Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Rothbury, Michigan

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 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)

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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 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 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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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