Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Spring Arbor, Michigan

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

Nut Check starts with an intermediate rock crawl in a washout. Then the trail branches off that washout and climbs up a hill. If someone prefers not to climb the hill, they can continue straight and finish the rock crawling washout area. There are some muddy holes (one really deep) in the wooded are...
Learn more about Nut Check

This trail begins at the Lower Level Parking Lot and is a connector trail between one of the main roads that runs through the park and the parking lots. There are very few elevation changes. There are some mud holes, some deep and some not so deep. Use caution when traversing the mud holes. The two-...
Learn more about Welcome Trail

The entrance to this trail can be picked up from the Lower Parking Lot and runs along the picnic area. This trail is mild with a couple of spots of articulation and a couple of spots that can be muddy if it's been raining. This trail also runs under the two-track style bridge that can be found in th...
Learn more about Bare Back

Little Willy is a mild trail that has few elevation changes. There is also an area that tends to get washed out when it's been raining. It's not very long and is a great trail for beginners. This trail has access to the Lower Parking Lot and access to the two-track style bridge in the park.
Learn more about Little Willy

This trail has two designations: one for full-size rigs and one for ATVs. There are many markers to indicate which path is which. This trail is also one-way. There are many tight turns and it may be harder for vehicles (trucks) with a longer wheelbase. Once on the trail, there really isn't a way to ...
Learn more about Steinwinder

The trail runs along the edge of the park and into the Whispering Woods. The trail is for SXS, ATVS, and motorcycles only. There are some mud holes and areas with tight trees. The trail intertwines with a couple of other trails back in the woods. It seems that some have taken it upon themselves to m...
Learn more about Border Trail Part 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kelly Trail is everything you would think it is based on its name. This 2.7-mile bidirectional scenic trail has many things to offer. Located within the Pinckney State Rec Area between highway 96 and 94 near Hell, it's easily accessible. Starting from the southern end at the intersection of Patterso...
Learn more about Kelly 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

Nut Check starts with an intermediate rock crawl in a washout. Then the trail branches off that washout and climbs up a hill. If someone prefers not to climb the hill, they can continue straight and finish the rock crawling washout area. There are some muddy holes (one really deep) in the wooded are...
Learn more about Nut Check

This trail begins at the Lower Level Parking Lot and is a connector trail between one of the main roads that runs through the park and the parking lots. There are very few elevation changes. There are some mud holes, some deep and some not so deep. Use caution when traversing the mud holes. The two-...
Learn more about Welcome 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

Nut Check starts with an intermediate rock crawl in a washout. Then the trail branches off that washout and climbs up a hill. If someone prefers not to climb the hill, they can continue straight and finish the rock crawling washout area. There are some muddy holes (one really deep) in the wooded are...
Learn more about Nut Check

This trail begins at the Lower Level Parking Lot and is a connector trail between one of the main roads that runs through the park and the parking lots. There are very few elevation changes. There are some mud holes, some deep and some not so deep. Use caution when traversing the mud holes. The two-...
Learn more about Welcome Trail