St. Helen, Mich.

[Timber]

Has anyone here ever been on the St. Helen, Mich. ORV routes? It's another hour away vs. the Mounds, but that's just a giant mud pit and I always feel as though banjos are going to start playing when I'm there. I guess my questions are:
What's it like? Do you have to go to a DNR station to get in? It looks like you could just enter the routes from several county and township roads. Thanks in advance for any info.
EDIT: I just realized this should probably be in the Land Use forum, so move it at will, Moderators.

 

[Grifter144]

hey Timber, i dont have an answer to your question but i will try and find out what i can, i dont think i have any contacts up there but my old man might, so we'll see what comes of it, on that note however if you are heading up that way, i am here north of detroit(5 miles from I-75) and would love to meet up with you, give me a holla what days you are going and if my jeep is running i will join you...

 

[Timber]

Cool. I was thinking of going this Sunday. It seems simply to be open in terms of when you can go. If that doesn't work out, I'll probably end up at the Mounds; it's better than nothing. If I go, I'll definitely let you know.

 

[Timber]

BTW, how rude of me. I appreciate your looking into this for me. Thanks.

 

[Grifter144]

hey timber i would love to go to, so let me know whats up....on that note, the transmission and transfercase to my jeep are currently laying on the garage floor and i am tryin to diagnose whether or not i need a new torque converter and unless the tranny shop has a new one laying around when i stop by tomorrow i will not be up and running till monday, earliest. oh and to make things worse i broke of one of the driveshaft retaining straps that hold the ujoint to the yoke..yippie....we'll see maybe i can work out a miracle...
Maier

 

[Grifter144]

alright found something....
try looking on the net for "St. Helen Motorsport Area" or "Black Lake Scramble Area" these appear to be goverment approved areas for use with a michiagn orv sticker so if you are not up to date on that "as i am not"..you might wanna seak other alternatives.. i didn't find out much as i'm on a time crunch at the moment...also i am relatively new to 4x4in and so i am looking for all kinds of new stuff to try so if i find anythig in my search i'll let you know...
HTh
Maier

 

[Timber]

Don't worry about tomorrow; I just hope you get the drivetrain back together okay. As far as the ORV stickers, I knew I'd need one this year anyway, so no problem. I'm new to 'wheeling, too. I've only been out for real a couple of times. Thing is, you're lifted 4.5" and I'm at stock height, so that could make playing follow the leader interesting for me. Anyway, I think I'm still going to go. My wife said she'd watch our boy all day, and I should go have some fun.

 

[Grifter144]

hey timber,
you are one lucky man better hang on to that one....she kinda sounds like my GF, only she would wanna come along...well sorta.....anyhooo. i am just now getting started on the reinstall and by myself so this should be alittle more interesting. let me know what you find up there..maybe i'll join you one of these days....

as for the stock issue, i drove that way al the way through the tank trails with my jeep in south georgia, you would be surprised what a stocker can do...invest the 300 in a locker and go for it....good luck...if you get stuck somewher and need a pull have a holla, i can always grab my old mans crapped out CJ..and come get ya....

Maier
i'll pm you my number....

 

[knowlt]

The St Helen area is basically sand roads/2 tracks through the woods. Really no challenge at all. There is a small sand bowl but nothing close to difficult. Our club (Wolverine 4wd) sees this area as a good canidate for a GPS/scavenger hunt type of area as opposed to an off-road outing.

ORV sticker is required, there is a parking lot the NE corner of the area, and there is no DNR station to pass through.

 

[Timber]

The St Helen area is basically sand roads/2 tracks through the woods. Really no challenge at all. There is a small sand bowl but nothing close to difficult. Our club (Wolverine 4wd) sees this area as a good canidate for a GPS/scavenger hunt type of area as opposed to an off-road outing.

ORV sticker is required, there is a parking lot the NE corner of the area, and there is no DNR station to pass through.

According to Mich.'s DNR site, ORV stickers are only required for the Mounds, Silver Lake, and the actual Motorsports Area of St. Helen. I just want to do the ORV routes around there. Any info. on those? Even if they're only 2 tracks, it's better than anything within two and a half hours of Toledo.

 

[JeepinKrannyMan]

I just moved back to Michigan for the summer, I'm in Milan, I was wondering if anyone could give me some input on how to get one of those ORV stickers, I don't know if it's possible or not with out of state plates. Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[Timber]

I just moved back to Michigan for the summer, I'm in Milan, I was wondering if anyone could give me some input on how to get one of those ORV stickers, I don't know if it's possible or not with out of state plates. Thanks for your help in advance.

I went to a carryout up by the Mounds, but I've heard that many Meijer stores can issue them. Just be sure to have cash--$16.25, I think--and the Great State of Michigan couldn't care less if your plates are from Tijuana as long as your money is U.S. currency.

 

[JeepinKrannyMan]

Thank you