Ottawa National Forest OHV

The Bull Gap ORV System on the Huron-Manistee National Forests' Mio Ranger District in Oscoda County covers 115 miles of designated OHV trail in the north-central Lower Peninsula, and contains the only designated open-area motorized hill climb on the entire Huron-Manistee National Forest: Bull Gap Hill, a 0.2-mile sand dune face with a 35 to 40 percent average grade that provides the kind of vertical challenge unavailable on conventional trail terrain. The broader 115-mile system spans mixed national forest terrain — hardwood-pine transitions, sandy glacial outwash plain, and the bottomland corridors draining east toward the Rifle River country — with designated routes for ATVs, motorcycles, 4x4 trucks, and side-by-sides on vehicle-class-appropriate segments. Mack Lake Campground sits centrally within the system with 42 sites at $15/night, making multi-day stays practical without commuting from commercial lodging. No day-use fee applies to the national forest land. The system connects north to the Ogemaw Hills ORV Route and St. Helen Motorsport Area and south toward the Au Sable River OHV networks, creating potential for extended multi-day riding itineraries across the north-central Lower Peninsula. Open May 15 through November 30, 6am to 9pm. Contact the Mio Ranger District for trail conditions and current closures (989-826-3252).

Bundy Hill Offroad is a 300-acre family-owned, alcohol-free commercial OHV park in Hillsdale County near Jerome in southern Michigan, opened in 2009 and operating under a policy designed to make it accessible to families and younger riders without the atmosphere that larger event-format parks often carry. The park sits just west of the US-127/US-12 junction — strategically positioned for the southern Michigan, northern Indiana, and northwestern Ohio riding markets who can reach it without a long haul. Trail character is designed for variety rather than single-theme extreme riding: color-coded loops by difficulty wind through wooded terrain supplemented by hill climbs, rock crawls, mud pits, water crossings, and pea gravel climb sections that introduce different terrain types across a compact 300 acres. The result is a system that serves beginning riders building confidence alongside more experienced riders wanting technical practice without committing to a full-day northern Michigan trip. ATVs, side-by-sides, Jeeps, dirt bikes, and full-size ORVs are all permitted on appropriate routes. Driver admission is $20 for riders ages 6 and up; children under 6 are free. Camping is available at $25/night. The mid-March through mid-November season runs Thursday through Sunday, with private rentals available on Monday through Wednesday for groups that need exclusive access (517-917-0493).

The Cadillac Pathway ORV trail system in the Pere Marquette State Forest encompasses approximately 25 miles of designated ORV single-track and a broader network of state forest roads open to ORV use in Wexford and Osceola counties around the city of Cadillac in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula. The system serves the Cadillac, Manton, and Reed City communities and connects into the broader Michigan DNR state forest ORV trail network that extends across the northern Lower Peninsula. The terrain is characteristic northern Lower Peninsula forest land: second-growth mixed hardwood-conifer forest of red pine, jack pine, white pine, sugar maple, and red oak on the sandy glacial outwash soil; the rolling topography of the interlobate moraine landscape that gives the Cadillac region its defining rolling hills and lake country character; and the stream drainages of the Pine River and Clam River systems that cross the trail network. Cadillac Pathway is designed with dirt bike riders as a primary user — the single-track character, the technical turns, and the natural tight-corridor feel of the trail reflect the preferences of serious trail riders. Wider ATVs and UTVs are permitted on the forest roads but find the single-track sections restrictive. Seasonal closure from December through March aligns with the statewide DNR ORV season. The Cadillac area serves as a regional hub for OHV riders, snowmobilers, and outdoor recreation with full-service communities, lodging, and fuel infrastructure. Michigan ORV license required. DNR Cadillac Customer Service Center (231-775-9727) handles current trail status and maps.

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).