Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Weidman, Michigan

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 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

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

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 is a nice wide trail that winds its way through part of the Cadillac Forest from Evert to Sunrise Lake. It can be run in either direction north or south. There is some mud section that could require four-wheel drive when wet. There are also a few hill sections that could be slick when wet. The ...
Learn more about Evart to Sunrise Lake 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 offers a beautiful, meandering, drive through the woods. The trail is one lane, with places to pass. There are a couple of mud puddles. The trail is wide enough that the brush won't scratch, but there might be a branch or two that hangs close enough to scrape. The trail enters and exits o...
Learn more about Twin Creek Twisty 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 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

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

The East Evart trail is located off of 110th Avenue and connects the North and south parts of the road. The trail permits full-size vehicles. The trail is comfortably one vehicle wide with places to pass; the south end of the trail is two vehicles wide. The trail has often been used by logging traff...
Learn more about East Evart

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

Wooded one-lane trail that passes by the Mark Knee Memorial Grouse Walking Trail parking lot. On the drive through this area, the trail passes through a very wooded forest that has some shallow mud puddles. There are also open areas to park and camp. The dirt motorized trail has areas to pass or pul...
Learn more about Mark Knee Memorial Grouse Trail

This trail is a combination of routes that go up, down, and loop back to themselves. Located on a decent-sized hill with some of the terrain being sand-based, this can be a fun, yet potentially challenging area depending on the dryness. At the beginning of this route, there is an optional bypass to ...
Learn more about Ups, Downs, and Arounds

This loop is less traveled and there is plenty of mud and foliage to navigate through. There are also off-camber obstacles. These are completable by all off-road vehicles, however, the mud obstacles may be difficult for smaller vehicles.
Learn more about Loop with Soup

West Cannonsville Road is a very fun and fast sandy two-track the beginning of the trail is a long hill and is relatively sandy. After driving through the woods a little ways it will open up to more of a clear cut as the road continues. Eventually, you will run into a spot where you can turn around....
Learn more about West Cannonsville Road

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 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

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

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

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 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 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

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