In part, that's due to the opening up of State Forest roads to the vehicles.
In 2018, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources opened 89% of the state's forest roads to ORVs after the state legislature passed Public Act 288 in 2016.
But when the state opened its forest roads to ORVs, the Huron-Manistee National Forest didn't. ORVsâalso known as Off-Highway Vehiclesâweren't allowed on HMNF roads. That could be about to change.
The HMNF is looking at allowing ORVs on the national forest roads that are already open to highway-legal vehicles.
"What we're proposing is that we change our motor vehicle use designation to include all wheeled vehicles," said Joshua Veal, public affairs officer for the Huron-Manistee National Forest. "We're not looking for big, giant wholesale changes. All the Forest Service is wanting to do is come into alignment with Public Act 288."