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elkaholic
Left turn ...freakin wipers!
I am still working on a summary of my scouting trip, but after alost 300 miles under the tires of my Honda Pioneer this past weekend, I have a few things to sort out.
The "big boy" trails are still out there and some of the "easy trails" have some really hard parts. As an example, the mudhole on T22 is now essentially impassable except at the end of a winch hook (unless it is bone dry) ...
While my focus this past weekend was more on the easy side of the spectrum, I did stick my nose in some tough spots.
I am pleased to say there are a few more intermediate options now that WindRock Park has cleaned up a few obstacles (such as the ledge on T19 that made an otherwise enjoyable / fun trail damned near impossible in the wet)
The only thing I can state with certainty is that I will lead a ride on Friday to a landmark known locally as the Eternal Flame (pictured above in a post by @Gun Runner 5). I have not finalized the route yet, but it is at least 40 miles of dirt and pavement from the Windrock Parking Lot. Anyone wanting to go on that ride will need a WMA permit as well as Windrock since most of the ride is on WMA property. Of the 40 miles, better than 30 are dirt - though fairly easy and winding through the TN countryside.
On another note, I have been a user of maps by a local to the area for years. He has partnered with Lifetime Trail Maps and I cannot overestimate how great this product / service is. They do produce paper maps but their claim to fame is Android tablet based GPS maps covering (from their website)
TENNESSEE
Windrock
Aetna Mountain
Brimstone
Bryant's Cove
Coppinger's Cove
Golden Mountain
Grassy Cove
Nemo Tunnel
Pickett State Forest
Prentice Cooper
Jellico
Ride Royal Blue ATV Resort
Scott County
Tackett Creek
TWRA Royal Blue Unit
TWRA Sundquist Unit
TWRA New River Unit
ARKANSAS
Moccassin Gap
KENTUCKY
Black Mountain/Harlan
Blue Holler
Land Between the Lakes
Middlesboro
Mine Made Paradise
Redbird Crest
Rush Offroad
Wildcat Offroad
Wilderness Offroad
ALABAMA
Top Trails Offroad Park
Arizona
Arizona Peace Trail
OHIO
Hanging Rock
Long Ridge
Maumee State Forest
Monday Creek
Perry State Forest
Pike State Forest
Pine Creek
Richland Furnace
WEST VIRGINIA
Hatfield McCoy
Hatfield McCoy Bonus Trails
COLORADO
Silverton
Taylor Park
Grand Junction
Kokopelli
Rocker Rim
UTAH
Arapeen
Moab
Paiute
Paunsaugunt
Rocker Rim
Strawberry Ridge
GEORGIA
Sunnyside ATV Paradise
VIRGINIA
Spearhead Trail System
And more. While their maps are biased towards SxS and ATV use, they do cover a lot of the same areas we drive 4x4s.
Lifetime Trail Maps Home
If you want to buy printed maps from them, the area outside of Windrock's boundaries are covered by Royal Blue Unit and New River Unit.
The "big boy" trails are still out there and some of the "easy trails" have some really hard parts. As an example, the mudhole on T22 is now essentially impassable except at the end of a winch hook (unless it is bone dry) ...
While my focus this past weekend was more on the easy side of the spectrum, I did stick my nose in some tough spots.
I am pleased to say there are a few more intermediate options now that WindRock Park has cleaned up a few obstacles (such as the ledge on T19 that made an otherwise enjoyable / fun trail damned near impossible in the wet)
The only thing I can state with certainty is that I will lead a ride on Friday to a landmark known locally as the Eternal Flame (pictured above in a post by @Gun Runner 5). I have not finalized the route yet, but it is at least 40 miles of dirt and pavement from the Windrock Parking Lot. Anyone wanting to go on that ride will need a WMA permit as well as Windrock since most of the ride is on WMA property. Of the 40 miles, better than 30 are dirt - though fairly easy and winding through the TN countryside.
On another note, I have been a user of maps by a local to the area for years. He has partnered with Lifetime Trail Maps and I cannot overestimate how great this product / service is. They do produce paper maps but their claim to fame is Android tablet based GPS maps covering (from their website)
TENNESSEE
Windrock
Aetna Mountain
Brimstone
Bryant's Cove
Coppinger's Cove
Golden Mountain
Grassy Cove
Nemo Tunnel
Pickett State Forest
Prentice Cooper
Jellico
Ride Royal Blue ATV Resort
Scott County
Tackett Creek
TWRA Royal Blue Unit
TWRA Sundquist Unit
TWRA New River Unit
ARKANSAS
Moccassin Gap
KENTUCKY
Black Mountain/Harlan
Blue Holler
Land Between the Lakes
Middlesboro
Mine Made Paradise
Redbird Crest
Rush Offroad
Wildcat Offroad
Wilderness Offroad
ALABAMA
Top Trails Offroad Park
Arizona
Arizona Peace Trail
OHIO
Hanging Rock
Long Ridge
Maumee State Forest
Monday Creek
Perry State Forest
Pike State Forest
Pine Creek
Richland Furnace
WEST VIRGINIA
Hatfield McCoy
Hatfield McCoy Bonus Trails
COLORADO
Silverton
Taylor Park
Grand Junction
Kokopelli
Rocker Rim
UTAH
Arapeen
Moab
Paiute
Paunsaugunt
Rocker Rim
Strawberry Ridge
GEORGIA
Sunnyside ATV Paradise
VIRGINIA
Spearhead Trail System
And more. While their maps are biased towards SxS and ATV use, they do cover a lot of the same areas we drive 4x4s.
