Bull Gap
Encyclopedia
Bull Gap is a 60 acres hill climb area located in Michigan
and links over 115 miles (185.1 km) of trails for legal off-road vehicle (ORV) use.
, and South Branch, Michigan. Each of these communities has passed local ordinances legalizing the use of ATVs
on the shoulders of most public roads and offer trail users easy access to food, fuel, lodging, and the occasional adult beverage. The hill is this trail system's most popular waypoint and meeting place. It offers a large open area with the opportunity to push the limits of an off-road vehicle and challenge friends or complete strangers to an up-hill drag race.
. Mio is about 30 miles (48.3 km) due East of Grayling, Michigan
and about 30 miles (48.3 km) due North of West Branch, Michigan
. The majority of the trail system is contained within the Huron-Manistee National Forest and has parts of the Au Sable River
passing through. The Huron-Manistee National Forest, in the northern part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, provides ORV enthusiasts an opportunity to ride off-road vehicles on superb forest trails. Following the legal guidelines will ensure the ride is safe and enjoyable. For questions relating to state laws and regulations please visit the Michigan Department of Natural Resources website http://www.michigan.gov/dnr, there you will also be able to obtain an ORV sticker (Trail Permit) and maps of this and other state trail systems.
defines an ORV as any motor vehicle
that can be operated cross-country (without benefit of a road or trail) over land, snow, and other natural terrain. This includes: multi-track or multi-wheeled vehicles; all-terrain vehicle
s (ATVs); motorcycles or related multi-wheeled vehicles; amphibious machines (water-to-land and back); hovercraft; and other vehicles that use mechanical power including 2- or 4-wheel-drive vehicles that are highway registered but operated off highways or off roads." This trail system is also patrolled to ensure that all ORV operators and all passengers wear a U.S. Department of Transportation
– approved crash helmet
and protective eyewear or goggles
except when the ORV is equipped with an approved roof and the operator and passengers are wearing properly adjusted and fastened safety belts. Also, each rider must utilize a U.S. Forest Service–approved spark arrestor and muffler in good working condition, in constant operation, and meeting applicable sound-level standards. Finally, a State of Michigan ORV sticker must be purchased on a yearly basis and clearly displayed on each vehicle.
In an interview conducted on Wednesday February 18, 2009, Mrs. Christine L. Baker, another avid user of this trail system had the following to say. "Out of all the trails I have ever ridden Bull Gap is by far my favorite. The Sandy Soil is very forgiving and there are lots of nice changes in elevation. The people are friendly and some parts of the trails can get fairly challenging.
And Finally, in an interview conducted on Wednesday February 18th 2009 with Mr. Randall M Baker, another avid user of this trail system, I quoted him as saying the following about his experiences. Bull Gap is one of the best places to off-road in the state. It has a wide variety of trail types ranging from open fast and straight to tight, twisty, slow and dangerous. The DNR grades it about once a month but that does not stop some areas from getting extremely bumpy and dipped-out. The only other major downfall of the trail system is the dust. During the hot dry summer months the entire area can get extremely dusty making it sometimes difficult to see five feet ahead of you. As long as you are well prepared this system can provide days of enjoyment for everyone from the beginner dirt bike rider to those with advanced bike or Atv riding skills.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and links over 115 miles (185.1 km) of trails for legal off-road vehicle (ORV) use.
Description
Bull Gap Hill itself is a sand dune centrally located within the 115 miles (185.1 km) Bull Gap trail system. This system is composed mainly of 50 inches (1,270 mm) one-way sand and loose dirt trails. The trails twist through predominantly public land and link the cities of Luzerne, Michigan, McKinley, Michigan, Mio, MichiganMio, Michigan
Mio is an unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Oscoda County and is situated along the boundary between Mentor Township on the east and Big Creek Township on the west....
, and South Branch, Michigan. Each of these communities has passed local ordinances legalizing the use of ATVs
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
on the shoulders of most public roads and offer trail users easy access to food, fuel, lodging, and the occasional adult beverage. The hill is this trail system's most popular waypoint and meeting place. It offers a large open area with the opportunity to push the limits of an off-road vehicle and challenge friends or complete strangers to an up-hill drag race.
Location
Bull Gap is located in the vicinity of Mio, MichiganMio, Michigan
Mio is an unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Oscoda County and is situated along the boundary between Mentor Township on the east and Big Creek Township on the west....
. Mio is about 30 miles (48.3 km) due East of Grayling, Michigan
Grayling, Michigan
Grayling is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Crawford County. The population was 1,952 at the 2000 census. Grayling takes its name from the Grayling fish that was once prevalent in its lakes and streams....
and about 30 miles (48.3 km) due North of West Branch, Michigan
West Branch, Michigan
West Branch is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,926. It is the county seat of Ogemaw County. The city is located within West Branch Township, but is politically independent.-History:...
