GLDS, as part of our ORV Grant, performs summer-season grading for the Atlanta ORV Route and also other Routes as the DNR sees suitable. We have graded the Indian River ORV Route (now done by local club) as well as the Frederic and North Branch ORV Routes. 2026 has Atlanta on weekly grading, as needed, and monthly grading on Frederic and North Branch, with discussion ongoing for other area ORV Routes not already served by another Club.
Atlanta has 62 miles of ORV Routes, approximately 50 of those are also designated snowmobile trails and receive most of the traffic. Routes are road-width and open to any size ORV. Designated parking areas are at the DNR station on M33 just north of Atlanta and off Pine Oaks road near Hillman, north of Pleasant Valley rd. The Route connects to Clear Lake State Park and also Jackson Lake State Forest Campground; both allow ORVs from the campsite; the Route also connects directly to the El Bo Inn (food) and the CCR Trading Post (gas) which are on M33.
The high traffic sections are graded weekly or as needed and the other sections are graded as needed. A different club handles the summer brushing/signing; GLDS handles the fall/winter brushing/signing as part of our Snowmobile grant.
6/4/26 Atlanta ORV Route Update
Weekly grading continues and trails are in great shape. Dried up enough to fix a couple of the wet/muddy areas (if you caught a particular group’s recent FB video, below is afterwards spending some time on that section, now that things are drier). Next pict is just another section of great trail.
5/22/26 Atlanta ORV Route Update
Regular weekly grading on the Routes continue. Over 2″ of rain came down earlier this week soaking the trails. Be cautious with the wet areas, they may be deeper than they look. We continue to shape and drain those areas, however some are in saturated areas with nowhere for the water to go. Trails should otherwise be in great shape.
5/12/26 Atlanta ORV Route Update
Significant fire over the weekend, “Tomahawk Lake Fire”, which the DNR put in major effort & resources to contain. About 190 acres affected. None of the Designated Routes or Trails in the area were negatively affected. The fire was north of Snowmobile Trail 492 (the Route that connects to the El Bo Inn) and west of Snowmobile Trail 9. More info from DNR: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIDNR/bulletins/416d043
Regular Grading continues, trails are in great shape with only minor wet areas. Much needed rain today, though that will dissipate quickly and bring the dust back.
5/6/26 Atlanta ORV Route update
Regular grading continues. Trails are in great shape. The spring thaw and rains are receding, drying up the few spots that were holding water. Traffic continues to be steady.
4/26/26 Atlanta ORV Route update
Route grading started in April and is continuing weekly. We are seeing excessively high traffic for this time of year, so we’re happy to be out there grading and keeping the trails (Routes) in great shape. An excessively wet spring has high water in some areas, though things are starting to dry up now.
