Northern MI/Huron National Forest on a TW200

Had a chance to travel up to the index finger of Michigan a couple weeks back and do a little camping and exploring of my old stomping grounds. Tossed my TW200 “Gus” in the back of the truck and hitched up the camper and headed north.

The area I was visiting was just west of Oscoda/Ausable near the former site of Wurtsmith AFB where my dad was stationed when I was a kid. I always wanted to explore the trails nearby but we moved away when I was 13 or so and just never got the chance. Fast forward to the present day, I am fully equipped and have a few days vacation so.....




it took me about 7 hours to arrive at the campground, a good sized place next to the area I wanted to explore. Had a great spot with water access to Foote Pond, a large section of the Ausable River that leads to Lake Huron.



I had no schedule and no real plan, but I am pretty familiar with the area so I just headed for the back roads and trails through the national forest area that I remembered from 30ish years ago. More pics to come.

Look at that LED hiding in that headlight mask. Nice mod.

Looking forward to the instalments.

The area has tons of trails to explore and lots of dispersed campsites throughout so it would make a great moto camping area on any sized bike. In the winter this is popular area for snowmobiles but in the summer it’s hundreds of miles of intersecting trails and beautiful pine forest.

Along with the beauty to be found in the forest areas, the beaches and water activities in this area are hard to beat. I only realize now how lucky I was to grow up in such an area.

If you’ll indulge my sentimental side, there is a small patch of woods behind the housing area of the former Air Force base that was my entire world at the time. It might only be a couple hundred acres but for a bunch of military brats it was a wonderland. I found an access road that led to a couple of long abandoned trails that I was able to follow back to all of my familiar spots. Just finding the old sled hill and the creek we used to play in made my whole day. It’s all overgrown and unused now but it was instantly familiar to me.

A few random shots from other parts of the trails. There are large areas of pine barrens created from controlled burns by the forestry service. They have a distinct beauty of their own.

A quiet moment after a great ride, just the wind in the trees....

On the final night I rode to the beach in town to sit by the lake and have dinner. Everyone visits the Lake Michigan side which works fine for me, i prefer the Lake Huron side. I had this all to myself.......

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This area has a rich logging history especially as our nation expanded west.

After 2 solid days of fantastic riding and exploring it was time to load Gus back into the truck and relax at camp for the night.

Before I left the area I got a beautiful reminder that the Lake Huron side is known as “the sunrise side”.


I hope to return and do this trip yearly, so much fun and great to be away from the real world for a few days.

Thanks for sharing your mini adventure... that area looks awesome.

Where there many skeeters?

Happy to share, I hope folks find their way up there!

Not many at all, that was part of my reason for waiting until after Labor Day to go.

Thanks for that bit of info...

Thanks for posting. I’d really like to explore that area next summer.

A trip down memory lane like that invokes a special sort of feeling. And being able to enjoy that along with great scenery and riding is even better!

Growing up in rural central Louisiana, the area around the days of my youth would be a great place to take a DS bike. Just recently, one of my cousins and me were actually discussing meeting back there at some point in the future just to spend a few days visiting and riding the area. Just a guys only sort of trip with him, his brother (my other cousin), and me.... It will be a great time if we make it happen... And I really hadn't even considered the sentimental aspect before reading your ride report. But, it would give me an opportunity (excuse) to maybe revisit some old memories, as well as spend some good quality "guy" time with my family, AND get some good riding/exploring in...

Oh man, DO IT. I came up the trail to the top side of what we called Devil’s Hill and nearly teared up when I realized where I was. I’m not a spiritual person and actually not all that sentimental (growing up a military kid teaches you very quickly not to get too attached to anything) but I was genuinely moved by it and it affected the rest of my trip in a positive way. I plan to make this at least a yearly trip and might even be tempted to try to organize something like a group ride and camp out.

Romping through childhood memories, what a great ride ! Thanks!

Grew up on the other side. Dated a girl in college that had a cabin up on the AuSable and was able to spend a bunch of time up there. Very special place indeed. Love the northern woods. Thanks for sharing.