Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Houghton Lake, Michigan
Geels South Loop
Geels South Loop is a fast paced 50" trail, roughly 25 miles long. It contains mostly shallow sand with some soft dirt, in the wooded sections. The trail is well maintained with intersections clearly marked.… Learn more about Geels South Loop
Total Miles
21
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Evart to Sunrise Lake Trail
This is a nice wide trail that winds its way through part of the Cadillac Forest from Evert to Sunrise Lake. It can be run in either direction north or south. There is some mud… Learn more about Evart to Sunrise Lake Trail
Total Miles
9.7
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp
Crapo Creek Trail
Crapo Creek Trail (Pronounced Crap-oh) is a fifty-inch trail designed to be ridded by dirt bikes and quads. The general make up of this trail is black dirt with some sandy spots in fresh timber… Learn more about Crapo Creek Trail
Total Miles
16.5
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Big Bear
Big Bear is a fifty-inch trail designed to be ridded by 50 Inch ATVs, dirt bikes, and quads. The general make up of this trail is black dirt with some sandy spots in fresh timber… Learn more about Big Bear
Total Miles
12.6
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Tree Jumping
Great trail if you want some adventure. We encountered lots of downed trees and limbs. We cleared the trail of the smaller limbs and trees. Bigger trees are blocking the trail but making the trail… Learn more about Tree Jumping
Total Miles
9.3
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Canadian Lakes Trail 1
This is a nice little trail that is very easily accessible and good for beginning off-roaders. You enter the trail near the entrance to the local community and continue on a narrow path through the… Learn more about Canadian Lakes Trail 1
Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp
Pigeon River Roaming
Mostly dirt roads through a state forest. In the spring time, it's easy to find mud if you want to get your tires wet. There are many lakes in the area. It's mostly flat, without… Learn more about Pigeon River Roaming
Total Miles
10.1
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp
Tin Cup Springs Motorcycle Trail
Tin Cup Motorcycle Trail is a wider more flowy motorcycle trail. The terrain switches from sand to sod with rocky stretches and features a few different hill climbs of varying grades as well as water… Learn more about Tin Cup Springs Motorcycle Trail
Total Miles
19.3
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Marl Creek Road 765/760
This trail starts out as 765 and then turns into 760 south of North County Line Road. There is a sand bowl on the trail immediately after North County Line Road. Then turns into Marl… Learn more about Marl Creek Road 765/760
Total Miles
5.6
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Hunters Road
Like many "roads" in Michigan, this is a two-track trail. Sandy, mild, and enjoyable. The last section of the trail north of Wolverine road was pretty tight. A full-size vehicle can fit, but not if… Learn more about Hunters Road
Total Miles
1.6
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
LP 767
LP 767 is a very well-maintained sand trail. All signage is very clear and main intersections are well parked. In some areas the sand gets a little thick, but nothing that any stock all-wheel drive… Learn more about LP 767
Total Miles
12.4
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
LP 76/7
LP 76/7 is two trails combined, but they split about a mile in. It is a very well-maintained sand trail. All downed trees are cut and pulled out of the immediate way. In some areas… Learn more about LP 76/7
Total Miles
9.6
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
SE Little Manistee Route (344E)
Fun trail with soft sand (when dry) that snakes through beautiful forest scenery. There are some long straight sections with good visibility, which allows for higher speeds, but it is very transited, so be prepared… Learn more about SE Little Manistee Route (344E)
Total Miles
8.9
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
NE Little Manistee Route (344)
Fun trail with a lot of sand, banked turns make it flow nicely but beware it's a very transited trail so keep alert be prepared to slow down and move to the side for oncoming… Learn more about NE Little Manistee Route (344)
Total Miles
7.5
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su
Pine River Corridor
The Pine River Corridor is a scenic trail off of M55 in Wexford County. The trail is mainly a one-vehicle-wide dirt trail. There are a couple of small climbs with tree roots that will be… Learn more about Pine River Corridor
Total Miles
6.1
