Michigan Trails
25
Total Trail Guides16
251
Detailed Waypoints96
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4/5 (8 reviews)
Updated: 11/06/2024
Silver Lake Sand Dunes
Seasonal Closure
/
Mears, Michigan/
6.41 miles/
About 2 hours
Lake Michigan has the largest deposit of freshwater coastal sand dunes. At Silver Lake Sand Dunes, you can drive on them! The area for driving covers 450 of the 2,000-acre stretch of dunes sandwiched between its namesake, Silver Lake, and Lake Michigan. Two steep dunes are separated by a more gentle landscape that allows you to pick your adrenaline threshold, ranging from a quick and easy stroll to Lake Michigan or pointing your vehicle straight up with a rooster tail of sand spinning out the back. Grab the tow strap and give it a try!
4.7/5 (5 reviews)
Updated: 05/11/2024
South Marblehead Loop
Open
/
Drummond Island, Michigan/
4 miles/
About an hour
Winding its way along the eastern shoreline of Drummond Island, Marblehead Road is a perfect taste of all the trails here. While driving through the dense forest there are deep muddy puddles, a few small rock obstacles, and then “The Steps at Marblehead” right before reaching the lookout. This is the only named obstacle and requires a good vehicle and driver to get down and back up.
Marblehead sits a little over 100’ feet above the water and the limestone that makes up most of the island is exposed here, creating drama along this shoreline. This limestone is part of what’s known as the Niagara Escarpment, a natural rock formation that stretches for over 900 miles and is actually part of Niagara Falls. Do not miss the Steps at Marblehead or this trail in general, it really is a gem within the trail system.
4.7/5 (3 reviews)
Updated: 12/15/2023
Holly Oaks ORV Park: Lower Main Loop
Open
/
Holly, Michigan/
2.12 miles/
About an hour
If you were in a desert dying of thirst and found water, you would call it an oasis. If you live in one of the major metro areas of the Great Lakes and found a place to go wheel, you would call it Holly Oaks! Just north of Detroit, Holly Oaks provides a wide range of 4x4 opportunities from mild to wild. The Lower Main Loop is perfect for everyone because you can keep it mellow or tackle Mt. Magna! While you are at it, check in to earn your Jeep Badge of Honor!
4/5 (2 reviews)
Updated: 07/09/2022
Glen Cove Road
Open
/
Drummond Island, Michigan/
6.7 miles/
About an hour
Glen Cove Road serves as a primary artery within the Drummond Island trail network. This nearly 7-mile long trail connects the southern part of the island with Marblehead Road, Shale Beach, Stone's Throw and the East Marblehead Loop. Since this trail is a feeder, it is maintained at some level and none of the trail sits below the water line so there isn’t a ton of mud along the way either, but there is plenty to see.
Drummond Island is host to a good size population of animals and is a haven in the area for birds. Sandhill Cranes, Upland Sandpipers, Vesper & Savannah Sparrows, and the occasional grouse can be seen along the way. The island is host to 13 eco-systems and 6 different types of forests. Get a good taste of the island as a whole and don’t take this trail for granted, take your time to enjoy nature and wildlife along it.
4/5 (2 reviews)
Updated: 12/15/2023
Holly Oaks ORV Park: North 60 Loop
Open
/
Holly, Michigan/
1.44 miles/
About 30 minutes
Crisscrossed with old mining roads and extreme terrain features ranging from mud flats to 40-foot vertical cliffs, the North 60 is the newest addition to Holly Oaks ORV Park. Located just north of Detroit, Holly Oaks provides a wide range of 4x4 opportunities from mild to wild. The North 60 is considered a "scramble area" where riders are free to make their own paths. While you are gathering the courage to conquer something never attempted before, make sure to check in and earn your Jeep Badge of Honor!
4/5 (2 reviews)
Updated: 08/15/2023
Two Hearted Landing
Open
/
Pine Stump Junction, Michigan/
2.25 miles/
About 35 minutes
Suppose you are looking for a great touring route of this area on your way to Crisp Point Lighthouse. Then Two Hearted Landing is definitely what you were looking for. Take in the sights of the Mouth of the Two Hearted River, then engage 4WD and take this road as a more thrilling shortcut over to Crisp Point.
