Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Rosebush, Michigan

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 wide with numerous mud holes, though most were not very deep, even in the spring, no more than a few inches. This cou...
Learn more about West Olson Trail

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 fairly dry, but near the end, there are several large water holes. Depending on the season and weather, t...
Learn more about Lone Oak

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. There has been some logging on the trail. The trail is mostly one vehicle wide, though there are severa...
Learn more about West Isabella Bypass

This trail includes 2 large bowls that can be climbed into and out of from many different paths. My trail only shows 1 of the options, but almost all are accessible in one way or another. There are some tight areas in this trail system, however, they can be navigated or if trees are in the way (many...
Learn more about The Missing Bowls

While it seems like a straightforward trail, there are many overgrown trees, which we attempted to groom back, and towards the end (depending on the direction you go) there is a little bit of an off-camber uphill section. While this is overgrown some, it was groomed back by myself and a friend. But ...
Learn more about Whisker's Trail

This trail winds out and back through the Pine and hardwood forest in the Gladwin Forest Management Unit. It is a combination of a single lane dirt trail and a narrow dirt two-track. The trail gets quite narrow in spots, so be prepared for some possible scraping from the trees. You will also encount...
Learn more about Loose Lane

A single lane and two-track trail that is sandy dirt in most areas. It is a narrow trail with overgrown vegetation that could scrape the sides of your vehicle. You will also encounter some low-hanging tree branches. The out-and-back portion dead ends into private property, but there are some camping...
Learn more about Mostetler Road Ride

This is a Seasonal Road that leads back to an area known as the High Banks. This used to be a State Forest Campground accessible to full-size campers. The State has since installed gates to keep traffic from the actual High Banks area itself. There are two separate River View turnouts that allow cam...
Learn more about Thornapple Trail

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 are numerous. There is a large downed tree and a water hole on...
Learn more about Creek Crossing

This is a standard Michigan seasonal road that passes through the Gladwin Forest Management Area. If you travel too far south, you'll eventually leave the system of trails. This seasonal road will reconnect you to many of the trails in the north. It is easy as well as scenic and relaxing.
Learn more about Sumac Trail

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 used for a staging area at the East Long Lake Road access point. It is primarily a single-...
Learn more about Birch Tree Trail

This is a nice little trail that is very easily accessible and good for beginning off-roaders. You enter the trail near the entrance to the local community and continue on a narrow path through the trees, watch out for other riders as the road is narrow and there are several steep hills you can't se...
Learn more about Canadian Lakes Trail 1

Take a quick shortcut to Temple, Michigan, through this scenic trail that begins near Marion, Michigan. This trail passes through the Gladwin Forest Management Unit and also many Consumer Energy paths that are interconnected throughout the area. This area is also occasionally active with logging ope...
Learn more about Lake Station

This is a beautiful and fun trail that runs through the Floodwood Swamp Reservoir in the Gladwin Forest Management Area, offering some obstacles and amazing wildlife spotting opportunities. It's a full-width trail with mixed traffic. You will encounter a bridge crossing, banks, and lots of mud, sand...
Learn more about Floodwood Swamp Reservoir

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 trail that you can explore if desired. You will also encounter an optional mudhole to play in on one o...
Learn more about Riske Road

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 off the trail that can be explored. You will also find two play areas that consist of a small, sandy pit where you can h...
Learn more about Playground Pass

This is a combination of ORV route and Forest Service roads. The trail can have numerous chatter bumps if it hasn't been groomed recently. There are some great views of the Muskegon River at 3 different locations along the way. These are very popular places for dispersed camping. The trail is very s...
Learn more about Leota South River Route

The trail is nicely wooded with soft-packed sand, with a few sandier sections at intersections and in the corners. In August, mudholes are still possible. Little Leota has many intersections to hop back onto the hard-packed two-track to take you back to the trailhead. This is a wonderful sand trail ...
Learn more about Little Leota Trail

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 vehicle wide as the trail winds through a clear-cut forest. There are opportunities for other sa...
Learn more about Gladwin Forest Baja

This trail is a fun ride through the hardwood forest on a mostly smooth but sometimes bumpy dirt road that is a part of a larger network of trails in the area. There are water/mud holes all along the trail, but they shouldn't be a significant problem during normal conditions. This trail is accessibl...
Learn more about Osceola Trail South

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 wide with numerous mud holes, though most were not very deep, even in the spring, no more than a few inches. This cou...
Learn more about West Olson Trail

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 fairly dry, but near the end, there are several large water holes. Depending on the season and weather, t...
Learn more about Lone Oak

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. There has been some logging on the trail. The trail is mostly one vehicle wide, though there are severa...
Learn more about West Isabella Bypass

This trail includes 2 large bowls that can be climbed into and out of from many different paths. My trail only shows 1 of the options, but almost all are accessible in one way or another. There are some tight areas in this trail system, however, they can be navigated or if trees are in the way (many...
Learn more about The Missing Bowls

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 wide with numerous mud holes, though most were not very deep, even in the spring, no more than a few inches. This cou...
Learn more about West Olson Trail

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 fairly dry, but near the end, there are several large water holes. Depending on the season and weather, t...
Learn more about Lone Oak

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. There has been some logging on the trail. The trail is mostly one vehicle wide, though there are severa...
Learn more about West Isabella Bypass

This trail includes 2 large bowls that can be climbed into and out of from many different paths. My trail only shows 1 of the options, but almost all are accessible in one way or another. There are some tight areas in this trail system, however, they can be navigated or if trees are in the way (many...
Learn more about The Missing Bowls