Twisted Trails Off-Road Park
By Donna Sulivan, Contributing Writer
Twisted Trails started as a vision by one of the owners with some of his buddies and is now the largest Off Road Park in Michigan at 400 acres. Siblings Dale and Donna Humphrey continue to make this dream grow. Starting with just a couple events a year on 100 acres has transitioned into being open 7 days a week for the first time this year! The General Store operates 10am to 6pm daily with extended hours for special events on Fridays and Saturdays (9am to 10pm).
The convenience of the on-site rustic campground is tough to beat. Within a few feet of the trail, you can ride your off-road rig right into the park. After a day’s ride, kick back around the bonfire for a little rest and relaxation. There are a few electrical sites and if you don’t get one of those you are welcome to pack your generator for your trip. Camping is convenient for off-roading fun, but it was also designed to accommodate the 20 or so special events scheduled throughout the year.
Those 1-2 early year events that started on the original 100 acres have grown to over 20 events throughout the year with four concerts and four races that challenge even the professional drivers that have had the pleasure to hit the Twisted Trails of Northern Michigan! In fact, Twisted Trails is wrapping up the WTCM Country Campout, one of a few they partner with Midwestern Broadcasting that helps support the veteran 22-2-None group for 2022. This is an organization that hits home as they have family that have served. Dale and Donna’s grandfather is a WWII vet, and Donna’s son is currently deployed. Their deputy of security and the gentleman that runs the Schwenk’in Wagon serving scrumptious food off the grill at all their events are both veterans.
They have extended hours over the Fourth of July where you can play from 10am-10pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the weekend to celebrate our countries’ freedom. Also on October 26th the National Day of Deployed Service Members, all military current and previous service members get in free at Twisted Trails as a thank you for your service.
The upcoming events are the second Trail Master Challenge of the year on July 30th that will test your endurance with 90 minutes of twists and turns throughout 4 miles of the park. Twisted Trails will close down on July 29th for set up and July 30th get your motors revving for race day! Over 60 participants from all over the country come to test their skills to see if they have what it takes to be number one. Then Summer DOG PARTY kicks off on August 5th with a weekend of camping, late wheeling, trail riding, mud races, a concert, poker run, heading through the Copemish Heritage Days Parade and a whole lot of fun! After this event they close down for a week to set up all the obstacles for the on foot DK5k Tough Mudder held on August 13. The course obstacles are looked at as challenges veterans face in everyday life and this event is set up not only to help raise funds but to help raise awareness for the challenges that veterans go through every day.
With their growing dream, the sign showing the expansion of the new 40×72 ft. General Store with bathrooms, showers and new dump station says it all; when they started selling tickets to events from an E-Z UP tent in a field years ago this vision continues to grow year after year. The dirt is kicked up and you can almost hear the nails going into the wood on this great amenity so you can clean a day’s worth of mud off at the end of the night! Before you know it this project will be completed and something else will put a spark in their eye to improve things for everyone to come enjoy!
One of those sparks that started last month was the excitement to bring Off-Road Adventure Tours to Twisted Trails, teaming up with Greater North Power Sports and Rentals they are able to offer SXS and ATV tours to their guests. Two hour guided tours through the twisting winding trails you will be sure to have a good time. Their guides know all the right turns and must-see lookout points along the routes to give you the best ride possible, they will keep you out of the deep mud and get you back to the parking lot safe and sound. They have your next adventure waiting for you, all you need to do is call to book it.
You know when you think of an Off-Road Park you think of just mud and dirt but at Twisted Trails Off-Road Park there is so much more than that. Here you can get out on the trails and trail ride the miles and miles of winding trails through beautiful northern Michigan. You get to enjoy nature at its finest and if you are lucky see some wildlife in the process. There are trails with sand, a gravel pit area, swampy areas and rocky terrain to challenge your skill. Most exciting is the mud pit that will be 3 times the size of what it has been!
There is also a half mile short course track that is great with curves and jumps for SXS’s, ATV’s and dirt bikes. With the growing number of families that enjoy Twisted Trails, they are working on adding a special trail specifically for kids under 12. They want to give kids the opportunity to learn to ride with parent supervision and have fun too, continuing the next generation of off-roaders.
With 400 acres they have trails that are easy for the novice beginner who just got a new rig and there are trails that can take you to the next stage, all the way to where they recommend winches and lockers because you might be in a tough spot without them. At the end of the night at the top of the bowl is the most amazing sunset cresting over the tips of the trees where a picture just cannot do it justice, you will need to come see this absolutely breathtaking view for yourself.
Tickets at Twisted Trails are very affordable at only $20 per person for the Off-Road Park, $10 per person for rustic camping and event tickets vary per event. For all their ticket pricing; 5 and under are free and kids ages 6-15 are half off adult pricing. They also have a Stay and Play Package that gives you 25% off when you stay at least 2 nights and play at least 3 days so make a weekend or more of it and save! For more information, call or text 231-651-9548, email twistedtrailsoffroadpark@gmail.com or go to twistedtrails.com to book your stay now! •