Drummond Island Off Road Trail Adventure

If you are looking for a perfect off-road experience with memories to cherish you are at the right place. Let us share our memorable adventure with you!

Surrounded by scenic beauty Drummond Island should be on EVERYONE’S bucket list not just off-road enthusiasts. Lovingly known as, “Gem of the Huron,” Drummond Island is located off the far Eastern part of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and is the 2nd largest freshwater island in the United States. This off-road trail is the largest closed-looped trail system for off-road enthusiasts. This island trail system takes you to such famed sites as Fossil Ledges, Marble Head and Shale Beach, which is the beach pictured above.

As an Amazon Associate BadgersOffRoad earns from qualifying purchases.

Dubbeded the “Gem of the Huron” for a thousand good reasons, Drummond Island is famous for both its outdoor pursuits and pristine beauty. If you’re looking for memorable off-road adventure, explore over 100 miles of ATV/UTV and ORV trails. Relax and immerse yourself in the peace and tranquility by strolling along the beach and forest roads, looking for puddingstones and soak in the natural surroundings that the island has to offer.

Densely wooded and rocky trails wind through this island outdoor paradise of more than 40 inland lakes and 150 miles of shoreline. A short trip by ferry takes you to this gem of an island located just off of Michigan’s remote Eastern Upper Peninsula. Drummond Island’s trails consist of rugged terrain, mud and water, breathtaking vistas, and scenic bays.

I recommend you go see why Drummond Island is Michigan’s “natural” choice for off-road adventure.

Drummond Island is Part of the Adventure

Getting to Drummond Island

You can get to Drummond Island, year-round, by car ferry from De Tour Village. DeTour Village is at the most eastern tip of the Upper Peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water. The short 10–15-minute trip across the St. Mary’s River is the perfect time to take a deep breath and transition yourself over to “Island Time.”

Your adventure begins with a one-mile ferry ride across the St. Mary’s River. The ferry, (which was capable of taking our Motorcoach and trailer with our machines in it across), crosses the river hourly bringing cars, passengers, trucks, motorhome and semi-trucks, across to the Island. There are no advance ticket sales. Vehicles line up in DeTour waiting to board the ferry. The round-trip ferry fare is collected by the deck hand once you are safely on board. Over 100,000 round-trip vehicle tickets and nearly 200,000 round-trip passenger tickets are purchased each year. The efforts and safety records of the boats and crews are a testament to the quality of service they provide.

While crossing the St. Mary’s River, remember that you are crossing one of the busiest waterways in the world. The St. Mary’s River is an international waterway with over 4,500 cargo carriers passing Drummond Island each year!

Everything you need to know about Drummond Island ORV & ATV/UTV trails

If it’s true that the best trips lie off the beaten terrain, then the best trips lie on Michigan’s Drummond Island—especially if you’re an ORV or ATV/UTV enthusiast.

It takes some time to get to this northern Michigan island, located just east of the Upper Peninsula in northern Lake Huron.

Highway 2 runs across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (affectionately known as “The Up”) in two segments, totaling about 300 miles. Winding its way from Menominee to the city lights of Gladstone, the Upper Peninsula’s “Hidden Coast” is a shore-hugging scenic drive that takes you from the bays of Lake Michigan to the crossroads of the U.P at Escanaba, Michigan. There are more than 25 scenic overlooks along this drive to Drummond Island, and you’re definitely going to want to pull over for some incredible vistas.

To access Drummond Island, simply head as far east as you can go on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to a little town called DeTour Village. DeTour Village is a delightful little town which was incorporated in 1899.

Make your way to DeTour Village where you’ll line up at a stop sign for the ferry and wait for the lights to turn green or for the crew to wave you forward. Once your ferry from the village of DeTour arrives, let the off-roading begin. Driving has never been quite so much fun.

Okay, so now you’re on the island and ready to view the terrain. There are a few things you should still do if you haven’t already.

Your first stop should be Johnson’s Sport Shop, located at 29129 E. Channel Road. Here you can pick up a map of the island’s off-road trails, which also shows areas where you can camp legally. We camped at Wa-Wen Resort; it is a great ATV/UTV friendly place to stay and the owners are very nice. (They even offered their shop if we need to fix anything on our machines.) If you’re not camping at the campground, you will need a free camping permit for each camping location, even if you are just wild free camping. It’s just a Michigan thing. You can go to Johnson’s Sport Shop they will explain everything to you. They will give you the permits that you will need, including how they must be posted publicly at your campsite before you even set up camp.

Also, if you don’t have them already, make sure you pick up your Michigan State ORV license and ORV trail permit. You’ll need both. The good news is you can purchase them right at Johnson’s Sport Shop.

The island is over 60 miles of ATV/UTV trails and 40 miles of ORV routes, Drummond Island is home to Michigan’s largest off-road trail system. The island offers a paradise not only of trails, but also its wide variety of terrain, geared for experts and novices alike. You’ll find some of Drummond Island’s most scenic and rugged routes here – dense hardwood forests, wildflower-strewn meadows, rocky-ridges that promise off-road adventurers an adrenaline rush like no other.

