Manistee National Forest ORV Trail 22A

Trail 22A winds through 18 miles of Manistee National Forest’s most challenging terrain, connecting deep sand tracks with technical hardwood sections that’ll humble cocky drivers. The route starts innocuous near Udell Hills but quickly turns serious at the Manistee River crossing — when it’s running high, you’re either turning around or getting wet to the floorboards.

This is solid moderate territory requiring high-clearance 4WD and aggressive tread. The sand sections will bog down street tires instantly, while the creek crossings demand good spotting and recovery gear. Late spring through early fall offers the best conditions, though summer weekends see heavy ATV traffic. It’s not remote wilderness, but it’s honest Michigan off-roading with enough technical sections to keep you engaged and a few surprises that’ll make you appreciate having a winch.