Up North Overland Route - Wisconsin

[BMoris]

I've looked all over the internet for overlanding routes in Wisconsin. I've only been able to find two longer routes. the T.W.A.T which doesn't interest me much and the 7-Hour Plane Crash route which starts in northern Wisconsin and goes all the way up to High Rock Bay in the UP. My wife and I did this route this spring and had a blast. I plotted a route west of Pound Wisconsin that added another 100 miles to the track. I've since updated that route to a 2.0 version that starts farther west between Mountain and Breed Wisconsin and adds more dirt forest roads/trails. That section is approximately 65% gravel road, 25% dirt road/trail, 10% paved.. I've also created the "Up North" overland route that starts in the same spot. It shares the same route for about the first half and then diverges.

The Up North route goes through Oconto and Marinette county forests as well as the Nicolet National Forest. It's approximately 45% gravel roads, 45% dirt forest roads/trails, and 10% pavement. This route can and hopefully will change in the future as others and I find new roads/trails before, along, and after this current V1.0 route. I want to develop the best route possible because there are not many options here in Wisconsin. Please use this route as a guide and try and find other hidden gems along it. We took multiple detours down out-and-back trails and explored areas along this route. My goal is to create a base route that uses as many connecting forest roads and trails.

I would recommend having a high-clearance vehicle, with 4WD and A/T tires. There are certain sections where this will definitely be useful. It's not necessary and the sections of road/trail that it would be useful to have can be bypassed. Overall, I would say the difficulty of the route is a 3/10, but if you take this route and think I'm off with that rating let me know. Additionally, some of these roads are seasonal (closed late fall through early spring), so make sure they are open before using them.

Trails 2267, 3877C, 2101H, 2053, 2259E, 2259R, 2259A, 2329, 2002 are open 4/01-11-30


I use Gaia with the MVUM (USFS) as my base map along with the Gaia Overland layer and Public Lands layer.

Please go out and try this route and feel free to make suggestions and improvements to the route.

-Update 10/7/2023- V2

Recently went up exploring and found some new technical trails where full-size vehicles are allowed. This update adds around 12 miles of technical trails as well as some minor reroutes.

I also updated the 7-Hour Plane Crash to V3. This adds an additional 15 miles of technical trails as well as some minor reroutes.

Up North Gaia Page - GaiaGPS - Up North Overland Route V2

7 Hour Plane Crash +100 Gaia Page - GaiaGPS - 7 Hour Plane Crash +100 V3

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[Austin_7c3e15]

Appreciate it! Thinking of checking it out next year

 

[MWDO Gladiator]

Thank you very much!

 

[ABNWD]

Appreciate it! Thinking of checking it out next year

Did you get a chance to check it out yet?

 

[ABNWD]

I've looked all over the internet for overlanding routes in Wisconsin. I've only been able to find two longer routes. the T.W.A.T which doesn't interest me much and the 7-Hour Plane Crash route which starts in northern Wisconsin and goes all the way up to High Rock Bay in the UP. My wife and I did this route this spring and had a blast. I plotted a route west of Pound Wisconsin that added another 100 miles to the track. I've since updated that route to a 2.0 version that starts farther west between Mountain and Breed Wisconsin and adds more dirt forest roads/trails. That section is approximately 65% gravel road, 25% dirt road/trail, 10% paved.. I've also created the "Up North" overland route that starts in the same spot. It shares the same route for about the first half and then diverges.

The Up North route goes through Oconto and Marinette county forests as well as the Nicolet National Forest. It's approximately 45% gravel roads, 45% dirt forest roads/trails, and 10% pavement. This route can and hopefully will change in the future as others and I find new roads/trails before, along, and after this current V1.0 route. I want to develop the best route possible because there are not many options here in Wisconsin. Please use this route as a guide and try and find other hidden gems along it. We took multiple detours down out-and-back trails and explored areas along this route. My goal is to create a base route that uses as many connecting forest roads and trails.

