What changed in Michigan ORV and trail riding for 2026

Updated June 2026. This page is the annual anchor — we refresh it each spring when the new forest-road maps land, and again in fall for the snowmobile season.

The 2026 changes

• Forest road maps refreshed April 1: 11,841 miles of state forest roads open to ORVs — up again from last year, continuing the steady opening that began with the 2016 inventory law.
• Storm closures linger up north: cleanup from recent severe storms — including the historic 2025 ice storm — still has some northern Lower Peninsula forest roads closed. The interactive map carries current closures; trust it over any printed list.
• Snowmobile trail permit: $52 → $65 for 2026–27. Not a discretionary hike — state law requires a Consumer Price Index adjustment every five years, and 2026 was the year. Permits go on sale September 1.
• Free ORV Weekends: June 13–14 and August 15–16, 2026. No license or trail permit needed, statewide; the June weekend stacked with Free Fishing Weekend and free state-park entry into one “Three Free” weekend.

Watch list (not settled)

• The FY2027 budget proposes recreation fee changes alongside the hunting and fishing license increases. Until something is enacted, current prices apply — confirm at checkout.
• Scramble-area fees are county-controlled (Holly Oaks, The Mounds) and change without DNR announcements — check the county park pages before you haul.
• Every November, the DNR takes public comment on the next year’s forest-road maps — the rider’s chance to speak up for a road.

The signpost

Rules, maps, and closures live at Michigan.gov/ORVInfo. Start with ORV riding in Michigan, explained — and see the other seasons at what changed in hunting and what changed in fishing.