Lifetime Trail Maps Home
If you want to buy printed maps from them, the area outside of Windrock's boundaries are covered by Royal Blue Unit and New River Unit.
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- Thread starter
- #164
Have a great weekend everyone!
If you own a 70 Series or simply have an interest in the 70 Series, this is the event for you. It will easily be among the largest gathering of 70 Series Land Cruisers in the U.S. on an annual basis. Even if you are only able to join us for a day or so load up the wife and kids and come on.
We have an impressive cross section of 70 Series attending this year's event but to my knowledge we're still lacking a LJ78. (Hint - Hint)
Surely there is a LJ owner east of the Mississippi that's up for a road trip. We'll only make fun of you if you don't show up.
Surely there is a LJ owner east of the Mississippi that's up for a road trip. We'll only make fun of you if you don't show up.
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Those shirts look great (even with the panel van on the front).
Thanks for taking on this project.
Thanks for taking on this project.
It will be awesome to have one here in California I wonder how many owners of 70s in California are in i8mud I can have one event at my place I have 5 acres and 3 acres of that is off road part. and we have lots of trailers nearby Gleghorn, Calico, big bear, pilot rock, Johnson Valley and more all in 20 to 50 miles range.
Fuel up the ole 70 Series and clear your calendar.
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elkaholic
Left turn ...freakin wipers!
I’ll, have a description of the trails I intend to ride up later this week.
Right now my attention is focused on a beer, ribs that are cooking, and somtin somtin in a swimming suit
Right now my attention is focused on a beer, ribs that are cooking, and somtin somtin in a swimming suit
elkaholic
Left turn ...freakin wipers!
As promised ....
Update on M&G Trails:
The area that we will be riding consists of Windrock Park (a private park) and potentially public lands managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Both areas require permits with Windrock requiring a permit for each and every person and the public lands requiring one permit per vehicle (usually best to be in the driver's name). The areas share boundaries as well.
Windrock is ~72,000 acres of well marked and well mapped trails that are interconnected. This trail system is marked well enough that most folks can navigate the area themselves withe the aid of a map available at the park's main office. The public lands are 3-4 times as expansive as Windrock with trails that are less well mapped (if mapped at all) and definitely more spread out. Both areas have trails that range from paved access roads to "I hope you don't intend to drive that thing home" difficulty. I am quite familiar with the entire area, though I still have quite a bit of exploring to do in the public land side. It is quite possible to ride entirely on either area.
I intend to lead rides on Friday and Saturday that will lean a bit more towards the easy side with great scenery and views along with some optional hard bits thrown in. Anyone that would like to ride with me will need permits for both areas. I will have suggested routes for others to follow that I will be happy to share.
On Friday, I will take a group from the Windrock Parking lot some 45 miles Northeast over paved roads, gravel roads, and trails to a spot the locals call "the Eternal Flame". This is a methane gas vent that has been lit and has been burning at least a decade if not more. We will pass some old coal mines, a cleaning plant, and an abandoned scenic railway locomotive and cars along the way. The pace will have to be somewhat brisk since we will have a lot of ground to cover. Depending upon how much time we have left in the day, we will have several options for the return. All routes will start with a climb out of the valley where the flame resides past some areas where we will likely see some elk sign and maybe some elk (though the diesel Cruisers may make that unlikely). From there it will be either a pavement trip back or we will slip back onto Windrock property at Caryville Flats and make our way back to the parking lot from the flats which are at the extreme NE corner of Windrock.
Photos from pre-run
I have not yet settled precisely on Saturday's ride yet, but I will cross Windrock stopping at the Windrock Fields overlook and (for those that rode with me last year) making our way up to the old WWII radar base and the huge recently closed strip mining operation. We will work our way back from there with a minimum of backtracking to arrive back in town in time for folks to clean up before a group dinner outing. The route back could include passing by the place where James Earl Ray spent a lot of his time in the 70s and 80s ...
For those that want to follow me, please send me a PM and as I pull more thoughts together, I will keep you informed.
Sam
Update on M&G Trails:
The area that we will be riding consists of Windrock Park (a private park) and potentially public lands managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Both areas require permits with Windrock requiring a permit for each and every person and the public lands requiring one permit per vehicle (usually best to be in the driver's name). The areas share boundaries as well.
