ORV use on state forest roads
Public Act 288 (PA 288), enacted in Sept. 2016, required 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 89% of state forest roads being opened to ORV use (including roads that are open seasonally). The decisions on state forest roads that will be opened or closed to ORV use in the Upper Peninsula and southern Lower Peninsula are now in effect. 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
Current road inventory and mapping
Thousands of miles of state forest roads are open to ORV use. Mileage is effective April 1, 2020.
- Upper Peninsula: 6,181.92 miles (99.4%) of roads are open year-round to ORV use; 33.04* miles (0.6%) of roads are closed to ORV use; and there is a total of 6,214.96 miles of state forest roads.
- Northern Lower Peninsula: 6,130.33 miles (84%) of roads are open to ORV use; 1,230.03* (16%) miles of roads are closed to ORV use; and there are a total of 7,360.36 miles of state forest roads.
- Southern Lower Peninsula: 8.67 miles (2.3%) of roads are open to ORV use; 356.23* miles (97.7%) of roads are closed to ORV use; and there is a total of 364.9 miles of state forest roads.
*Included within the total road closure mileage for each region are state forest roads that are only seasonally closed to ORV use. These roads are identified on the state forest road maps and the dates that these roads are opened or closed for ORV use will be posted on signs at the site.
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 Current Road Status
- Printable Maps Current Road Status
