Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Shelby, 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 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 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 5078 is a classical Michigan two-track trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located near East Van Buren Road and North 160th Avenue, this trail is easily accessible. Starting out you'll begin on a sandy/dirt two track in a dense section of the forest. There are several mud pits and rutted ...
Learn more about FS 5078

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 6102 is a fun and classic Michigan two-track trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located near East Van Buren Road and North 168th Avenue, this trail is easily accessible. Starting out you'll begin on a sandy/dirt two track along a row of beautiful pine trees. The track starts out fairly w...
Learn more about FS 6102

NFS 6099/6098/6100 is a gorgeous, scenic, and classic Michigan two-track trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located near Winter Road and North 168th Avenue, this trail is easily accessible. Starting out, you'll begin on a sandy/dirt/gravel two-track in a section of the logged forest. Please ...
Learn more about NFS 6099/6098/6100

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

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

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 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 trail is an easy drive through the Manistee National Forest. There are some dispersed camping sites along the trail. It is possible to access the trail from both sides. From the west side of the trail, you can access it from East River Road, and from the southeast side, you can access it by way...
Learn more about FS 5314

NFS 6097 is a classic Michigan two-track located in the Manistee National Forest, near East Monroe Road and North 168th Avenue. The trail is easy to access and begins at the edge of farm fields, lined with an impressive row of towering pine trees. The route starts relatively wide, with minimal overg...
Learn more about NFS 6097

FS 5011 is a primarily sandy and rocky trail that traverses the Manistee National Forest. This trail has many mud holes that can range up to 20 inches deep depending on recent rainfall. There are a few mud holes with bypasses around them. These bypasses are still very muddy and can be slick. Additio...
Learn more about Mud Slide - FS 5011

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 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

NFS 5078 is a classical Michigan two-track trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located near East Van Buren Road and North 160th Avenue, this trail is easily accessible. Starting out you'll begin on a sandy/dirt two track in a dense section of the forest. There are several mud pits and rutted ...
Learn more about FS 5078

NFS 6102 is a fun and classic Michigan two-track trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located near East Van Buren Road and North 168th Avenue, this trail is easily accessible. Starting out you'll begin on a sandy/dirt two track along a row of beautiful pine trees. The track starts out fairly w...
Learn more about FS 6102

NFS 6099/6098/6100 is a gorgeous, scenic, and classic Michigan two-track trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located near Winter Road and North 168th Avenue, this trail is easily accessible. Starting out, you'll begin on a sandy/dirt/gravel two-track in a section of the logged forest. Please ...
Learn more about NFS 6099/6098/6100

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 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 5078 is a classical Michigan two-track trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located near East Van Buren Road and North 160th Avenue, this trail is easily accessible. Starting out you'll begin on a sandy/dirt two track in a dense section of the forest. There are several mud pits and rutted ...
Learn more about FS 5078

NFS 6102 is a fun and classic Michigan two-track trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located near East Van Buren Road and North 168th Avenue, this trail is easily accessible. Starting out you'll begin on a sandy/dirt two track along a row of beautiful pine trees. The track starts out fairly w...
Learn more about FS 6102

NFS 6099/6098/6100 is a gorgeous, scenic, and classic Michigan two-track trail within the Manistee National Forest. Located near Winter Road and North 168th Avenue, this trail is easily accessible. Starting out, you'll begin on a sandy/dirt/gravel two-track in a section of the logged forest. Please ...
Learn more about NFS 6099/6098/6100