Quick Facts:
- Topic: Michigan state forest roads annual review by the Michigan DNR.
- Announced: Oct. 30, 2026.
- Comments due: Dec. 1, 2026.
- Where to comment: Michigan.gov/ForestRoads or DNR-RoadInventoryProject@Michigan.gov.
- Final decision: DNR director, expected at the February 2027 Natural Resources Commission meeting.
- Maps take effect: April 1, 2027.
- Open year-round: 11,810.4 of 13,446.4 miles in the DNR table.
- Best for: Michigan ORV riders and street-legal 4×4 drivers.
 6 min read
In This Article
Overview
Michigan state forest roads are under annual review, and you have until Dec. 1 to comment on the proposed changes. On Oct. 30, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced its 2026 state forest road inventory review. The proposals include additions, closures and mapping corrections.
Under Public Act 288 of 2016, ORV use is allowed on state forest roads unless the DNR designates otherwise. The review covers only state forest roads. County and township roads fall outside it, according to the DNR release.
The Natural Resources Commission reviews the proposals in January and February 2027. Then the DNR director is expected to make the final decision at the February meeting. Updated maps take effect April 1, 2027. Because the public comment period closes Dec. 1, open the proposed map now and check the roads you drive.
Key Facts at a Glance
This table lists the dates and comment methods from the DNR release and its state forest roads page.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Comment window | Nov. 1 to Dec. 1, 2026 |
| How to comment | Online at Michigan.gov/ForestRoads or by email to DNR-RoadInventoryProject@Michigan.gov |
| Commission review | January and February 2027, with the director expected to decide in February |
| Maps take effect | April 1, 2027 |
A printed map works without a signal. The DeLorme Michigan Atlas & Gazetteer, 17th edition, uses an 11 by 15.75 inch format. It predates the proposals, so use the DNR map for the 2027 changes.
Michigan State Forest Roads: Four Proposal Types
The DNR page lists four types of road proposals.
- Closed to ORVs: roads recommended for closure, for example for resource protection or because of user conflicts.
- Open to ORVs: roads recommended for ORV use, including new roads, roads missed in the first inventory and roads closed earlier.
- Closed to all vehicles: roads recommended for closure to conventional vehicles and ORVs, for example after resource damage.
- Data cleanup: roads deleted because they no longer exist or duplicate another road.
Seasonal access changes also appear in the release, and the DNR posts open and close dates for those roads on its site.
The DNR’s 2025 review summary shows how small these edits ran. It lists 65.8 miles of roads to add, 53.1 miles to remove after closure to conventional vehicles and ORVs, and 62.1 miles to delete in data cleanup. The public sent 13 comments in the year ending Aug. 31, 2025. However, the DNR page’s link to its 2026 summary opens the 2025 summary.
Closures of 53.1 miles equal less than half of one percent of the roughly 13,494 miles in the summary’s three regional totals. Because edits are small, a comment about one specific road gives the DNR something concrete to review.
Michigan State Forest Roads Mileage by Region
The DNR table, marked effective April 1, 2027, splits miles by region. It lists no single roads or proposals. 4wdTalk calculated the share open from DNR miles.
| Region | Open year-round | Closed or seasonal | Total | Share open |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Peninsula | 5,706.4 | 94.2 | 5,800.6 | 98.4% |
| Northern Lower Peninsula | 6,094.9 | 1,191.8 | 7,286.7 | 83.6% |
| Southern Lower Peninsula | 9.1 | 350.0 | 359.1 | 2.5% |
| All locations | 11,810.4 | 1,636.0 | 13,446.4 | 87.8% |
The Northern Lower Peninsula holds 1,191.8 of the 1,636 closed or seasonally closed miles, about 73 percent. In contrast, the Upper Peninsula is open year-round on 98.4 percent of its miles. The DNR page also says the law has opened 89 percent of state forest roads to ORV use, including roads open seasonally.
Why the DNR Reviews Michigan State Forest Roads Every Year
Public Act 288 of 2016 opened most state forest roads in the Northern Lower Peninsula to ORV use starting Jan. 1, 2018. The law also required the DNR to inventory and map all state forest roads. Since then, the annual state forest road inventory has updated those maps.
