ride MI trails in winter???

all orv trails are open in the winter, you will need studded tires though. once the snow mobiles get on them they are a biouch to ride, you can't steer. I ususlly get out 6-8 times each winter

All the trails are open - just not many people ride them. If you ride the narrow single track where the snowmobile's can't go you don't have that issue. We ride single track until it's unrideable. The first guy through has the easiest time of it and each person after that it gets harder because the line the guy in front of you made wants to grab you - but it's not impossible. When there's a thaw and a refreeze is when the single track becomes very hard to ride because the snow is hard and that line then will grab you. Once it gets to that point then we start riding the groomed snowmobile trails. We ride the Little Manistee area mostly when we're hitting the snowmobile trails but I'm sure there are other good areas. Last year we rode single track until the end of January and then hit the snowmobile trails for about a month and a half and then were back on the single track.

so basicly if you can ride a sled on it you can ride a bike legally right?

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NOO!

Your BIL probably was riding a snowmobile trail and got busted. Snowmobile trails are not automatically open to bikes or ATVs. Many snowmobile trails are closed to wheeled vehicles when there's enough snow on the ground for snowmobile traffic.
If it's also an ORV Route, as in a shared snowmobile/ORV Route, then it's legal for your bike.
If your bike is plated (street legal) then many of the snowmobile trails are also open to you. Still some exceptions including private property (leased land for sled trails, open to sleds only), closed to wheeled vehicles and other things.

bclark001 said:

so basicly if you can ride a sled on it you can ride a bike legally right?

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Not correct! you cannot ride anywhere the sleds can ride - there are some sled only trails some sled and bike together is OK (typically in summer it's a Quad/bike trail) - usually marked that way with signage - basically you can ride anywhere in the winter where you can also legally ride in the summer.

I don't know why your buddy would have a Quad confiscated as I have been out on many different lake surfaces in the winter too - however you do still need the ORV sticker (or snowmobile sticker) unless the lake is posted off limits perhaps. You might also check for certain regulations on lake surfaces in winter - speed limits and sound come to mind - your buddy might have had one of these issues.

SORRY 2trakR- Didn't see your post - must have been writing at the same time and I'm a slow typist!

There are some trails only open to the sleds. Example by Blue Trail system the pipe lines are only sleds and you will be ticketed.