Windrock is ~72,000 acres of well marked and well mapped trails that are interconnected. This trail system is marked well enough that most folks can navigate the area themselves withe the aid of a map available at the park's main office. The public lands are 3-4 times as expansive as Windrock with trails that are less well mapped (if mapped at all) and definitely more spread out. Both areas have trails that range from paved access roads to "I hope you don't intend to drive that thing home" difficulty. I am quite familiar with the entire area, though I still have quite a bit of exploring to do in the public land side. It is quite possible to ride entirely on either area.
I intend to lead rides on Friday and Saturday that will lean a bit more towards the easy side with great scenery and views along with some optional hard bits thrown in. Anyone that would like to ride with me will need permits for both areas. I will have suggested routes for others to follow that I will be happy to share.
On Friday, I will take a group from the Windrock Parking lot some 45 miles Northeast over paved roads, gravel roads, and trails to a spot the locals call "the Eternal Flame". This is a methane gas vent that has been lit and has been burning at least a decade if not more. We will pass some old coal mines, a cleaning plant, and an abandoned scenic railway locomotive and cars along the way. The pace will have to be somewhat brisk since we will have a lot of ground to cover. Depending upon how much time we have left in the day, we will have several options for the return. All routes will start with a climb out of the valley where the flame resides past some areas where we will likely see some elk sign and maybe some elk (though the diesel Cruisers may make that unlikely). From there it will be either a pavement trip back or we will slip back onto Windrock property at Caryville Flats and make our way back to the parking lot from the flats which are at the extreme NE corner of Windrock.
Photos from pre-run
I have not yet settled precisely on Saturday's ride yet, but I will cross Windrock stopping at the Windrock Fields overlook and (for those that rode with me last year) making our way up to the old WWII radar base and the huge recently closed strip mining operation. We will work our way back from there with a minimum of backtracking to arrive back in town in time for folks to clean up before a group dinner outing. The route back could include passing by the place where James Earl Ray spent a lot of his time in the 70s and 80s ...
For those that want to follow me, please send me a PM and as I pull more thoughts together, I will keep you informed.
Sam
jomelo
SILVER Star
Any insight into which WMA pass we need to purchase? I cannot locate my emails from last year on the issue.
elkaholic
Left turn ...freakin wipers!
If all you need is a daily OHV use for the WMA area, here is the listing
Residents of TN that have a hunting licensce and an WMA small game licensce do not need a type 35 or 36.
For non-residents who want an annual permit, the least expensive combination is a type 71 and a type 93 which will run ~ $132
Permits are available here Tennessee
Remember, only one person in the vehicle needs the permit ....
From TWRA:
High Impact Habitat Conservation Permits
These permits must be purchased for horseback riding, bicycling, and ORV use. Youths under age 13 and persons holding a valid annual or permanent hunting license with a valid permit to hunt on these areas are exempt. At least one occupant of an enclosed vehicle must possess the proper permit(s). No permit shall be required on certain roads/trails as designated.
Areas requiring a HIHCP
Region I
Wolf River WMA
Region 2
Laurel Hill, Yanahli, Cheatham, Williamsport, Bear Hollow
Region 3
Bridgestone Firestone – Big Bottom Unit, Catoosa, Keyes-Harrison , Luper Mountain, Mt. Roosevelt, North Chickamauga Creek – Patton Unit, Pea Ridge , Skinner Mountain
Region 4
Forks of the River,NOTE: All interior trails closed to bicyclists. Will Skelton Greenway and Whaley Trail (formerly known as Bluff Trail) to the Burnett Creek Parking Area open to bicyclists. No High Impact Habitat Conservation Permit required for use of the Will Skelton Greenway/Whaley Trail. North Cumberland, NOTE: No High Impact Habitat Conservation Permit required on Peabody Road from its junction of US Highway 25W to the Hatfield Knob Elk Viewing Tower. No High Impact Habitat Conservation Permit shall be required on US Highways and/or County maintained roads that traverse North Cumberland WMA.
Emphasis added.
The time for procrastinating is almost over.
I will be leaving S.W. Georgia fairly early on the morning of the 27th (Thursday) and will pick up I75 at Cordele, GA
and stay on I75 until north of Chattanooga. If anyone wants to join me on this route just give me a shout. I'll post my cell phone number a couple of days out in case someone needs updates or additional information.
and stay on I75 until north of Chattanooga. If anyone wants to join me on this route just give me a shout. I'll post my cell phone number a couple of days out in case someone needs updates or additional information.
I will be doing the exact same thing, only heading the opposite direction. If anyone else coming from the north wants to join. I will be heading down on Thursday probably pick up I75 around Toledo, and follow it south until near Knoxville, probably getting off around Rocky Top Tennessee.
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