Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near South Boardman, Michigan

Church Street Trail is a very fun and scenic bidirectional seasonal road within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit. Located only 1/4 mile off highway US-131, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the south end of Church Street Southwest, you'll start out on a smooth sandy dirt road th...
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Branch Road Trail is an adventurous and fun bidirectional seasonal road within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit. Located only a mile off Highway US-131, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the SE end, you'll start on a smooth, gravelly, sandy dirt road that leads into the forest. ...
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Taylor Creek Trail is an easy & scenic bidirectional seasonal road. Located just a mile off Highway US-131 near Crofton, this route is easily accessible. This trail is typically easy with nothing technical, just a few rutted spots that can become muddy after inclement weather and some sand that can ...
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Crofton West Trail is an awesome trail within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit. Located just NW of Crofton near highway US-131, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the southern end of Boardman River Rd NW, you'll start in a less-trafficked portion of the trail that twists and turn...
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Mayfield road is a seasonal Road and if you're looking for a nice ride this is a nice easy trail/road. The road is generally 2 lane traffic and will connect with multiple trails. You can continue to ride the trails or once you come to Garfield road you can split off and head into Traverse City for a...
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Deadwood Trail is an easy and overgrown bidirectional trail, yet scenic in its way. Located within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit near highway US-131 in Crofton, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the southern end at the intersection of Vroom Rd, you'll start on a bumpy, sandy,...
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Crofton Road Trail is a chill and scenic bidirectional seasonal road within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit. Located between Crofton and South Boardman near highway US-131, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the NE end at the intersection of Brand Rd Trail, you'll start on a bum...
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Crofton Road Southwest Trail is an easy and scenic bidirectional seasonal road within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit. Located right in Crofton off highway US-131, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the SE end of the trail, you'll start on a bumpy, sandy, dirt two-track alongsid...
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SFR 442142 Trail is an exciting, short, and scenic bidirectional trail within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit. Located near highway US-131 in South Boardman, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the south end of Branch Road Trail, you'll start on a bumpy, sandy, dirt two-track int...
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North Boardman River Trail is a bumpy and sandy bidirectional trail within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit. Located just NW of Crofton near highway US-131, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the northern end of Boardman River Road Northwest, you'll start on a bumpy, sandy ORV ro...
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Twisters Trail is everything you would think it is based upon its name. This short bidirectional scenic trail twists and turns many times within its 3/4 mile length. Located within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit near highway US-131 in Crofton, it's easily accessible. Starting from the east...
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Grand Traverse has a slightly wider feel than your typical singletrack, making it easier to carry speed in many sections. That said, be mindful of other riders, especially on fast corners. The trail transitions smoothly between flowy stretches and tighter, more technical areas. Expect medium-sized r...
Learn more about Grand Traverse North

Cedar Creek Rd travels east and west on the south end of a 31,000-acre piece of Traverse City Forest Management Land. This trail provides some great views and offers access to many other off-roading opportunities. Most of this road is two vehicles wide and decently maintained. Depending on recent ra...
Learn more about Cedar Creek Rd

South River Road Trail is an awesome bidirectional trail within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit. Located just west of Kalkaska near highway US-131, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the southwestern end of Boardman River Road, you'll start on an open dirt/sandy portion of the t...
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The North Spur is a straightforward extension of the North Loop, featuring mostly small, manageable whoops and a relatively open trail. While the ride is generally mellow, be prepared for the occasional surprise in the form of a massive whoop--these tend to appear unexpectedly and can vary depending...
Learn more about Grand Traverse North Spur

Grand Traverse Central is one of the wider and faster sections of the entire system. It features larger elevation changes compared to other areas, offering a more flowing ride. While small roots are present, they're minimal. Expect stretches of deep sand and some fairly large whoops that add to the ...
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Grand Traverse West offers a wide variety of terrain. You'll flow through fast, open sections that quickly transition into tighter, more technical stretches. Expect to encounter classic giant Michigan whoops and a healthy mix of exposed roots throughout. Keep an eye out for fresh-cut trail segments,...
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Hardwood Lane is less than a mile long, but it ties into the seasonal Road, Mitchell Road Southeast. This road is part gravel and runs through a residential area, but becomes a seasonal Road shortly after. It is very typical of the Michigan seasonal roads in the sense that is rolling hills and matur...
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This trail is packed dirt with sufficient room for two vehicles to pass. At one point, the trail crosses US31, but does not run alongside of it. 4WD is not necessary. There are lots of spurs to the east of the trail which end at Fife Lake Outlet, a small stream running north and south. Headquarters ...
Learn more about Conservancy / Elliott Road

Guernsey Lake Rd NW travels north and south through Traverse City State Forest Land. This road provides a bit more of a challenge than Guernsey Lake Rd to the south. This route is mostly one vehicle wide with places to pass. This trail also has some steeper sandy hill climbs where 4WD will be helpfu...
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Crofton West Trail is an awesome trail within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit. Located just NW of Crofton near highway US-131, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the southern end of Boardman River Rd NW, you'll start in a less-trafficked portion of the trail that twists and turn...
Learn more about Crofton West Trail

Deadwood Trail is an easy and overgrown bidirectional trail, yet scenic in its way. Located within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit near highway US-131 in Crofton, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the southern end at the intersection of Vroom Rd, you'll start on a bumpy, sandy,...
Learn more about Deadwood Trail

SFR 442142 Trail is an exciting, short, and scenic bidirectional trail within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit. Located near highway US-131 in South Boardman, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the south end of Branch Road Trail, you'll start on a bumpy, sandy, dirt two-track int...
Learn more about SFR 442142 Trail

North Boardman River Trail is a bumpy and sandy bidirectional trail within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit. Located just NW of Crofton near highway US-131, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the northern end of Boardman River Road Northwest, you'll start on a bumpy, sandy ORV ro...
Learn more about North Boardman River Trail

Crofton West Trail is an awesome trail within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit. Located just NW of Crofton near highway US-131, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the southern end of Boardman River Rd NW, you'll start in a less-trafficked portion of the trail that twists and turn...
Learn more about Crofton West Trail

Deadwood Trail is an easy and overgrown bidirectional trail, yet scenic in its way. Located within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit near highway US-131 in Crofton, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the southern end at the intersection of Vroom Rd, you'll start on a bumpy, sandy,...
Learn more about Deadwood Trail

SFR 442142 Trail is an exciting, short, and scenic bidirectional trail within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit. Located near highway US-131 in South Boardman, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the south end of Branch Road Trail, you'll start on a bumpy, sandy, dirt two-track int...
Learn more about SFR 442142 Trail

North Boardman River Trail is a bumpy and sandy bidirectional trail within the Traverse City Forest Management Unit. Located just NW of Crofton near highway US-131, this trail is easily accessible. Starting from the northern end of Boardman River Road Northwest, you'll start on a bumpy, sandy ORV ro...
Learn more about North Boardman River Trail