Trail Overview
Headquarters Lake Equestrian Trail - FS 37617 is a state owned/ locally maintained, Level-2/ Level-3, DNR Road Open to ORVs and equestrian rigs, with a surface composition of sand, dirt, and native material (ex: leaves, pine needles, pine cones, sticks, branches, and rocks). This route provides access to forested "Two-Tracks," hiking, and Equestrian trails in the deep wilderness south of Muskallong Lake and between Blind Sucker Flooding and the Two Hearted River. Acting as a dual-purpose infrastructure corridor. While the Michigan DNR maintains it for wildfire control and logging access, it is heavily integrated into the Upper Peninsula's tourism economy. Transforming a historic emergency route into a primary thoroughfare for off-road recreation.
Difficulty
Deep sand, dirt, gravel route typically unmaintained after rain or snow that may give rise to water crossings >12” and obstacles such as tree/ tree branches and river overflow crossings.
History
The land surrounding Headquarters Lake was shaped by the region's intense lumber, rail, and charcoal-production history in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Newberry grew as a primary regional hub. Over decades, forest roads and two-tracks evolved from historic logging and fire-suppression routes into designated multi-use recreational trails. In recent years, local advocacy groups—such as the Upper Peninsula Trail Horse Association (UPTHA), formed in 2024—along with state park management, have invested heavily in volunteer maintenance, road grading, site leveling, and tree clearance to improve rig accessibility. Headquarters Lake was also transitioned onto the official state reservation system (midnrreservations.com) to guarantee sites for riders making the long trek to the Upper Peninsula.
Offroad