. The majority of the trail system is contained within the Huron-Manistee National Forest and has parts of the Au Sable River
Au Sable River (Michigan)
The Au Sable River in Michigan runs approximately through the northern Lower Peninsula, through the towns of Grayling and Mio, and enters Lake Huron at Oscoda. It is considered one of the best brown trout fisheries east of the Rockies and has been designated a blue ribbon trout stream by the...
passing through. The Huron-Manistee National Forest, in the northern part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, provides ORV enthusiasts an opportunity to ride off-road vehicles on superb forest trails. Following the legal guidelines will ensure the ride is safe and enjoyable. For questions relating to state laws and regulations please visit the Michigan Department of Natural Resources website http://www.michigan.gov/dnr, there you will also be able to obtain an ORV sticker (Trail Permit) and maps of this and other state trail systems.
Rules and regulations
According to the Michigan Hand Book of Off-Road Vehicle Laws http://www.offroad-ed.com/mi/handbook/ "Michigan lawLaw
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
defines an ORV as any motor vehicle
Motor vehicle
A motor vehicle or road vehicle is a self-propelled wheeled vehicle that does not operate on rails, such as trains or trolleys. The vehicle propulsion is provided by an engine or motor, usually by an internal combustion engine, or an electric motor, or some combination of the two, such as hybrid...
that can be operated cross-country (without benefit of a road or trail) over land, snow, and other natural terrain. This includes: multi-track or multi-wheeled vehicles; all-terrain vehicle
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
s (ATVs); motorcycles or related multi-wheeled vehicles; amphibious machines (water-to-land and back); hovercraft; and other vehicles that use mechanical power including 2- or 4-wheel-drive vehicles that are highway registered but operated off highways or off roads." This trail system is also patrolled to ensure that all ORV operators and all passengers wear a U.S. Department of Transportation
Department of Transportation
The Department of Transportation is the most common name for a government agency in North America devoted to transportation. The largest is the United States Department of Transportation, which oversees interstate travel. All U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and many local agencies also have...
– approved crash helmet
Helmet
A helmet is a form of protective gear worn on the head to protect it from injuries.Ceremonial or symbolic helmets without protective function are sometimes used. The oldest known use of helmets was by Assyrian soldiers in 900BC, who wore thick leather or bronze helmets to protect the head from...
and protective eyewear or goggles
Goggles
Goggles or safety glasses are forms of protective eyewear that usually enclose or protect the area surrounding the eye in order to prevent particulates, water or chemicals from striking the eyes. They are used in chemistry laboratories and in woodworking. They are often used in snow sports as well,...
except when the ORV is equipped with an approved roof and the operator and passengers are wearing properly adjusted and fastened safety belts. Also, each rider must utilize a U.S. Forest Service–approved spark arrestor and muffler in good working condition, in constant operation, and meeting applicable sound-level standards. Finally, a State of Michigan ORV sticker must be purchased on a yearly basis and clearly displayed on each vehicle.
User reviews
In an interview conducted on Monday February 16, 2009, Mr. Jonathan S. Byrd, a frequent user of the Bull Gap Trail System had this to say: "Bull Gap's trail systems are some of the best trails in the great lakes area. The diversity of the scenery and wildlife make every trip an adventure. Having traveled to other states and explored various trail systems the Bull Gap trail systems are by far some of the most enjoyable to experience. If you are considering trying them out make sure you stop by the AuSable River Café and have their breakfast buffet!In an interview conducted on Wednesday February 18, 2009, Mrs. Christine L. Baker, another avid user of this trail system had the following to say. "Out of all the trails I have ever ridden Bull Gap is by far my favorite. The Sandy Soil is very forgiving and there are lots of nice changes in elevation. The people are friendly and some parts of the trails can get fairly challenging.
And Finally, in an interview conducted on Wednesday February 18th 2009 with Mr. Randall M Baker, another avid user of this trail system, I quoted him as saying the following about his experiences. Bull Gap is one of the best places to off-road in the state. It has a wide variety of trail types ranging from open fast and straight to tight, twisty, slow and dangerous. The DNR grades it about once a month but that does not stop some areas from getting extremely bumpy and dipped-out. The only other major downfall of the trail system is the dust. During the hot dry summer months the entire area can get extremely dusty making it sometimes difficult to see five feet ahead of you. As long as you are well prepared this system can provide days of enjoyment for everyone from the beginner dirt bike rider to those with advanced bike or Atv riding skills.