Michigan Trails

Holly Oaks ORV Park: Lower Main Loop

5/5 (2 reviews)

Holly, Michigan (Oakland County)

Last Updated: 12/31/2022

Trail Information

Highlights

Mine

ORV Park

If you were in a desert dying of thirst and found water, you would call it an oasis. If you live in one of the major metro areas of the Great Lakes and found a place to go wheel, you would call it Holly Oaks! Just north of Detroit, Holly Oaks provides a wide range of 4x4 opportunities from mild to wild. The Lower Main Loop is perfect for everyone because you can keep it mellow or tackle Mt. Magna! While you are at it, check in to earn your Jeep Badge of Honor!

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Add Trail Review Jump to Waypoints

Start your next adventure on Holly Oaks ORV Park: Lower Main Loop

Upgrade your Membership

Unlock all of the details on every Trail Guide and Scout Route.

Start a 7-day Free Trial

Ryan Boudreau

Official Crew

Trail Navigation

Perched on a 106-acre former sand and gravel mine, the Lower Main Loop tracks around the outside border of the main south/southeast part of the Holly Oaks ORV Park and connects with countless other trails. Lower Main Loop has many obstacles, including steep hills, water crossings, deep mud pits, rock crawls, and a purpose-designed concrete peak covering 9,000 square feet. The center of the park does feature an access road called The Haul Road that any vehicle can easily travel if any of the other routes are above your abilities, but a stock, 4-wheel drive is needed to travel the Lower Main Loop. Holly Oaks ORV Park is open to all types of OHVs, including 4x4s, ATVs, side-by-sides, and dirt bikes. Open riding hours and days change seasonally, so be sure to visit the Oakland County Parks website to view the riding schedule.

A dune-style flag is required to ride in the park.

Vehicles requiring seat belts must have a warning flag mounted and extending over the frontmost portion of the vehicle.
Vehicles not requiring seat belts shall mount the warning flag on the rear of the vehicle.
The warning flag shall be mounted on a staff that is securely bolted, welded, or secured to the vehicle.
The warning flag shall maintain a minimum 10-foot height at a standstill and 8 feet in motion.
The warning flag shall be mounted on the topmost end of the staff.
The flag shall be rectangular, international orange in color, solid material, with a minimum length on the supporting side of five inches and a minimum length on the base side of 10 inches.

Park Tickets

Tickets for each day can be purchased online up to five days in advance. The park will post on its Facebook page if capacity is reached for the day.
To ensure a fun and safe experience, ticket sales are capped at 300 per day. Online ticket sales will stop two hours before the park closes. In-person sales will stop one hour before the park closes.
A ticket is needed for EACH vehicle that will be used in the park (not vehicles that will be left in the parking lot). Online and on-site tickets are per vehicle (not per person).

Additional Permits Needed

DNR ORV and ORV Trail stickers are required. You can purchase them at the park or at dozens of locations in/around Oakland County. Visit the DNR's website for a map of locations near you.

1. Trailhead - Contact Station (0 mi)

Holly Oaks ORV Park: Lower Main Loop - Waypoint 1: Trailhead - Contact Station

When entering Holly Oaks, you first pass through a large parking area where you can prepare your vehicle for the trails. Once ready, head to the contact station to get your vehicle pass for the day. There are two lines here at the station. The left line is for pass purchases, and the right line is for reentry only. Before dropping down into the trail system, you will quickly pass the BesTop Air station that you can visit at the end of the day to reinflate your tires to the proper road pressure.

2. Trial Run Over The Tetons (0.2 mi)

Holly Oaks ORV Park: Lower Main Loop - Waypoint 2: Trial Run Over The Tetons

The first trail you come to is Trial Run, which features a double hill climb over a pair of sandy hills called The Tetons. This is a one-way route from south to north. The first hill is a steep but relatively smooth climb up and back down. The second climb is just as steep but with a few ruts near the top to flex the suspension. Having the swaybar disconnected will significantly help with any traction loss.

3. Main Road - Stay Right (0.3 mi)

Holly Oaks ORV Park: Lower Main Loop - Waypoint 3: Main Road - Stay Right

Intersect with the main road and stay right to continue towards the northeast side of the park, an area known as "The Oasis". Directly north, across this intersection, are three one-way hill climbs called Hill Splitter, Stock Wedge, and Giddy Up.

4. The Washouts (0.34 mi)

Holly Oaks ORV Park: Lower Main Loop - Waypoint 4: The Washouts

Before the mining sluice, you cross an area named "The Washouts." There are several hill climb routes to your left you can travel up and down, testing different paths. Climbs include King's Road, Dusty Muffin, Top Side, Low Branch, and Horsepower Hill. Follow along Water's Edge Trail to reach the park's northeast corner.

5. Skyline Drive (0.52 mi)

Holly Oaks ORV Park: Lower Main Loop - Waypoint 5: Skyline Drive

Water's Edge Trail transitions to Skyline Drive as you make your way west, across the northern edge of the park. This section of trail offers fantastic views of the hill climbs in this area and is a great vantage point looking down on the Holly Glen Short Course to the south.

6. Top of King's Road (0.65 mi)

Holly Oaks ORV Park: Lower Main Loop - Waypoint 6: Top of King's Road

Most of the hill climbs from Waypoint 4 converge at the top of King's Road. Be aware of any signage, and be sure not to travel in the wrong direction on any trails. Skyline Drive continues to tip-toe the northern edge of the park.