First, the DNR accepts comments on current maps until Aug. 31. Next, comments on proposed changes follow in a separate window, this year Nov. 1 to Dec. 1. Finally, approved changes take effect April 1.
The DNR publishes the criteria it uses to close a road to ORVs, including environmental and resource protection, user safety, reducing user conflict, poor road conditions, road density and lack of legal access. A land use order, deed restriction or management plan also closes a road.
National forests, however, run a separate federal process. For the federal side, read our update on the Forest Service travel management rule.
How to Comment on Michigan State Forest Roads Proposals
You have until Dec. 1 to send comments, and four steps cover it.
- First, open Michigan.gov/ForestRoads and choose the proposed changes interactive map or the printable PDF maps by county.
- Next, find each road you drive or ride and note its proposal type.
- Then comment through the online map, or email DNR-RoadInventoryProject@Michigan.gov, by Dec. 1.
- Finally, add in-person comments at the January or February Natural Resources Commission meetings.
Name the road, say how you use it, and state whether you support or oppose the proposal. For an example of numbers backing an access argument, read our coverage of the Moab economic impact study. If you need help reading the map, email DNR-GIS@Michigan.gov.
What This Means for You
Two groups face different questions. ORV riders should look for roads labeled open to ORVs or closed to ORVs. Drivers of street-legal Jeeps, trucks and SUVs should especially look for roads proposed closed to all vehicles.
Check which label each road carries before you assume your rig keeps access.
Public access also has limits. The DNR notes state forest roads stay open to the public only while the DNR allows it, and nothing guarantees a road stays passable year-round. Seasonal closures also add dates to check before a trip.
While you plan routes, note the DNR’s safety point: speed is the main contributing factor in ORV crashes and fatalities. A second comment deadline falls on Dec. 1, when the Big Cypress ORV rule closes its comment period.
The DNR defines a forest road to include gravel and dirt routes, so plan for tire trouble away from pavement. Three items cover it: the ARB E-Z Deflator for airing down, the VIAIR 400P compressor for airing back up, and the Safety Seal Truck Tire Repair Kit for a puncture.
Tire gear for gravel and dirt forest roads
ARB ARB505 Deflator Kit 10-60 PSI Tire Pressure Gauge Rapid Air Dow…
Final Thoughts
The Michigan state forest roads review asks little of you. Open a map, check your roads and send a few specific sentences by Dec. 1. If you ride the Northern Lower Peninsula, where most of the 1,636 closed or seasonally closed miles sit, start there.
A comment does not guarantee a result. The DNR publishes the criteria it uses to decide when a road closes to ORVs. Meanwhile, the commission reviews the proposals, and the DNR director is expected to make the final decision. Still, the DNR says updated maps reflect public feedback and management input. Last year’s summary counts 13 public comments, and staff reviewed each as a possible proposal.
If you drive a Jeep, truck or SUV, start with roads proposed closed to all vehicles. Put Dec. 1 on your calendar. Then watch the January and February commission agendas for the proposals you care about.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are comments due on Michigan state forest roads proposals?
Comments are due Dec. 1, 2026, and the public comment period runs Nov. 1 to Dec. 1. The DNR also accepts in-person comments at the January and February commission meetings.
How do you comment on the proposed changes?
Visit Michigan.gov/ForestRoads and use the interactive map or the printable PDFs. Then send comments online or by email to DNR-RoadInventoryProject@Michigan.gov. According to the DNR, the interactive map is the best option.
Does the review change ORV rules on county or township roads?
No. The review applies only to state forest roads. Roads managed by counties or townships fall outside it.
When do the new maps take effect?
Updated maps take effect April 1, 2027. Before then, the commission reviews proposals in January and February, and the DNR director is expected to decide at the February meeting.
Why does the DNR close a state forest road to ORVs?
The DNR cites resource protection, user safety, user conflict, poor road conditions, road density and lack of legal access, among other criteria. Land use orders also close roads.
Are Michigan state forest roads open to street-legal 4x4s?
The DNR describes state forest roads as open to conventional vehicles. However, proposals include closing some roads to conventional vehicles, so check the proposed map for each road you drive.