirectional trail. Located off Pingree Rd, you'll find the beginning of the trail, making it easily accessible. Starting from the western end, you'll begin on a mostly dirt road with towering trees completely surrounding it. Shortly into this track, the trail...
Learn more about West Schafer Trail

Loveland Trail is an easy & scenic bidirectional 2.7-mile road. Located just off Highway 74, this route is easily accessible. This trail is typically easy with nothing technical, just a few spots that can become muddy after inclement weather. Most of the trail is a combination of dirt and gravel, an...
Learn more about Loveland Trail

Pingree Trail is a unique and scenic 2.5-mile trail just outside of the Gregory State Game Area. Located just to the west of Putnam Township, you'll find the trail off M-36, making it easily accessible. Starting out the trail is a mixture of dirt and gravel. Shortly after, the trail transitions into...
Learn more about Pingree Trail

Graves Trail is a fun and entertaining bidirectional trail near the Pinckney State Rec Area. Located just north of Sayles Lake off of M-36, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the northern end, you'll start out on a mostly dirt road in a section of the forest with lush vegetation edging t...
Learn more about Graves Trail

Hinchey Trail is an easy 2.5-mile bidirectional trail just outside of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Located between Cedar Lake Trail and Pigmee Trail, you'll find this trail, making it easily accessible and easy to combine with other nearby trails to make for a fun day. Starting from...
Learn more about Hinchey Trail

Doyle Trail is an easy bidirectional trail within the Pinckney State Recreation Area. Located off Patterson Lake Rd between highway 96 and 94, you'll find the west end of the trail, making it easily accessible. Starting from the western end, you'll begin on a mostly dirt road full of thick trees lin...
Learn more about Doyle Trail

East Schafer Trail is a unique and scenic 1-mile bidirectional trail. Located between Cedar Lake Trail and Bently Lake Trail, this trail is easily accessible and breathtaking. Starting from the western end, you'll start out on a mostly dirt road that slowly transitions to dirt/gravel. There are a fe...
Learn more about East Schafer Trail

Starting on the south end of Fulton St East, you will quickly encounter a well-maintained two-lane gravel road. You will also see a thick forest surrounding you. This trail cuts directly through state land. There are many pull-offs to park and enjoy the public land. Halfway through this trail, you w...
Learn more about Montcalm Ave Northeast

This an an out-and-back trail. The access is off Potters Rd. The beginning of the trail has public land on one side and private residences on the other so be courteous. Half a mile into the trail it turns from a gravel road into a two-track. Along the route, there are pull offs for the public land. ...
Learn more about Montcalm Ave Northeast Trail

This trail is mild and weaves in and out of trees. There are a couple of off-camber spots, especially the exit. This trail also intertwines with Rookie Run and signage can be confusing but won't lead you into anything extreme. The exits are easy to find. The one entrance/exit has a large water hole ...
Learn more about Deer Run

This mild trail weaves through the woods and intertwines with Deer Run on occasion. Signage can be a little confusing but exits are easy to find. There were a couple of small puddles but nothing too deep. This area is becoming a little overgrown but not enough to be concerned with the trail getting ...
Learn more about Rookie Run

Starting on the south end of Fulton St East, you will quickly encounter a well-maintained two-lane gravel road. You will also see a thick forest surrounding you. This trail cuts directly through state land. There are many pull-offs to park and enjoy the public land. Halfway through this trail, you w...
Learn more about Montcalm Ave Northeast

This an an out-and-back trail. The access is off Potters Rd. The beginning of the trail has public land on one side and private residences on the other so be courteous. Half a mile into the trail it turns from a gravel road into a two-track. Along the route, there are pull offs for the public land. ...
Learn more about Montcalm Ave Northeast Trail

This trail is mild and weaves in and out of trees. There are a couple of off-camber spots, especially the exit. This trail also intertwines with Rookie Run and signage can be confusing but won't lead you into anything extreme. The exits are easy to find. The one entrance/exit has a large water hole ...
Learn more about Deer Run

This mild trail weaves through the woods and intertwines with Deer Run on occasion. Signage can be a little confusing but exits are easy to find. There were a couple of small puddles but nothing too deep. This area is becoming a little overgrown but not enough to be concerned with the trail getting ...
Learn more about Rookie Run