7. The Shelf Intersection (0.96 mi)

Holly Oaks ORV Park: Lower Main Loop - Waypoint 7: The Shelf Intersection

After passing No Man's Ridge, come to a major intersection with several different trail choices. To the left is a steep, one-way uphill climb adjacent to a steep, one-way downhill descent that leads into the heart of The Big Easy. Slightly straight and to the left, Skyline Drive begins a gradual decline that leads to The Crossroads Roundabout at Waypoint 10. To the right, leading through an area called "The Shelf, are Sky Cut, Squirrel's Nest, and Top Line, which lead to a one-way, downhill descent.

8. Electric Slide (1.06 mi)

Holly Oaks ORV Park: Lower Main Loop - Waypoint 8: Electric Slide

This steep hill is a one-way, downhill-only route that goes from Sky Bowl down into Slop Town, where you can access the North 60 Loop, or find numerous trails coming out of the Big Valley.

9. South Rim Road (1.25 mi)

Holly Oaks ORV Park: Lower Main Loop - Waypoint 9: South Rim Road

There are several different trail options for climbing up out of Slop Town, including Sloppy Joe and Troubled Road. Once at the top of the ridge, South Rim Road heads south back towards the beginning of the park. To the north is West Side Drive which will lead you into the North 60.

10. The Crossroads Roundabout (1.4 mi)

Holly Oaks ORV Park: Lower Main Loop - Waypoint 10: The Crossroads Roundabout

South Rim Road and Skyline Drive converge at The Crossroads Roundabout. Continue to the right to reach a larger roundabout and a play area with many different obstacle types.

11. Mount Magna Play Area (1.6 mi)

Holly Oaks ORV Park: Lower Main Loop - Waypoint 11: Mount Magna Play Area

The area around Mount Magna provides various obstacles to attempt and play on. Mount Magna is a screed hill designed to imitate some of the most prevalent obstacles in Moab, including Potato Salad Hill, the Hot Tubs, the Crack, and Rocker Knocker. Be sure to travel all the way around the Mount to attempt all the different lines it offers. To the west of Mount Magna is a stair-step pyramid made of concrete blocks, as well as many other challenge elements made of logs, ramps, concrete pipe, etc.

12. Foxtrot Intercept - Stay Left (1.73 mi)

Holly Oaks ORV Park: Lower Main Loop - Waypoint 12: Foxtrot Intercept - Stay Left

At an intersection known as Foxtrot Intercept, stay left crossing a small ditch and passing the RC course. Travel through The Borderlands on the south edge of the park, back towards the contact station. The road straight ahead is a maintenance road, only for heavy equipment and not a public route.

13. Entrance Road (2.12 mi)

Holly Oaks ORV Park: Lower Main Loop - Waypoint 13: Entrance Road

The Main Loop comes to an end at the Alpha Intercept, Waypoint 2, where you can turn left down The Haul Road and reenter the main sections of the park, or turn right and follow the road uphill back to the parking area.

Trail Reviews

5/5 (2)

Todd

Official Crew

106950

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 10/26/2022

What a fun exploratory route through the park! There are other more challenging aspects on this loop we didn't get to try due to the weather, so I look forward to returning when it's dry!

Ryan Boudreau

Official Crew

97850

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 10/26/2022

Small, but definitely a cool park in the middle of an area where there is no other type of off-road recreation. The park designers have done an excellent job of creating trails and challenge features that will test any type of vehicle build. Definitely a place I want to visit again in the future when it's dry.

Holly Oaks ORV Park: Lower Main Loop

Trail Information

Highlights

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Recommended Vehicle:

Concerns:

Summary:

Community Consensus

Mandatory

Optional

Start your next adventure on Holly Oaks ORV Park: Lower Main Loop

Upgrade your Membership

Trail Navigation

1. Trailhead - Contact Station (0 mi)

2. Trial Run Over The Tetons (0.2 mi)

3. Main Road - Stay Right (0.3 mi)

4. The Washouts (0.34 mi)

5. Skyline Drive (0.52 mi)

6. Top of King's Road (0.65 mi)

7. The Shelf Intersection (0.96 mi)

8. Electric Slide (1.06 mi)

9. South Rim Road (1.25 mi)

10. The Crossroads Roundabout (1.4 mi)

11. Mount Magna Play Area (1.6 mi)

12. Foxtrot Intercept - Stay Left (1.73 mi)

13. Entrance Road (2.12 mi)

Trail Reviews

From the Community

Ryan Boudreau

Holly Oaks ORV Park: Lower Main Loop

Trail Information

Highlights

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Recommended Vehicle:

Concerns:

Summary:

Community Consensus

Mandatory

Optional

Start your next adventure on Holly Oaks ORV Park: Lower Main Loop

Upgrade your Membership

Uploading to Gaia GPS

Directions to...

Share Trail

Trail Navigation

1. Trailhead - Contact Station (0 mi)

2. Trial Run Over The Tetons (0.2 mi)

3. Main Road - Stay Right (0.3 mi)

4. The Washouts (0.34 mi)

5. Skyline Drive (0.52 mi)

6. Top of King's Road (0.65 mi)

7. The Shelf Intersection (0.96 mi)

8. Electric Slide (1.06 mi)

9. South Rim Road (1.25 mi)

10. The Crossroads Roundabout (1.4 mi)

11. Mount Magna Play Area (1.6 mi)

12. Foxtrot Intercept - Stay Left (1.73 mi)

13. Entrance Road (2.12 mi)

Trail Reviews

From the Community

Ryan Boudreau

Print Trail Guide

Recent Updates