State ATV Trails of Michigan

Michigan state is home to vast amounts of wilderness and open lands. There are so many trails to ride---either on horseback, ATV, motorcycle or ORV---that few take the time to tell anyone else about the trails. However, if you are an ATV enthusiast, here are three ATV trails specifically set aside by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

  1. Gladwin Trail

    • This ATV trail is a looping 20.8 miles in eastern Gladwin County in central Michigan, running mostly north and south. It is cut across the middle by Hwy 61, which runs east and west. Trails can be dusty if there has not been any rain, but can also be wet if there has been. Four well maintained bridges will require you to slow down, as well as a lot of motocross riders tear around corners at pretty fast clips. The upper half of the trail is mostly in a wooded area, and the lower half is mostly open. The staging area is at the southern-most tip of the trail on Grim Road and is easy to enter, and the trails are well marked. To get there, take Hwy 61 east from Gladwin for 12 miles until you reach Deer Road. Turn south. Drive 4 miles to Grim Road and turn east. The staging area will be on the left about 4 miles along. The trail partially shares the North Gladwin Motocross trail on the northeastern side of the trail. Traffic is two directions, and most of the trail is ATV and motorcycles, with a small 3-mile loop at the northwest corner used by ORVs. ORVs less than 50 inches in width are acceptable, including off-road motorcycles. A DNR license (ORV sticker) is required.

    Danaher Plains Trail

    • The Danaher Plains Trail is a looping 26.8 miles in the northeastern corner of Schoolcraft County, in the northeastern part of the upper Michigan peninsula. The trail runs along the east side of Hwy 77 for about 7 miles, then turns east at its northern end. It meanders through alternating open lands and woods, hills and valleys for 6 miles and turns south. After going south for 8 miles, it abruptly cuts back west, winding its way back to the trailhead for the last leg of the trip, which is about 6 miles. If you are coming from the north, the trailhead is a mile south on Hwy 77 from East Branch of Fox River State Forest Campground. If you are coming from the south, the trailhead is about 4 miles north of Seney, on the right side of Hwy 77 after Reservoir Dam Road. Seney is at the junction of Hwy 77 and Hwy 28, just north of the Seney Wildlife Refuge. Drive carefully, trails have two-way traffic and motocross riders can be found tearing around corners. ORVs less than 50 inches in width are acceptable, including off-road motorcycles.

    Cedar Creek Trail

    • Located in Muskegon County, halfway down the west side of the lower Michigan peninsula, Cedar Creek is a meandering trail network of about 21.1 miles. There are several sections of single-track that are connected by gravel roads. Go when the weather is dry and take either someone who knows the area or a very good map. The rides will take longer than you expected, so be patient and carry water and food. The trails are fast singletrack when things are going well, but when things are bad they become confusing horse-trampled mudpits due to the sharing of the trails with equestrians. The network of Cedar Creek trails includes Moon Loop which is about 6 miles long, and Boydsville Loop, which is about 5 miles. The trailhead is 4 miles east of Twin Lakes township, on Ryerson Road. Drive carefully, trails have two-way traffic and motocross riders can be found tearing around corners. ORVs less than 50 inches in width are acceptable, including off-road motorcycles. A DNR license with ORV sticker is required.