Off-Road Vehicle & ATV Trails

Enjoy the Freedom of the Open Road!

Get ready for the ride of your life out in West Branch! Our county has an extensive trail system for off-road vehicle driving, and our local ordinances allow for riders to easily cross between trails on some streets and highways in Ogemaw County. We’re talking about miles of off road trails to explore. As a state-designated ORV trail, a state ORV trail permit will need to be obtained before riding, but there are occasional free weekends where all visitors are free to ride!

Area Spotlight: Ogemaw Hills

The heart of West Branch’s ORV trails.

The Ogemaw Hills ORV trail system is a great way to enjoy the natural beauty of Michigan while experiencing the thrill of off-road riding.

Ogemaw Hills offer a variety of ORV trails for riders to explore. The trails are operated and maintained by the Michigan DNR, and provide a range of difficulty levels and terrain types for riders of all skill levels. The area features over 90 miles of designated ORV trails, including looped and interconnected trails that wind through forests, fields, and wetlands. Some of the trails are open to all types of ORVs, while others are designated for specific vehicle types, such as motorcycles, ATVs, or side-by-sides.

Don’t Have an ORV? Rent One!

RZR Rip’n Rentals
938 N St. Helen Rd
St Helen, MI 48656
(989) 632-3229

Carrying all the powersport rentals you need to enjoy Ogemaw County!

St. Helen Power Sports
1901 N St. Helen Rd.
St. Helen, MI 48656
(989) 389-4961

Find great prices on new and used ATVs, snowmobiles, boats, and more!

Frequently Asked Questions about West Branch ORV Trails

What hours are ORV trails open to the public?
ORV and ATV vehicles can be operated between the hours of ½ hour before sunrise, to ½ hour after sunset to respect local noise ordinances.
Can kids ride?

The State of Michigan does have laws regarding minors operating and riding ORV and ATVs, so refer to full rules at https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/orv-riding/rules/age-restrictions

What is the West Branch ORV Ordinance?

An ordinance for the regulation of operation of ORV’s on streets and highways located north of M-55 in Ogemaw County. It is amended that all portions of the townships of Logan and Ogemaw be included as well as those streets and highways within township boundaries that lie south of M-55.

Sec.1. As used in this ordinance, the following definitions shall apply:

  1. “Streets and Highways” means the entire width between the boundary lines of a way publicly maintained when any part of the way is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
  2. “Operate” means to ride in or on, and be in actual physical control of the operation of an ORV.
  3. “ORV” means a motor driven off-road recreational vehicle with forward movement made possible by the use of two, three, four or six wheels with surface contact made by rubber tires. The vehicle must have a measurement from ground surface to base of seat height greater than eighteen inches. On three, four or six wheeled vehicles the wheel rims may not exceed thirteen inches.
  4. “Road surface” means that portion of a roadway improved, designated, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, and does not include within its meaning the shoulder or right-of-way.
  5. “Shoulder” means that portion of a street or highway to the immediate right of the road surface while facing the direction of travel, which is not generally used for vehicular travel.

Sec.2 Except as set forth herein an ORV may only be operated on the shoulder of county streets or highways in the direction of traffic in a single file manner. ORV’s shall not be operated on the road surface of any streets or highways with the exceptions of sections of streets or highways that do not have an adequate shoulder allowing the ORV to avoid contact with the road surface. In these cases the ORV must remain to the far right of the roadway contacting the least amount of road surface as possible. The operator of an ORV may cross a public highway, other than a limited access highway, at right angles, for the purpose of getting from one area to another, if the operation can be done in safety. The operator shall bring the vehicle to a complete stop before proceeding across a public highway, and shall yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic.

Sec.3 Any ORV being operated on a street or highway in Ogemaw County pursuant to this ordinance must operate at all times in accordance with sections 324.81101 through 324.81150 of the Michigan Complied Laws, being part of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, P.A. 1994, No. 451.

Sec.4 An ORV may not be operated on the road surface, roadway, shoulder or right-of-way of any State highway including but not limited to M-55, M-33 or another State highway in Ogemaw County. An ORV may not be operated within city limits of the City of West Branch or City of Rose City unless the governing bodies of those municipalities specifically permit such use.

Sec.5 Any person who violates this ordinance is guilty of a civil infraction, punishable by a fine of $60.00 plus the cost of prosecution upon the first conviction and $100.00 plus the total cost of prosecution for any subsequent conviction.

Sec.6 Any person who causes damage to any street, highway, or other property as a result of the operation of an ORV, in an area permitted by this ordinance, is guilty of a civil infraction, punishable by a fine of $250.00 plus the cost of prosecution. The Court may also order that the individual pay full restitution for any damage.

Sec.7 Any ORV being operated on a street or highway in Ogemaw County pursuant to this ordinance must not exceed a rate of speed greater than 20 MPH during hours of operation. Operation of an ORV is to be between the hours of ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset.

Sec. 8 A review in three years will take place by the County Commissioners to determine if the ORV Ordinance has accomplished it’s economic objectives, address problems and decide whether or not to continue the existing Ordinance.

Sec. 9 The county adopted this ordinance allowing ORV use of the county road shoulders as access routes in Rose, Klacking, Foster and Rose City, and that the following townships of Goodar, Cummings, Churchill, Hill and all of Logan Township and Ogemaw Township be included on a 1 year trial basis. A township may opt in or out of this ordinance on January 1st, the anniversary of this ordinance, by holding a properly publicized public hearing, proceeded by a majority vote of the township officials. Access routes can be restricted by the same public hearing process and township board vote on an annual basis as well.

Sec. 10 This ordinance becomes effective January 1, 2005.

What trail rules do I need to know?

There are restrictions You can find the full list of Michigan ORV trail laws at https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/orv-riding/rules

Are the trails monitored by law enforcement?

Yes, Ogemaw County ORV trails are monitored by Michigan DNR enforcement agents and State of Michigan police.

People who love West Branch’s ORV trails also enjoy:

Disc Golf & Geocaching

Downtown West Branch

Paddle Sports

Find Your Adventure in West Branch