4/5 (1 reviews)
Updated: 09/15/2022
Crisp Point Lighthouse
Open
/
Pine Stump Junction, Michigan/
7.35 miles/
About 3 hours
What is there not to like about driving over seven miles on dirt through a tight and twisty emerald green forest only to arrive at a historic lighthouse on the shores of Lake Superior? Crisp Point Lighthouse, named after Christopher Crisp, was constructed in 1903 and 1904 and became operational on May 5, 1904. The 15-acre lighthouse site is prime lakefront and was purchased for only $30! Today is an opportunity to see our maritime history and take in the sights through pristine forests and the coastline.
4/5 (1 reviews)
Updated: 09/16/2022
Emery Road
Open
/
West Branch, Michigan/
10.91 miles/
About 2 hours
Just outside West Branch, Michigan, and situated in the Roscommon State Forest Area, Emery Road is a diverse route that connects to the Houghton Lake Area almost entirely on dirt. Unlike many four-wheel drive roads in Michigan, it offers various landscapes of pines, hardwoods, and open areas, with prime dispersed camping opportunities nestled in between, all without a bunch of mud.
2/5 (1 reviews)
Updated: 07/18/2022
St. Helen Little Loop
Open
/
Saint Helen, Michigan/
3.52 miles/
About 30 minutes
St. Helen Little Loop is a delightful route through the Michigan State Forest south of the city of St Helen, Michigan. You will be treated to banked sandy curves, deep sandy intersections, and several places where standing water allows a splash through the puddles, all located under a heavy canopy of trees. This trail is easy to find and conveniently located in Michigan's mitten. St. Helen Little Loop can give beginning drivers an excellent area to experience the nuances of vehicle handling while driving through sand, mud, and water.
4.7/5 (12 reviews)
Updated: 05/15/2024
High Rock Bay
Your rugged journey on High Rock Bay will yield a fascinating and memorable view of Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes. High Rock Bay is located near the tip of the beautiful Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Significant snowfall and harsh winters allow vehicle access to this far northern gem for only a few months of the year.
Camping on the lake's shore is magically relaxing. The end of the trail offers a view of the Manitau Island Lighthouse. The lighthouse congers up stories and tales about the adventures of mariners who have navigated these waters in times past.
5/5 (6 reviews)
Updated: 05/01/2024
Plywood Camp Road
Finding the history of Plywood Camp is difficult, but this trail will leave a lasting memory you will most likely never forget. It is a challenging drive that will test your skills as you pick your way through. If you make it to Plywood Camp, you are only moments away from brushing. your tires right up to Lake Huron and looking at Canada across the way. This one is a must-do when visiting Drummond Island!
4.7/5 (3 reviews)
Updated: 09/30/2023
East Poe Point Road
Drummond Island has many unique features, some easier to get to than others. East Poe Point Road is an easy and muddy dirt road that works it’s way north through the island’s alvars and onto the fossil ledges. The Fossil Ledges on Drummond Island is the fossilized remains of a 450 million-year-old sea bed. If you make your way to the beach, make sure to look and take pictures of the fossils you find but take nothing from the beach and help preserve it for future generations. On top of the fossils that are waiting to be found, Drummond Island has lots of opportunities for adventure.
Drummond Island is 250 square miles packed full of activities for everyone in your group. The island has 13 distinct ecosystems that attract wildlife to match and is a destination for bird watching. If you’re looking for an easy day on the island trails with plenty to see, hop on the ferry and run this with Bruce Point Road and Colton Bay Road to get a taste of the island.
5/5 (3 reviews)
Updated: 07/17/2022
Sheep Ranch Trail
In the middle of the Drummond Island trail system is the mild to moderate Sheep Ranch Trail. This trail is one of the main routes through the island and has long water crossings to get your tires and maybe your doors wet and muddy. The dense forest road has a number of rocky sections to keep things interesting for new and experienced drivers alike. Nevenen's Road, Sheep Ranch Trail, and Glen Cove Road make for a full day of mild offroading on Drummond.
