Section of Michigan’s Kalkaska ATV Trail Temporarily Closed
Department of Natural Resource officials announced today that a short section of the Kalkaska ATV Trail, located in northeastern Kalkaska County, will be temporarily closed due to salvage logging operations. The closed section of trail will be located between County Road 612 and Merita Lane. The temporary closure will be identified on the DNR’s internet trail map, and the temporary reroute will be signed on the ground. The trail is expected to remain closed for approximately two months.
The timber salvage operation is the result of heavy sugar maple tree mortality.
“The sugar maples on this site have been declining over the past few years”, said Kelly Standerfer, DNR forester in Kalkaska. “It is most likely due to a culmination of environmental factors, ranging from a few years of defoliation to heavy frost and persistent drought.”
Riding through the closed area during the logging operation can be dangerous, due to falling tree tops and large limbs. Trail users should use the signed reroute around the area. Trail maps and other ORV riding information can be found on the DNR’s website at www.michigan.gov/orvtrails.
Questions regarding the ORV trail closure may be directed to Amanda Matelski, DNR trails analyst, at (989) 275-5151, ext. 2044. All forestry-related questions should be directed to Kelly Standerfer at (231) 258-2711, ext. 6544.
