Riding dirt bikes in Michigan
This is a collection of basic information about Michigan trail riding that seems to get asked a lot in Facebook groups
This is a collection of basic information about Michigan trail riding that seems to get asked a lot in Facebook groups
What kind of trails does Michigan offer?
Michigan has thousands of miles of designated ORV trails to be used by motorcycles, ATVs, and side-by-sides. There is everything from extremely tight motorcycle only single track, to big scramble areas with rocks and hill climbs. The trails are well mapped, well marked, have excellent parking, trailheads, and many offer attached campgrounds.
Where do I get official information about ORV (off-road vehicle) recreation in Michigan?
The Michigan DNR website is a great resource for up to date information. If the link here no longer works, simply search for "Michigan DNR ORV": https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79119_79148---,00.html
Where can I legally ride a dirt bike in Michigan?
Generally speaking, only on designated trails and in ORV areas. Not that "state land" behind your house, not the subdivision under construction, not along some power lines. Unless your motorcycle is street legal (plated, registered, insured and conforms to state laws) you cannot be riding on roads. Some counties allow ORVs on certain roads with some specific requirements. Please keep in mind that some sections of the motorcycle trails (the MCCCT specifically) require the motorcycle to be street legal. Please see the official DNR page for specific information.
What kind of permit(s) do I need to ride in Michigan?
You need two ORV stickers. You can order them from the website referenced above or buy them in person anywhere fishing/hunting licenses are sold (WalMart, Meijer, Cabelas, some gas stations...etc). You do not need any documentation about your vehicle, just your drivers license and money. As far as DNR cares you can put the stickers on your dog or your forehead.
Where can I find maps?
Here are a couple great resources. Click on the specific trails for more info:
What are the trails like?
This playlist contains my personal videos of many of the trails in Michigan: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0fMErC_4543UcYNI3mRRwMd3rP6E0DlV
VVMapping (link above) has very good short descriptions of each trail.
These are my personal opinions. The trails listed here are a just a sampling based on no objective selection criteria. If you feel like something is missing or there is an error, please get in touch.
Ambrose Lake ATV trail. This is an ATV trail that has minimal sand and whoops, very few elevation changes, and a good flow. It's fun for all skill levels and the loop is relatively short, so even a newer rider can complete it and feel a sense of accomplishment. There is a campground attached (Ambrose Lake), so it makes for a great weekend in the woods. For those wanting a little more adventure, you can ride the connectors south or north. More info: http://www.vvmapping.com/trails/ambroseLake.html
North Missaukee ATV and Cycle trails. This is a good choice for those wanting to sample some singletrack, but not have to ride it all day. There is a bit more sand than Ambrose lake, but it's generally not terrible. A few different trailhead options available. More info: http://www.vvmapping.com/trails/northMissaukee.html
Evart Motorcycle trail. Singletrack only, this is generally considered to be one of the most difficult trails in the lower peninsula. Most of this difficulty is due to 2-3 rocky climbs (or descents, depending on which way you're going), the rest of the trail varies between tighter and more open singletrack. Can be extremely whooped. More info: http://www.vvmapping.com/trails/evart.html
Tomahawk Motorcycle trail - B and C loops. Very nice trail with some excellent flowy sections. Due to some fairly serious elevation changes it can be more or less technical depending on the weather. Some tighter sections with handlebar width trees. More info: http://www.vvmapping.com/trails/tomahawk.html
Meadows Motorcycle trail. Long, punshing, tight singletrack. This does not get ridden very much so it tends to be overgrown, very tight, and does not necessarily have great flow. Can be a long 2-3 hours if you are not an experienced rider. More info: http://www.vvmapping.com/trails/meadows.html
Caberfae and Beaver Creek. If you know, you know.
Here are a few points about the terrain in Michigan, specifically the lower peninsula.
It's pretty flat. Don't expect to climb anything taller than a 2-3 story building, but there are some great rolling hills.
It's sandy - pretty much every trail in the lower peninsula will at least a couple very sandy sections. These sections will be like riding through a beach or sandbox. If you want to enjoy riding in Michigan, spend some time practicing riding in sand, because you will not be able to avoid it. Tires and such help, but it's mostly a question of technique. The upside to this is that tires last forever and there is almost no mud, so even in the rain you have a ton of grip and the bike stays clean-ish.
It's whooped. From ATV trails, to singletrack, there will be whoops. Small, big, shallow, deep, wide, narrow...etc. Trails that are used more (which are usually those closer to civilization) tend to be whooped significantly more than those used less. Singletrack can be whooped just as bad if not worse than ATV trails. Just like with sand, spend some time practicing riding whoops and you will have a much better time. The upside is that whoops are also little jumps :)
There are trees. Look at how pretty they are, but not too closely.
This is based on my personal experience and preference. Read, comprehend the reasons, and make your own decisions.
Smaller is better - nobody needs a 450 to trail ride in Michigan, you will have more fun and an easier time on a smaller bike. If you're reading this you're probably not an A level enduro rider, so expect your average speeds to be below 20mph on any of the ATV and cycle trails. A 250 4-stroke or pretty much any two stroke would be the perfect trail bike for around here. An enduro or trail bike (18inch rear wheel, electric start, headlight, softer suspension) would be a better choice than a motocross version.
Plate or no plate? In most cases a plate is not necessary. If you want to do a longer dual sport ride, hopping on the roads to connect trails, you will need a plated bike. You can either choose from a selection of factory street legal bikes or plate your dirtbike. You can research the latter here: https://www.michigan.gov/sos/
My personal shortlist. All of these have electric start, excellent engines suspensions and brakes. They could be trail ridden or raced competitively with ease:
KTM 150 XCW TPI / Husqvarna TE150i. Most fun bike out there. These are really light, fun, easy to ride, and have plenty of power for anything I'd want to do. They are a great way to learn to be a better rider since you can't rely on torque to get out out of trouble.
Beta 200RR. Similar reasons to the 150 above, but with a little more grunt. Also look awesome.
Yamaha WR250F, Yamaha YZ250FX, Honda CRF250RX, Kawasaki KX250X. Awesome 4 stroke enduro bikes. Light, nimble, with an easy to work with power band and excellent suspensions.
KTM/Husqvarna/GasGas 250 and 300 two strokes. For the lazier rider who doesn't like shifting... or one tired after a 10 hour day on the trail. These are basically the cream of the crop when it comes to enduro weapons.
KTM/Husqvarna/Beta 250 and 350 four strokes. These are street legal from the factory, but have all the capabilities of a competition bike at the same time.
Front - anything with offset knobs spaced reasonably far apart works pretty well in sand.
My current favorite is a Shinko MX216. It's cheap, easy to mount, and DOT approved if you want to legally ride on the street.
12-13 PSI tends to work well and avoid most flats.
Rear - Anything that has a paddle-like pattern tends to work well in sand.
Kenda Trackmaster II is my go-to. It's cheap, easy to mount, and DOT approved if you want to legally ride on the street.
12-13 PSI tends to work well and avoid most flats.