Explore the ORV trails
50+ miles of trails! The St. Helen Motorsports Area is open to full-size, 50-inch, and dirt bikes with ORV and Trail permits. The trails are mostly wide and sandy, with a rock course for crawlers and some hills. The St. Helen ORV Route connects to other trails in the area and miles upon miles of forest roads to explore. Many of these trails are also shared use with snowmobiles in the winter.
Access the trails just two streets over from the property (map provided in welcome guide).
Need to rent a ride?
Enjoy the lakes
Lake Saint Helen
Celebrated for its excellent fishing, Lake St Helen offers a peaceful up north lake getaway. There’s a nice beach and park for swimming just a couple miles from Home Base.
Both Higgins and Houghton Lakes are nearby
Higgins Lake is a 9900-acre lake is renowned for it’s deep, clear water and excellent fishing. Most locals consider this lake the crown jewel of the area.
Houghton Lake is a massive 20,044-acre lake is a beautiful lake surrounded by fun shopping and great restaurants. There’s more to do at Houghton Lake, including the winter festival, Tip-Up Town in January.
Need bait? Head to The Minnow Bucket just .5 miles away! They also sell licenses, poles, etc.
Hunting
Home Base is surrounded by miles and miles of state land. It’s a major hunting destination for bow and gun hunters.
If you need a license or other hunting supplies, head just a half mile down the street to The Minnow Bucket.
Snowmobiling
The local snowmobile association does an incredible job of grooming the trails for snowmobiles. Check their trail report to see if there’s enough snow for a good ride.
Golf
Birch Pointe Golf Club: A small, local 9-hole course, just a few miles from the property.
The Dream: An 18-hole course in West Branch “carved out of 312 acres of hardwoods to form one the most spectacular courses in Michigan.”
The Nightmare: A well-manicured 18-hole course in West Branch.
Both The Dream and The Nightmare are considered by many to be Michigan’s “must play” golf courses.
Paddle the Au Sable River
Bring your kayaks, paddleboard, or canoe and paddle the unadulterated natural beauty of the Au Sable!
Don’t have your own boat? Rent one at Rzr Ripn’ Rentals
Cross Country Skiing
Explore 11+ miles of groomed nordic skiing trails at Cross Country Ski headquarters in Roscommon, just 20 minutes from Home Base.
Check their daily ski report to make sure the trails are ready for you.
There’s a cute shop filled to the brim with winter gear for men, women, and kids.
Free ski workshops (rental skis included) run most weekends in the winter and are a great way to learn if you or the kids are new to cross country skiing!
You can even grab a hot cocoa or a delicious meal at their cafe inside the ski shop.
Bowling, Putt-Putt, Archery, and Darts
Bowling, pool, and mini golf
West Branch: Ogemaw Lanes is a full-sized bowling alley, mini-golf, and pool tables.
Roscommon: There’s a small bowling alley inside a restaurant and bar in Roscommon called Fred’s. It’s a fun outing for kids and adults. They also have a pool table.
Dining and Groceries
We recommend stopping at Meijer in West Branch or Walmart in Houghton Lake if you want to stock up on groceries for your trip.
However, there’s a small, but well-stocked convenience store down the road from the home for restocking coffee and snacks. They also have produce, meat, and a deli. There’s also a Dollar General in town.
Firehouse Bar and Grill - Just spitting distance from the property, you’ll find some great burgers, pizzas, salads, and sandwiches.
Forkin Around - A BBQ stand with Texas-style brisket, ribs, pulled pork, pulled chicken and sausage. Find them just down the road at 1353 N Saint Helen Rd.
Hen House - A classic in St. Helen, with a loyal following who love their chicken.
Marathon - I know you’re laughing, but we hear they actually make an excellent pizza at the shop connected to the Marathon gas station. Grab your recreational gas and pie - that’s one-stop shopping!
A bit further away, but worth the short drive
Beechwood Cafe (Roscommon) - Killer breakfast, brunch, or lunch. They’re open 9am-2pm, but occasionally close due to illness and weather. Check their website/Facebook page first.
MJ’s Eatery (Houghton Lake) - Voted best breakfast in Northern Michigan. Only open for breakfast, brunch, and lunch.
Shakers (Houghton Lake) - Burgers and comfort food (did someone say Hush Puppies?!). Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Shopping
Nearby West Branch, MI has some fun shopping options if the weather doesn’t cooperate with your outdoor adventures.
West Branch Outlet Shops
There are a variety of shops in this strip mall, including Old Navy, Eddie Bauer, and a really neat antiques and collectibles shop.
Support the local shops!
A bit further out and north, Roscommon, Grayling, and Gaylord all have adorable downtowns with local boutiques.
In Roscommon, check out White Pine and Petals, which has great gifts, plants, and an adorable and friendly store cat.
Grayling has a great art scene with galleries featuring local artists. There’s also an amazing book shop called Hidden Nook and a small movie theater.
Gaylord is fairly large and you’ll notice an attractive and distinct Alpine-theme to the town. Explore local boutiques, restaurants, and outdoor wear.