The US Forest Service is updated the regulations to ride your ATV in Ottawa National Forest. This change not only affected recreational ATV riders, but ATVs used in hunting, fishing, and other transportation to activities within the national forest area. There will be a few posted roads left open but for the most part, the majority of the currently designated ATV trails will be closed to all OHV traffic.
The Forest Service claims that environmental impact of ATVs and limited personnel on their part are the major reasons for the trails being closed. There were over 200,000 miles of forest roads that are open to OHV use. And an additional 36,000 miles of solely designated ATV trails. National forest recreational riders are large contributors to many small, local economies. Under the new ruling, the amount of ATV trails that are open for riding in the Ottawa National Forest has dwindled to less then 20-miles of designated areas for ATV recreation. Part of the trail is an abandoned rail grade that was built as part of the Pioneer Trail by the US Army Reserve.
You can still make a day out of riding your ATV in the Ottawa National Forest, but be aware that the "Open to Ride Unless Posted Closed" rule no longer applies here and stay on the designated ATV riding paths only or you risk a hefty fine that will cost you more than your ATV.