I would recommend having a high-clearance vehicle, with 4WD and A/T tires. There are certain sections where this will definitely be useful. It's not necessary and the sections of road/trail that it would be useful to have can be bypassed. Overall, I would say the difficulty of the route is a 3/10, but if you take this route and think I'm off with that rating let me know. Additionally, some of these roads are seasonal (closed late fall through early spring), so make sure they are open before using them.

Trails 2267, 3877C, 2101H, 2053, 2259E, 2259R, 2259A, 2329, 2002 are open 4/01-11-30


I use Gaia with the MVUM (USFS) as my base map along with the Gaia Overland layer and Public Lands layer.

Please go out and try this route and feel free to make suggestions and improvements to the route.

-Update 10/7/2023- V2

Recently went up exploring and found some new technical trails where full-size vehicles are allowed. This update adds around 12 miles of technical trails as well as some minor reroutes.

I also updated the 7-Hour Plane Crash to V3. This adds an additional 15 miles of technical trails as well as some minor reroutes.

Up North Gaia Page - GaiaGPS - Up North Overland Route V2

7 Hour Plane Crash +100 Gaia Page - GaiaGPS - 7 Hour Plane Crash +100 V3

GPX viewer

GPX viewer

Will you be doing this trail(s) again at some point?

 

[BMoris]

Will you be doing this trail(s) again at some point?

I may be doing part of this trail this fall sometime. I'm planning on updating it to V3 sometime in the future because I've found some more fun sections of trail to add to it.

 

[ABNWD]

Sounds good.
Would you consider a novice sometime when it comes to overlanding? And when it comes to the vehicle aspect of things? I've been mudding, hell grew up doing it but obviously overlanding is definitely something different
I have 2 vehicles. Both 4wd, one is a stock GMC and the other is a lifted Silverado 2500HD.
I do belive in the buddy system especially for the first couple times out and even better with people who have knowledge.

Of course considering would be after communication and a meet up before hand.

 

[BMoris]

Sounds good.
Would you consider a novice sometime when it comes to overlanding? And when it comes to the vehicle aspect of things? I've been mudding, hell grew up doing it but obviously overlanding is definitely something different
I have 2 vehicles. Both 4wd, one is a stock GMC and the other is a lifted Silverado 2500HD.
I do belive in the buddy system especially for the first couple times out and even better with people who have knowledge.

Of course considering would be after communication and a meet up before hand.

Yea, depending on your schedule. I work 4 days a week and usually go up Fridays since it's less busy. I'll let you know in advance if I plan on doing a day trip this fall.

Vehicle wise you should be fine as long as you don't care about pins stripes because they will be unavoidable on certain sections of this route. A full size truck should be able to make it, but it's going to be tight in a few spots. I'd also highly recommend a good set of A/T tires and the ability to air down and air up. I use an all top air compressor that was like $130.

Other gear is recommended at a minimum are a shovel, saw/axe, and some traction boards. They dont need to be anything fancy. If you are going solo, a winch is highly recommend, but probably won't be needed.

 

[ABNWD]

Yea, depending on your schedule. I work 4 days a week and usually go up Fridays since it's less busy. I'll let you know in advance if I plan on doing a day trip this fall.

Vehicle wise you should be fine as long as you don't care about pins stripes because they will be unavoidable on certain sections of this route. A full size truck should be able to make it, but it's going to be tight in a few spots. I'd also highly recommend a good set of A/T tires and the ability to air down and air up. I use an all top air compressor that was like $130.

Other gear is recommended at a minimum are a shovel, saw/axe, and some traction boards. They dont need to be anything fancy. If you are going solo, a winch is highly recommend, but probably won't be needed.

Hell I'm usually off Fridays of work anyways so I'm good to go there. Air compressor i got, gear i got, saw saw it got with always a charged up battery, ax I got as well and yep got traction boards also. Winch not yet but will definitely have one when I do solo runs.

Suv with brand new Cooper SRX A/T tires
Silverado also with Mickey Thompson A/T tires with really thick tread.