Mackinac County Forest Road 3151 Black River Technical Loop

Forest Road 3151 cuts through the forgotten timber country of Mackinac County’s eastern wilderness, where abandoned logging camps once fed the Great Lakes lumber boom. This remote two-track winds through dense hardwood forest along the Black River drainage, crossing multiple seasonal creeks and navigating steep grades that still bear the scars of turn-of-the-century log skidding operations. The route features several technical rock gardens near Mile Marker 4.2 and a notorious mud hole at Beaver Creek Crossing that’s claimed more than one overconfident driver.

This is legitimate backcountry wheeling requiring high-clearance 4WD with skid plates and recovery gear. Deep ruts, fallen timber, and seasonal washouts keep most weekend warriors away. Best tackled May through October when water levels drop and mosquitoes ease up slightly. No permits needed, but bring extra fuel — nearest gas is 40 miles back in Newberry. The reward is pristine wilderness camping along Black River and some of the finest brook trout water in the Upper Peninsula.