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Little "O" Motorsport Trail
Little "O" is a 50-inch ORV trail that lends itself more towards a Motorcycle single track. The Trail is generally a easy well burmed flowing trail that has few obstacles and limited whoops. The catch… Learn more about Little "O" Motorsport Trail
Total Miles
34
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Red Bridge Trail
Red Bridge Trail is a fifty-inch trail designed to be ridden by 50 Inch ATVs, dirt bikes, and quads. The general makeup of this trail is black dirt and sand. There is more sand in… Learn more about Red Bridge Trail
Total Miles
26.2
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp
Croton To White Cloud
Croton to White Cloud offers a "back roads" option for traveling. This section of trail is primarily forest & seasonal roads. Although it is possible for a 2WD vehicle to travel this route be aware… Learn more about Croton To White Cloud
Total Miles
13.1
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
M-20 Motorsport Trail
The M-20 Loop is a 50-inch sandy trail that is in the Manistee National Forest. This two-way loop is a well-used trail located on the north side of M-20 just east of White Cloud Michigan.… Learn more about M-20 Motorsport Trail
Total Miles
14.1
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp
5525 Forest Road
This is a short an easy forest road, starts and ends in paved roads, there are a few dispersed camp sites (only allowed on the West side of the trail). Mostly flat and very easy… Learn more about 5525 Forest Road
Total Miles
1.7
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su
Horseshoe Motorcycle Trail Part 5
This motorcycle loop is a fast, wider offshoot of the rest of the Horseshoe Motorcycle Trail. In some sections, it is very rooted, and tight. Most of the trail is light sand or hard-packed dirt,… Learn more about Horseshoe Motorcycle Trail Part 5
Total Miles
4.3
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp
Forest Road 5301
The forest road is mostly sand with a little mud in spots. The road becomes very uneven and forces lower speed. A lower clearance vehicle may damage the front facia. When you get near the… Learn more about Forest Road 5301
Total Miles
1.1
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Sp
Horseshoe Motorcycle Trail Part 3
This motorcycle trail contains sharp turns, tight trees, and banked corners with some whoops. In some sections, the trail is very rooted. Most of the trail is light sand or hard-packed black dirt. In multiple… Learn more about Horseshoe Motorcycle Trail Part 3
Total Miles
2.4
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Forest Road 5300
The trail has mild trails with a few wet areas. The trail passes next to the White River in places close to Horseshoe Lake. There are a few boondocking spots where you can camp along… Learn more about Forest Road 5300
Total Miles
1.1
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Fa
Horseshoe Motorcycle Trail Part 1
This motorcycle trail contains sharp turns, tight trees, and banked corners. In some sections, the trail is very rooted. Most of the trail is light sand or hard-packed dirt, with a few wet spots. In… Learn more about Horseshoe Motorcycle Trail Part 1
Total Miles
5.4
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Forest Road 9219
This is an easy beginner off-road trail. Access is right off of M-120 just North of Twin Lake, Michigan. The trail is very easy with nothing very technical, unless you are snow-wheeling. You can stop… Learn more about Forest Road 9219
Total Miles
2.2
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Fa
Cedar Creek Motorsport Trail (North Loop)
Cedar Creek terrain is flat to rolling with sandy soil and feels like a motocross track through the woods. The North loop is 10 miles long and the South loop is 14 miles long. The… Learn more about Cedar Creek Motorsport Trail (North Loop)
Total Miles
9.1
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Trail 5356
This is a two lane dirt road that does have a couple of areas where it narrows down to one lane. There is one area that is a little low and could be muddy in… Learn more about Trail 5356
Total Miles
2.6
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
5757
The trail is sandy and fairly short. The trail is lined with tall trees and fern ground cover. It's just wide enough for one vehicle. Located in the Manistee National Forest not too far from… Learn more about 5757
Total Miles
0.9
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Cedar Creek Motorsport Trail (South Loop)
Cedar Creek terrain is flat to rolling with sandy soil and feels like a motocross track through the woods. The North loop is 10 miles long and the South loop is 14 miles long. The… Learn more about Cedar Creek Motorsport Trail (South Loop)