wheeling in west michigan
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is the Tin Cup trail around Baldwin or White Cloud?
Tin Cup is Northeast of Baldwin in Lake Co. Go to http://www.fishweb.com/maps/newaygo/trails/whitecloud/index.html , this is the snowmobile trail out of White Cloud, we usually pick it up from M-20 and head North, South of M-20 the trail is broken up by private property, North of M-20 is a bunch of state & national forest with many forest roads, bring a good GPS :2thumbsup:
There is really nothing hardcore in West Michigan, but there are plenty of scenic forest trails North of M-20 and a few NW of M-120 in the Twin Lake/Holton area. Below is a link to some areas in West Michigan, the second is a link to a Garmin GPS map I made of MI trails. I ride almost every Friday in this area and enjoy the peaceful laid-back ride.
http://www.everytrail.com/browse.php?country=United States&state=Michigan&activity_id=32
http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/546
http://www.everytrail.com/browse.php?country=United States&state=Michigan&activity_id=32
http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/546
Nothing hardcore in west michigan? Not true, I know a couple places between grand rapids and holland that can get pretty extreme. I'm not sure if the place I go is technically legal or not, I've asked a couple cops in the area and the answer I always get is that it's fine or that they don't care. But no mention of whether or not it's actually legal.
Then theres a lake not far from there surrounded in 2-tracks. A lot of people drive back there to go fishing, myself included.
Then there was a place by the rivertown mall but from what I've heard that was illegal and has been closed off.
on a trip to the lkq in wayland we found an old service road or something that goes on forever, looks pretty heavily used for wheeling too.
Then theres a lake not far from there surrounded in 2-tracks. A lot of people drive back there to go fishing, myself included.
Then there was a place by the rivertown mall but from what I've heard that was illegal and has been closed off.
on a trip to the lkq in wayland we found an old service road or something that goes on forever, looks pretty heavily used for wheeling too.
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"I'm not sure if the place I go is technically legal or not..." means you didn't take two minutes to find out if you were tresspassing on private land, which is illegal even if the local cops aren't interested in enforcing it. And even if you are on state/federal land by accident, if it is "extreme" or "hardcore" as you claim but not part of the marked ORV route system, you run the risk of a ticket for "creating an erosive condition". That is not a traffic ticket, it is a misdemeanor criminal offense.
Know before you go:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/ORVguide_95964_7.pdf
http://www.offroad-ed.com/mi/handbook/
I have to agree with the above. Not checking if it's private land is what is hurting off road use the most. Even if it's public land it does not mean open to off road use. Myself I will not venture on to private land unless it's a road on my GPS or posted seasonal road. The DNR can ticket you even if the local law does not, so be careful.
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Not sure if you're still looking for a place to wheel but we are trying to organize a group going to a place just a little over an hour south of Grand Rapids. Here's a link to the place http://www.kidsinthemudd.com/ And here's the thread we have going http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f325/kids-mud-sat-sept-15-a-1401724/
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It's less than an hour... I just drove that stretch today.
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I don't know "all the good trails", but I'm willing to ride along if ya need a second.
I thought this looked familiar! Was the mud hole in a valley of Sweeter Rd trail. up from the Stongate entrance? If so be very careful of the DNR, that area was posted "No Motor Vehicles" this summer and the signs were torn down. The Cedar Creek area is now mapped (MVUM map at National Forest site), if caught of closed trails you can be fined. Unfortunately it is up to us to know the open trails, just because it's there does not make it legal.
FYI - not trying to be a hard a**
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Yea, the mud pit is posted, but the trail around the outside of it is open to ORV. You have to basically go around the edge of the pit on the side trail to get to another trail anyways, my explanation might be a little confusing...
Anyways I didn't dare try to take on the posted area with the tires I had on anyways. Those pictures are of the posted section which I walked on foot. Dueller H/Ts suck everywhere but worse off-road.
Not confusing at all, been wheeling in that area for 30+ years. Hate to disappoint you but those trails are closed to ORV. If you check a copy of the MVUM for the Manistee NF you will find Sweeter Road is open (county rd.), Whitmire Rd. about 1.5 miles from Stonegate running north off Sweeter. Then the snowmobile trail from Whitmire to Linderman (not 100% sure about this trail). Linderman turns in to NF-5912 going south and dead ends. NF-9845 is a dead end off NF-5912 and there is a loop (NF-9842) of Whitmire. These are the only trails open to 4x4's. There is also a motorcycle trail system in the area closed to 4x4's. Sweeter Rd. and Linderman are also closed to unlicensed ORV's as may be Whitmire as they are county roads. Any two-track running of these trails are closed even if not posted according to Michigan Law. So just be careful when riding there, also the DNR does read some of the Forums.
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