Ogemaw Hills ORV Route

The Ogemaw Hills ORV Route is a 77-mile Michigan DNR corridor formally designated in 2024, running from the St. Helen Motorsport Area in Roscommon County south through the West Branch area to the M-33 corridor in Ogemaw County. The route fills a geographic gap in the north-central Lower Peninsula OHV network by connecting the established St. Helen Motorsport Area to the West Branch community and continuing toward the M-33 riding corridor, enabling continuous motorized travel across a 77-mile distance without loading a trailer, a rare capability in a state where most OHV systems are isolated trailhead-to-trailhead operations. As a formally designated route rather than a developed trail system, the Ogemaw Hills corridor travels on existing ORV-legal roads and two-track routes through mixed private and state land: the experience is more remote-access touring than purpose-built trail-park riding. ATVs, UTVs, motorcycles, and full-size ORVs are all permitted on the route designation. A Michigan state ORV license and trail permit are required for all machines operating on the corridor. The trailhead staging area is at Frank Alley Park in West Branch. The route is open year-round but is not plowed in winter, making winter access condition-dependent. Contact the DNR West Branch Customer Service Center for current status (989-345-0151).