One of the many focal points of this island is Marble Head, where your ATV/UTV or ORV brings you to the edge of 90-foot bluffs looking down at Lake Huron.

Drive beneath a canopy of hardwood trees, deep green in summer and brilliant with yellows and reds in autumn. Look for startled white-tailed deer, sandhill cranes and perhaps even an elusive black bear along the back roads. Discover routes carved out of bedrock by Lake Huron and the last Ice Age. Power over rock ledges near Marble Head and cruise along the pebbly shore at Sitgreaves Bay.

FAVORITE DRUMMOND ISLAND TRAILS

Turtle Ridge Off-Road Park
Drummond Island Resort is the proud home of the Turtle Ridge ORV Park south of Maxton Bay in the center of Drummond Island. Turtle Ridge has over 500 acres of prime off-road vehicle trails. The ORV Park is crisscrossed by trails and carved out of Drummond Island’s natural limestone, offering adrenaline junkies routes up steep hillsides and over huge rock ledges, that give thrills and excitement for all those who experience it.

Marble Head
Roll over the rock shelves leading to Marble Head. Pull over for a walk along the ridge and view Lake Huron’s False Detour Channel. Just beyond lies Canada’s Cockburn Island.

Shale Cove Beach
Located just south of Marble Head, Shale Beach is known for its pure white shale stones, worn smooth and round and pushed into mounds by Lake Huron’s powerful surf. Shale Beach measures 2 miles in length and is a favorite spot for picnicking, beachcombing, shooting photos and skipping stones. (The beach is considered too dangerous for swimming).

Glen’s Cove Beach
Head out to this narrow strand on Drummond Island’s eastern shore, a golden sand beach dappled with sunlight on summer days.

Where to stay

Whether you’re staying overnight, or for a few days Wa-Wen Resort is a great ATV/UTV friendly place to stay. Like we explained above, If you’re not camping at the campground, you will need a free camping permit for each camping location that you camp on the island, even if you are just free camping. It’s just a Michigan thing. You can go to Johnson’s Sport Shop they will explain everything to you. They will give you the permits that you will need, including how they must be posted publicly at your campsite before you even set up camp.

DRUMMOND ISLAND NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

While riding on Drummond Island… it is illegal to:
Operate an ORV on any wetlands, to include lakes, shorelines, swamps, bogs, marshes (wet or dry), streams or rivers, or ride on Great Lakes shoreline or beaches.
Operate an ORV off the marked trail. (Consult the DNR ORV handbook for further information)
Operate an ORV on private property, posted or not posted, unless you have permission from the landowner.

Operate an ORV on any State Highway including M-134.
All Drummond Township and Chippewa County roads are open to ORV traffic.
Operate an ORV under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Operate an ORV without a helmet.
Operate an ORV with a passenger on a one up machine.
Operate an ORV on a closed snowmobile trail or ski trail.

Additionally…
ORV Speed limits are 25 mph on all county roads unless posted lower. You must ride single file on the far-right side of the road.

Quick Tips

Fuel up before you hit the island, as fuel is more expensive once there.
If you’re camping or on a budget we recommend loading up on food and drinks before taking the ferry over, as with most islands the prices go up and selection goes down.
Cell coverage is pretty good (but be sure to watch your cell service, mine changed over to Canada’s cell service), I’d recommend bringing walkie talkies if you are with a group, because there are quite a few dead zones on the island. These are the ones we used and they worked great!

 4.5/5

"We were so glad to read about Drummond Island that we planned a trip in August.

madison Huntley

 4.5/5

GREAT ADVENTURE! LOVED THE UP-NORTH ISLAND GETAWAY TRAILS. THE ISLAND IS BEAUTIFUL AND WE CANNOT WAIT TO GO BACK".

Julie Robinson

 4.5/5

"Beautiful place to off-road." Family loved the entire island, and we can't wait to go back!

jonathan

 4.5/5

"Trail system was really a totally different kind of riding." I definitely recommend adding it to the bucket list of places to ride!

Moose Rigid DOT UTV Tire www.badgersoffroad.com

James Brook

Plan an Unforgettable Experience to Drummond Island Today!

We might even see you when we go back to visit!

Camping at the island? Try Wa-wen resort | it's an off-road friendly place to stay!

Subscribe To badgers Off Road newsletter

Other off-road places to consider

ULTIMATE LIST OF ATV AND UTV OFF ROAD TRAILS IN THE U.S.

Drummond Island Off Road Trail Adventure

Experience the Life of The "Gem of the Huron"

Drummond Island is Part of the Adventure

Getting to Drummond Island

Everything you need to know about Drummond Island ORV & ATV/UTV trails

DRUMMOND ISLAND'S TERRAIN

Marble Head

Mus Nemesis Trail

Drummond Island

Badgers Off Road Pictures

FAVORITE DRUMMOND ISLAND TRAILS

Where to stay

DRUMMOND ISLAND NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Quick Tips

What Our readers say

Plan an Unforgettable Experience to Drummond Island Today!

Subscribe To badgers Off Road newsletter

Other off-road places to consider