Manistee RXR River Trail

Trail Overview

License Plate Required! The Manistee RXR River Trail is a fun and scenic "out and back" trail located within the Cadillac Forest Management Unit. Starting, you're greeted by an exquisite segment of Pine Trees right alongside the trail. As you continue along, the trail weaves and flows along a ridge overlooking the magnificent Manistee River. Views of the river can be limited based on the foliage; however, there is one epic overlook at mile marker 0.5. This is also an epic campsite location for at most 2 vehicles. If you plan on utilizing this dispersed site, PLEASE TREAD LIGHTLY, and seek more information at the local DNR Office/Ranger Station before camping here. The trail does consist of a fair amount of sand, but is also mixed with a lot of dirt. Like most of Michigan trails, conditions are dependent on the weather. Recent rainfall can cause unfavorable conditions on the trail, including downed trees, mud holes, and washouts. Most of this trail is only wide enough for 1 vehicle, with limited places to pass. At the time of this trail mapping (June 2025), construction was taking place on the railroad bridge at the end of this track. Please be respectful of the workers as they use this trail frequently. Regardless of the conditions or the construction, this is an awesome trail!

Photos of Manistee RXR River Trail

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Difficulty

This was only given a Technical Rating & Difficulty of 2 due to the trail typically only being wide enough for 1 to 2 vehicles. Otherwise, this trail could be rated as a 1.

Technical Rating

Manistee RXR River Trail can be accessed by the following ride types:

• High-Clearance 4x4
• SUV
• SxS (60")
• ATV (50")
• Dirt Bike