ORV Campgrounds In Michigan
Ambrose Lake State Forest Campground
- Trail System: Michigan Cross Country Cycle Trail
- Trail Miles: 200+ for ATVs / 1000 + for dual sport
Overview
- Closest Town: St. Helen MI
- Camping Fees: $15
- Open Dates: Year round
- Reservations Accepted: No, first come, first serve
- Number of Sites: 25
- Hookups: No
- Vehicles Allowed: ATVs < 50”, off road motorcycles
- Amenities:
- Can accommodate up to 40’ vehicles / trailers
- 2 Vault toilets
- Hand pump for water
- Boat ramp
- Fishing
This campground has ride in ride out trails that connect to a vast off road trail system including the Michigan Cross Country Cycle Trail.
ATVers will have easy access to over 200+ miles of trails that head off in all directions. Motorcyclists will have virtually unlimited trail miles to tap into from Ambrose Lake Campground.
This rustic campground is located on small Ambrose Lake which is part of the greater Rifle River Recreation Area, a wilderness located within the AuSable State Forest.
With 7 lakes, 3 ponds and several miles of streams that form the headwaters of the Rifle River, this region is a sportsman’s dream.
In addition to off roading, visitors can also enjoy swimming, hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing and hunting.
Ambrose Lake State Forest Campground
Michigan DNR: ORV, ATV, motorcycle and Michigan Cross Country Cycle Trail Map
Black Lake State Forest Campground (Upper Campground)
- Trail System: Black Lake Trails
- Trail Miles: 110 miles
Overview
- Closest Town: Onaway MI
- Camping Fees: $15
- Open Dates: 4/16 – 11/30 (upper), 5/8 – 10/15 (lower)
- Reservations Accepted: No, first come, first serve.
- Number of Sites: 35 upper, 17 lower
- Hookups: No
- Vehicles Allowed: ATV, dirt bikes, OHV > 50” (limited trail access *see map link for more details)
- Amenities:
- Vault toilets
- Hand pump with drinkable water
Black Lake is located in the rolling hills of Michigan, surrounded by forest. It’s Michigan’s 7th largest inland lake.
Campground can accommodate tents, trailers and RVs of all sizes.
This campground is on a bluff overlooking Black Lake. Sites are comfortably spread out, so it doesn’t feel too crowded.
Plenty of big shade trees with room for ORV trailers.
At Black Lake, there are two camping areas – a lower campground and an upper campground.
In the lower campground OHVs must remain on a trailer and ATVs and ORVs are not allowed on the road.
Only the upper campground is Ride In / Ride Out. So, if you plan on ATVing from your campsite to the trails, make sure you grab a campsite in the right campground.
This campground doesn’t have a beach or any amenities, it’s a rustic campground.
However, you will have easy access to the Black Lake Lower Campground which does have a beach, boat launch and picnic area.
There is a 15 day camping limit.
Black Lake State Forest Upper Campground
Black Lake Michigan ATV Trails Maps – 3 Maps. Shows entire Black Lake route including Bummer’s Roost ATV Trail. Also shows where OHV > 50” can ride.
ATV Michigan
Michigan is an off-roading paradise with endless off-roading opportunities. There are probably a few hundred ORV campgrounds in Michigan, but it’s hard to find them if you don’t know where to look.
So, be sure to check out these post to find sand dunes, trail riding and additional ORV campgrounds in Michigan:
- Michigan’s The Mounds: More Gears. More Fears. More Tears.
- ATV Trails In Upper Michigan: Yoop It Up [Video]
- Silver Lake State Park (Mears, Michigan)
Carrieville State Forest Campground
- Trail System: Little Manistee Trail
- Trail Miles: 46 mile loop
Overview
- Closest Town: Luther MI
- Camping Fees: $15
- Open Dates: Year Round
- Reservations Accepted: No, first come, first serve
- Number of Sites: 31
- Hookups: No
- Vehicles Allowed: ATV, motorcycles, full sized
- Amenities:
- Vault toilets
- Hand pump for water
- Most sites can accommodate 30’ vehicles / trailers
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Mountain biking
This campground can accommodate rigs up to 30’, but larger RV / trailers will want to look elsewhere.
Some of the campsites are tucked into the trees while others are in an open field.
The big draw here is the easy access to the Manistee Trail, but the fishing in the Little Manistee River is also excellent. This scenic river borders the campground and is excellent for trout and steelhead fishing.
The Little Manistee Trail is a 46 mile loop of beginner – intermediate level trails. There are trails for ATVs and full sized vehicles as well as sections of single track for dual sports.
