GLDS is the grant sponsor for these trails as of 2026. In 2025 we took on these trails in partnership with the Cycle Conservation Club of MI. Our Club cleared these trails from the horrendous ice storm of 2025 and then performed our two rounds of brushing/signing afterwards. GLDS will also be grading these trails starting in 2026. We have plans for stump grinding starting this or next year.

Big Bear and Crapo Creek are separate ORV Trails, that have a linear trail connecting them, we usually treat them as one large trail and they total about 35 miles. ORVs less than 50″ in width are allowed on these trails. Designated parking is available off of the North Branch ORV Route, which connects east to the Crapo Creek Trail. Parking is off of Old State Road about 12 miles west of Lewiston. There is another DNR Recreational Trails Parking area on Buttles Road on the eastern side of the Big Bear trail. It is not an official ORV Parking area.

4/26/26 Trail Update

GLDS crews worked over the last week to clear the trails from winter storm damage and logging activity. There was a lot of slash brought down over the winter, remnants of the March 2025 ice storm, along with many other trees. Most of the timber harvested areas either left slash on the trail or left random exposed trees that subsequently blew down after their protective neighbor trees were cut. The majority of these harvest areas were to storm-damage-affected “priority” cuts outside of the normal tree harvest schedule. We’ve cut over 62 downed trees and removed over 600 sections of slash/limbs. The trails are generally clear and in good shape.