Trail Overview
Dakota Farm Road is a state owned/ locally maintained, Level-2/ Level-3 forest access route with a surface composition of sand, dirt, and native material (ex: leaves, pine needles, pine cones, sticks, branches). The southern leg of this route becomes a portion of the ORV Route MA of the Western Upper Peninsula (WUP) Trail system as it traverses through the Huron Mountain Range. A valid ORV license and trail permit are required. *Note: Please observe ORV route seasonal restrictions or an off-road vehicle type restriction. Multiple restrictions may apply on the same trail.
Difficulty
Gravel, dirt, and sand route is typically unmaintained after rain or snow, which may give rise to water crossings < 12” and obstacles such as tree/ tree branches.
History
Dakota Farm Road in L'Anse, Michigan, is a historic gravel two-track that traces the rugged highlands near the Silver River and Dakota Creek in Baraga County. It originates from an early 20th-century homestead and stagecoach stop established before modern highways connected the region. Before the formal Skanee Road was built, the local thoroughfare was an old horse-drawn stagecoach trail. The road is named for the historic Dakota Farm once operated along the route by members of the Dakota family (including historical ties to Fred Dakota and his siblings). The farm served as a vital relay and rest stop where travelers and horses pulling the stagecoaches were exchanged during journeys through the dense Upper Peninsula forest between L'Anse and Skanee.