But, this region, Lake County, has a lot more off roading than just the Little Manisttee Trail.
Other Lake County ATV Trails
- Tin Cup
- Lincoln Hills
- Little O
- Michigan Cross-Country Cycle Trail (MCCCT)
Carrieville State Forest Campground
Michigan DNR: ORV, ATV, motorcycle and Michigan Cross Country Cycle Trail Map
Holland Lake State Forest Campground
- Trail System: Pine Ridge ORV Trail & Two Hearted ORV Trail
- Trail Miles: 85 miles
Overview
- Closest Town: Newberry MI
- Camping Fees: $15
- Open Dates: Year Round
- Reservations Accepted: No, first come first serve
- Number of Sites: 15
- Hookups: No
- Vehicles Allowed: ATV <50”, motorcycles
- Amenities:
- Carry In Boat Launch (no ramp)
- Vault toilets
- Hand pump for water
- Fishing
- Hunting
Pretty little rustic campground with a charming little lake for paddling and fishing. No amenities, but lots of big trees with excellent shade.
This campground is only suitable for tents and smaller vehicles / trailers.
Campers will enjoy direct trail access to the 49 mile Pine Ridge ORV Trail which connects with the 36 mile Two Hearted ATV Trail.
For additional riding opportunities, check out the other Luce County ATV trails.
These trails aren’t directly accessible from the campground, but a short trailer haul will get you easy access to a whole lot more trail miles.
Luce County Michigan ATV/ Motorcycle Trails
- Pine Ridge – 49 miles
- Two Hearted – 36 miles
- Silver Creek – 34 miles
- Sandtown Motorcycle Trail – 36 miles
- Danaher Plains Trail – 30 miles
- Newberry-Rexton Motocycle Trail – 54 miles
- Michigan requires both an ORV license and an ORV pass when riding on public lands
- Riding Fees are $36. 35 total. ($26.25 license + costs $10 ORV pass)
- Purchase license and pass online at Michigan.gov Licenses & Permits
- Purchase in person at DNR license agents and dealers
- Michigan has special rules regarding operators under 16 years old
Youth operators under 16 are required to:
- Take an approved ORV education course
- Carry an ORV safety certificate
- Have direct visual supervision by an adult at all times
Michigan ATV/OHV Riding Rules And Regulations
Huron National Forest: Mack Lake ORV Campground & Meadows ORV Campgrounds
- Trail System: Mack Lake and Meadows ORV Complex
- Trail Miles: 158.6 miles
Overview
- Closest Town: Mio MI
- Camping Fees:
- Mack Lake ORV Campground: $15
- Meadows ORV Campground: $10
- Usage:
- Mack Lake ORV Campground: Heavy
- Meadows ORV Campground: Light
- Open Dates: April 16 – November 30
- Reservations Accepted: No. First come, first served
- Number of Sites:
- Mack Lake ORV Campground: 42
- Meadows ORV Campground: 16
- Hookups: No
- RV Size Restrictions:
- Mack Lake ORV Campground: Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers 25’ or less, but there are some sites that can accommodate rigs up to 50’ or less
- Meadows ORV Campground: 25’or less
- Vehicles Allowed: OHV < 50”
- Amenities:
- Mack Lake ORV Campground:
- Picnic Tables/Area
- Pedestal Grills
- Hand Pumps For Water
- Dumpster
- Vault Toilets
- Meadows ORV Campground:
- No Amenities
- No Water
- No Toilets
Of these two ORV campgrounds in Michigan, Mack Lake is a bit nicer with some of the campsites having lake views. Plus, there is potable water and vault toilets available which makes the camping a bit more comfortable.
Of course this comfort comes at a cost – this campground costs more and is also lot busier.
Mack Lake and Meadows ORV Complex OHV Trails
You can ride in ride out from both campgrounds with access to the same ATV trail system as the two trails are connected.
If you have a street legal OHV, you can tap into additional riding on the Huron ORV Trail (45.4 miles) and an additional 30.8 miles of the Meadows ORV Complex.
Huron ORV Trail is open to street legal OHVs < 50”. Meadows MCCCT is open to street legal OHVs <40”.
Both non street legal and street legal vehicles can access and use the Bull Gap Hill Climb Area.
Bull Gap Hill Climb Area is an open riding area with it’s sole draw being a .2 miles hill climb with a 35 – 40% grade. The climb is soft sand with the opportunity to throttle up.
It’s a fun diversion, but it’s pretty short so after a few runs, you’ll probably be ready to move on.