This file contains three dual sport routes.
The Northern-Highland American Legion State Forest loop is 130 miles long. Longest gas is less than 60 miles. It is an entertaining ride intended to be ridden counter-clockwise.
The second loop runs through the National Forest. It is about 210 miles long.
The third loop runs along some railroad grades that have been converted to ORV trails. It is about 217 miles long, but has a cut-of option at Watersmeet to make it shorter.
Northern Highland
Northern Highland
Northern Highland
The National Forest loop starts and ends using some paved roads. Paved or not, they are fun to ride.
Some of the route skirts a wilderness area.
Over the two days of proofing these routes, I would sometimes catch myself smiling as I encountered entertaining sections.
The paved sections are nice.
Michigan Railroad Grade Loop
Trestles along the way.
Cool, clear streams. For a while the trail nestles up against the Brule River which is the Wisconsin - Michigan border.
When you get to Watersmeet, get gas (if you need it) as there may be none in Marenisco. Also, take some time to visit the Ottawa National Forest Visitor's Center. They have some great exhibits that include three wolves, a black bear, a fisher, a lynx, a couple of bobcats, and other local animals - stuffed of course.
There is also the opportunity to take a short cut on the route to cut it down from 215 to 140 miles. One way to go is to take a railroad grade (dark red) south to the Wisconsin border at Land O' Lakes. This is nice, but the road that runs next to it (dark green) is a much more twisty, rolling, and entertaining ride.
Don't miss this rolling and twisting segment! What a great road!
