Off Roading
ATVs, ORVs, OHVs
When you’re ready to hit the trails in your ATV, ORV, or OHV (off-highway vehicle), make St. Ignace your home base. With nearby access to some of the best trails in the Upper Peninsula, St. Ignace is perfectly positioned for off-road adventures.
From Drummond Island on the east end to Curtis at the west end of Mackinac County, you’ll find hundreds of miles of state-designated trails, scramble areas, and eligible county, state forest, and national forest roads to explore.
The Michigan DNR holds two Free ORV Weekends every year – one in June and another one in August. Residents and out-of-state visitors can legally ride Michigan’s 4,000 miles of off-road vehicle trails and routes and the state’s six scramble areas on two back-to-back days without an ORV license or trail permit. The 2026 dates are June 13-14 and August 15-16.
Licenses and trail permits
An ORV license and trail permit are required for drivers and their vehicles to ride eligible trails in Michigan.
For information about where to purchase licenses and trail permits, visit the DNR website at https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/thingsto-do/orvriding. You may also get interactive ORV trail and route maps, PDF maps, and GPX files at the website above.
Fun for Kids
St. Ignace has something for everyone. For families traveling with children, however, there are certain activities that might be of particular interest.
On a hot summer day, plan to take the family to the splash pad at Chief Wawatam Park. It’s the perfect place to cool off without the commitment of a full beach day. There is plenty of seating nearby for those who want to stay dry and just watch the fun. It’s also the perfect spot for a picnic lunch while watching the ferries come and go from Mackinac Island. Here you can walk out to the Wawatam Lighthouse, tell time with an interactive sundial, walk along some old train tracks, and read more about the history of the area.
Just south of the splash pad is American Legion Memorial Park, where kids can burn off some energy on the playground with Lake Huron in the background. In the other direction, you’ll find Kiwanis Park, which has sandy beaches for playing next to the water. Located near Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry Company and one of the Arnold Transit Company docks, this is also a great spot to watch the ferry traffic. The park is also conveniently close to Molly Moo’s Ice Cream Shop.
To experience panoramic views of the Straits of Mackinac, visit Castle Rock on the north end of town. Climb to the top of this lookout for a view of the area islands, forests, and water. With a viewing platform 195 feet above water level and 183 feet above I-75, this is one of the best places to get an unobstructed, far-reaching view of the straits.
For more unique fun, visit the Mystery Spot on the west end of St. Ignace. Be prepared to spend hours here, as there is no shortage of activities ranging from guided tours and mini golf to a maze and zip line.
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