Forest Roads Inventory

  • ORV use on state forest roads

    Public Act 288 (PA 288), enacted in Sept. 2016, requires the DNR to inventory and map all state forest roads in the Northern Lower Peninsula by the end of 2017, and the Upper Peninsula and southern Lower Peninsula by the end of 2018. To date, the implementation of the law has resulted in 84% of the state forest roads in the northern Lower Peninsula being opened to ORV use. The decisions on state forest roads that will be opened or closed to ORV use in the Upper Peninsula and southern Lower Peninsula will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2019. The law also allows for the cross-country retrieval of deer, bear and elk using ORVs and horses. See FAQs and closure criteria.

    Annual review process

    The mapping and inventory process is an ongoing effort, with reviews being completed on the ground by DNR staff as well as an in-depth review of public comments each year:

    • Comments on current maps are accepted until Aug. 31 each year
    • Comments on proposed changes to maps are accepted during open comment periods

Northern Lower Peninsula

  • Initial inventory and mapping complete

    In the northern Lower Peninsula there are 7,552 miles of forest roads total and 6,308 of those are currently opened to ORV use. These roads were inventoried and mapped in 2017, with maps going into effect Jan. 1, 2018.

    Current Maps

    You can use the following maps to see what is open and closed to ORV use. You can also use these maps to make comments, by Aug. 31, which will be reviewed for potential action and inclusion in next year’s maps.

  • Interactive Map - Northern LP Current Road Status
  • Printable Maps - Northern LP Current Road Status

  • Proposed Changes

    The comment period for proposed changes to the current maps for 2019 is now open until Dec. 7. Proposed changes include adding roads that were previously unmapped, deleting mapped roads that no longer exist, and closing/opening roads to ORV use. You can use the interactive map and submit comments right on the map itself, or use the printable maps and email your comments to DNR-roadinventoryproject@michigan.gov.

  • Interactive Map - Northern LP Proposed Changes
  • Printable Maps - Northern LP Proposed Changes

  • After comments are collected and reviewed each year, proposed changes will be presented at a Natural Resources Commission meeting in January, the DNR Director will make a final decision at the NRC meeting in February, and new maps will be published by April 1.

Upper Peninsula

  • Initial inventory and mapping in progress

    The comment period for these roads is open now until Nov. 15. You can use the interactive map and submit comments right on the map itself, or use the printable maps and email your comments to DNR-roadinventoryproject@michigan.gov or by mail to ATTN: DNR Roads Inventory Project, 1990 US-41 South, Marquette, MI 49855.

  • Interactive Map - UP Proposed Road Status
  • Printable Maps - UP Proposed Road Status

  • The final recommendations will be presented at an NRC meeting in December, where the DNR Director will make a decision. The maps will go into effect Jan. 1, 2019.

Southern Lower Peninsula