Trail Overview
Road Primary Name: FEDERAL FOREST ROAD 2814. Road Type: Non-DNR Road. ORV Status: Not a DNR Road - See local government laws. Surface Type: Dirt, native material. Condition: Fair. Owner: Federal. Closure Criteria: Open (Partial). Bills Creek Road West does not connect with Bills Creek Road East due to a Private Property separating the 2 portions of the full route. This is a There-and-back route accessible via 26.6 Rd. Description created on 7/24/25.
Difficulty
Dirt, sand and native material, typically unmaintained after rain or snow. You may encounter shallow water crossings and obstacles under 12” on the trail, including small ledges. The road is one vehicle wide, two-track.
History
Bills Creek, located near Rapid River, Michigan, is closely tied to the history of logging in the Upper Peninsula. The area was known for its thriving lumber industry, with Rapid River itself once boasting businesses along its main street, known then as Broadway Street. The first sawmill in the Upper Peninsula was built on the Rapid River in 1835. While the name "Bills Creek" doesn't appear prominently in historical accounts, it's likely connected to the broader history of logging and settlement in the region, potentially associated with Abel Bills, who received a land patent in 1857 and likely homesteaded the property, raising livestock. This suggests a connection between the Bill's family name and land ownership in the area.
