Drummond Island ORV System

Drummond Island ORV System is Michigan's largest closed-loop DNR ORV system by mileage: 100+ miles of trail and route covering a significant portion of 83,000-acre Drummond Island in Chippewa County of the eastern Upper Peninsula, accessible only via the Drummond Island Ferry from De Tour Village on the mainland. The island's geology is a major part of what makes this system distinctive: Drummond Island sits on the Niagara Escarpment's Great Lakes extension, and the exposed limestone and dolomite bedrock that outcrops across the island gives the trail system a rugged, technical character very different from the sandy-soil systems of the Lower Peninsula. The route designations accommodate a wide range of vehicle widths: a 28-inch trail network serves motorcycles on the tightest limestone corridors, 50-inch trails serve standard ATVs, and 72-inch-and-wider ORV routes accommodate full-size Jeeps and trucks on the rock-strewn open sections. A Michigan state ORV license is required; there is no gate fee on the DNR-managed portions. The island's ferry-access character, a 35-minute crossing from De Tour Village, creates a natural rider buffer that keeps the system less crowded than comparable mainland systems. The island provides lodging, fuel, and supplies through its resort-community infrastructure. Drummond Island Tourism Council handles visitor information (906-493-5245).