3/5 (2 reviews)
Updated: 07/27/2022
Caffey Truck Trail
Caffey Truck Trail runs through Michigan's Upper Peninsula north woods. The trail is quiet and peaceful, far from the hustle and bustle of city life. But the road lies in an area once busy with mining and heavy logging. Just north of the road's start, a limestone quarry operated from 1905 to 1936. Railroads hauled timber and ore. Today, only a few houses are scattered about. Nearby towns have been reduced to historical memories. Today, hunting, fishing, and off-roading are the main draws for those traversing the Caffey Truck Trail.
4/5 (2 reviews)
Updated: 03/09/2024
East Bruce Point Road
Drummond Island is home to the largest remaining Alvar in North America and East Bruce Point Road is access to the birds that inhabit this rare ecosystem. The trail runs through the Maxton Plains Alvar where you can see Herons, Sandpipers, Brown Thrashers, Savannah Sparrows, and an occasional grouse. This easy road is great for those who want to get a taste of the wildlife on Drummond without getting into some of the more remote and harsher areas of the island.
3/5 (2 reviews)
Updated: 07/07/2022
East Colton Bay Road
On the northeast side of Drummond Island, East Colton Bay Road is an easy introduction to driving in the dirt on the island. The trail makes its way through the Maxton Plains Alvar Preserve giving you a chance to drive on and see this rare geographic feature up close and personal. Alvars are made up of a thin layer of soil with a limestone base underneath. These limestone portions of the trail almost look like ancient roads peaking out from the ground. Add East Poe Point Road and Bruce Point Road for about a half-day of exploration.
Drummond Island is a 250 square mile island in the Great Lakes that sits right on the border between the United States and Canada. The island’s biggest tourism draw is it’s ATV routes and over 40 miles of ORV trails, many of which you can find detailed here on Trailsoffroad.com. While traveling these trails it’s not uncommon to see wildlife like osprey, blue herons, redheaded woodpeckers, and sandhill cranes. Get your tires a little muddy and explore this protected area of the island via East Colton Bay Road.
2/5 (2 reviews)
Updated: 08/14/2023
Fisher Road
The north woods of Michigan's Upper Peninsula can be a remote and lonesome place to visit. Fisher Road goes through the heart of the Sault St Marie State Forest. Trees and water can make or break your day in this dense woodland. Downed trees can force a turnaround or a chance to break out your saw. The sandy-bottomed water crossing adds to the sense of adventure. What will your trip bring? Peaceful serenity? Adventure? There's only one way to find out along Fisher Road.
4.5/5 (2 reviews)
Updated: 06/07/2023
Naomikong Point
Whitefish Bay National Forest Scenic Byway leads to many of Michigan's famous "roadside parks and scenic turnouts" that offer beautiful views and excellent lunch spots. While Naomikong Point is not one of those, it's the roadside attraction anyone overlanding across the Upper Peninsula should take in. One of the best-secluded lunch stops or "stretch-the-legs" breaks awaits you on this quick diversion from the Whitefish Bay National Forest Scenic Byway.
5/5 (2 reviews)
Updated: 06/05/2022
Nemesis
On the west side of Drummond Island and closest to many of the accommodations and resorts is this moderate to difficult trail, Nemesis. This rutted and rocky entrance to the trail network is a challenge on the body and the rig. The trail’s namesake comes from the obstacle at Waypoint 12, Mu’s Nemesis. This steep incline has multiple rocky tracks to the top and no doubt has caused people some trouble over time. Enjoy this muddy and technical run on Drummond that can really test the driver and vehicle.
4.5/5 (2 reviews)
Updated: 07/17/2022
Shale Beach
Normally shale rock is sharp and jagged, but millions of years of natural waves against these shores have created nearly 2 miles of pebbled beach. The white round stones make a distinctive sound as the giant natural rock tumbler of waves rolls down the shoreline. This is a great place to stop for lunch or even camp as the views of Lake Huron and Canada are in the distance.
The trail that is Shale Beach isn’t very long but shares traits from its neighbors. While it is mostly dirt throughout, it does have a spot with a deep mud pit and some rocks to be aware of. The trail to this isolated beach may not be that easy, but it is worth it.
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