Why Tahquamenon Country Is the Best ATV Destination
Kick up dust, sling mud and rev up for nonstop ATV/UTV thrills. The ultimate off-road vacation adventures happen in Tahquamenon Country!
Do you get your thrills kicking up dust and flinging mud roaring through the backwoods on your ATV/ UTV? We do, too, in Tahquamenon County. Your freedom machine will get your adrenaline rushing and your eyes popping when you see how untamed our land and waters are. It won’t take long to convince you to vacation here, but here’s what you need to know.
In our favor, we are a little over an hour from the Mackinac Bridge. There are more than 200 miles of designated ATV/UTV trails in Tahquamenon Country (Luce and part of Chippewa Counties). Add the hundreds of miles of forest and county roads open to ATVs/UTVs and you can ride for days (maybe weeks) without seeing the same stretch of scenery.
Hotels and restaurants in Newberry and Paradise are within minutes of our trails. We won’t look at you weird if your face is spattered with mud, but please wear clean boots and shoes when you walk through the doors.
We share our designated off-road vehicle trails with snowmobiles, so when the snow melts and we stop grooming the trails for sledders, you are welcome to ride. Think as early as the end of March through November. To learn when the trails open or close for snowmobilers, follow the trail reports for Newberry and Paradise.
A network of trails through the Lake Superior State Forest wilderness provides hours of unsurpassed riding. The forest is bordered on the north by Lake Superior, the south by Lake Michigan, the east by Interstate 75 and the west by Newberry State Forest Area. It starts 11 miles west of Grand Marais and 34 miles north of Newberry. To reach the forest, you can take Highway 123 from the north, east or west or Highway 28 from the south.
Most of the forest north of 4 Mile Corner (4 miles north of Newberry on M-123 towards Tahquamenon Falls) is open to off-roading. State Forest roads are also open to ORV users unless otherwise posted. In addition, almost all of the many seasonal roads throughout Luce County are open to ORV enthusiasts unless gated.
Michigan DNR Luce County Off-Road Trail Map
From Paradise, you can follow Snowmobile/ATV Trail #8 to Crisp Point (one of the most remote lighthouses on Lake Superior). You can ride other trails into state forest land and south to Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.
Michigan DNR Chippewa County Off-Road Trail Map
Off of Deer Park Road (CR 407). Turn west on CR 416 for parking and restrooms at the trailhead. This trail is easy to moderate to navigate with fast, smooth sections to open your throttle. The northern section offers breathtaking views of Lake Superior. For longer rides, it connects to the Two Hearted Trail West.
The trailhead is on CR 416 with ample parking and a restroom. This shallow sand trail with some black dirt offers a fast, smooth ride to the Two Hearted River. Bring a fishing pole to cast for trout.
Only three miles north of Newberry, you will be on the trail in minutes. Take M-123 north, then turn west on CR 446 to reach the parking lot. This black dirt with some sand trail is overall smooth and fast, but be on the alert for roots and downed trees. A 0.7-mile section at the Southeast corner of the DNR published loop is permanently closed, but you can find a workaround.
Smooth, fast and with little terrain change, this is an excellent trail for beginners and young ORVers. Expect to see some logging along the trail and kick up dust on dry days.
This track is intentionally tight, twisty and moderately challenging to give dirt bikers four hours of thrills to complete it. Expect elevation and terrain changes, hairpin turns and unforgettable memories.
Trailhead parking and restrooms are at the end of CR 403. Follow the orange blazes on the trees along this narrow, twisty, mostly flat single-track. Riders will tell you it’s a good, day-long ride.
Renze Power Sports | Newberry | 2-, 4- and 6-seaters
Curtis Adventures LLC | Curtis | 2-, 4- and 6-seaters | Delivery available
Most UTV/ATVs have storage compartments and when riding in Tahquamenon Country there are some essentials you must either wear or carry.
In Tahquamenon Country, we care about your safety and the protection of our wilderness. Michigan’s ORV rules and regulations are designed to do both. All ORVs, including motorcycles and dirt bikes, must have a certificate of title and license if bought by a Michigan resident. You must also have an ORV trail permit for each vehicle ridden on state-designated ORV trails, routes or areas.
All ORV operators and passengers must wear a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)–approved crash helmet and protective eyewear. You can learn more about required ORV equipment, operator age restrictions, land-use rules, other regulations and safety tips in the Michigan ORV handbook. Please take time to read it.
For additional Upper Peninsula ATV/ORV information, clarification of regulations or detailed ORV trail maps, please visit the Newberry Department of Natural Resources Operation Center, just north of Newberry at M-28 and M-123. You can also call their office at (906) 293-5131.
Twice a year, Michigan welcomes ORV enthusiasts to ride without a state ORV trail permit and license on designated weekends in June and August. Michigan residents and non-residents can test their freedom machines on the state’s 4,000 miles off-road vehicle trails, including those in Tahquamenon Country. Get details below, then meet us on the trails!
It’s never too early to plan the ultimate ATV/UTV vacation in Tahquamenon Country. Late spring through early September are our busiest seasons, so make reservations now to ensure you get the amenities and rates you prefer. When you wake up, you will be ready to hit more trails or explore dozens of other fun things to do right outside your hotel door.
